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| Latin name | Canis lupus |
| Height | 66 - 81cm (25 - 32 inches) |
| Weight | up to 80kg (176lb) |
| Gestation | 6 - 63 days |
| No. of young | 4 - 7 |
| Lifespan | 8 - 10 years in the wild up to 20 years in captivity |
Timber wolves can be found in a variety of habitats from forests and deserts, to plains and mountains.
Timber wolves will eat a variety of food from deer to mice, voles and lemmings. Many of the animals that they eat, such as caribou and deer, can weigh ten times more than the wolf. A single wolf is capable of killing a deer unaided but when they are hunting as a pack, they usually prey on larger animals such as moose. After a kill each wolf will eat as much meat as it can. Anything that remains from the meal is left for scavengers.
Once a wolf has found a mate, the pair will usually remain together for life. The mating season begins at the end of winter and it often causes a lot of tension within the pack.
The female gives birth in an underground den that she will have excavated herself. When the young are born their eyes are closed and they are helpless. The mother feeds them for six to eight weeks and if she has to leave them, the father or another member of the pack will guard them.
Wolves rely mainly on their hearing and sense of smell to detect their prey. They are not particularly fast animals with a speed of about 45km/h. The wolf however has great stamina, which helps them to hunt successfully.
A wolf’s status within the pack depends upon its age, strength and experience. Fights occur quite frequently to determine which of the animals will be the dominant male and female.
Lone wolves howl to keep in touch with other members of the pack, but sometimes the whole pack will howl together. This is believed to strengthen social ties between members of the pack.
Only a century ago, the wolf was abundant in numbers. Nowadays they are becoming increasingly rare. Superstitions and fairy stories have played a large part in the persecution of these animals. In some areas, they are protected in reserves and national parks. In Europe and North America they are still shot despite legal protection.
The main reason for the wolf’s continuing decline has been habitat destruction, which has led to a lack of prey. This means that the wolves have had to turn elsewhere for food and they usually attack farm stock. The farm stock is usually protected by poisons, traps and guns which has led to the death of many wolves.
- Wolves are generally shy of people and will avoid them whenever possible. Most attacks have been carried out by rabid animals.
- Centuries ago wolves were ‘tried’ by people and burnt at the stake.
- The last wolf killed in Britain was in Scotland, in 1743. In England, wolves were extinct by 1500. When people started cutting down the dense forest that used to cover Britain, they destroyed the wolves’ habitat and source of food. This made the wolves hungry and dangerous which is why they were shot.
- A wolf pack can be heard howling 10km away.
- Body language is important for wolves. Tail, ear and head movements are among many of the signals that are used.
- Wolves mainly hunt old, weak or sick animals.