Gray Wolf BY:KUBI

Scientific Name: Canis Lupus Member of the dog family, including; Dogs, foxes, jackals and coyotes Three Species of wolves – Two others are; Red Wolf of the southeastern US Maned Wolf of South America

Facts The Gray wolf lives about 6 to 8 years A newborn wolf pup weighs about one pound The adult wolf usually eats about 20 pounds of food at one meal, that’s the same as 80 hamburgers Gray wolves hunt large hooved animals such as deer, moose, bison caribou, elk and mountain goats Wolves are social pack animals

Communication Wolves communicate in several ways Howls Whimpers and whines Growls and barks Body scents such as urine Body language

Interpretation Howls can be used to locate each other or warn others to stay out of their territory Whimper, whine, growl, bark, yelp and snarl give a tone to their communication Body scents will alert other wolves they are intruding in another wolf’s territory Body language for play, submission or dominance

Pack animals The Gray wolf is a pack animal, usually made up of an adult male and female pair and their pups At times, unrelated wolves may join the pack “Teen Wolves” usually stay in their parents pack for 2 to 3 years The pack relies on each other for survival

Learned behavior Play time offers a wolf pup a chance to learn communication, social and hunting skills. Leaping, pouncing, chasing and wrestling are examples of hunting related behaviors Play interactions will benefit their social development

In the news The Gray wolf was nearly hunted to extinction but has made a remarkable recovery following recent re-introduction programs Last week in eastern Washington state, following complaints by ranchers who graze their cattle on public lands, the state has decided to kill an entire pack of wolves as they have found an easy meal of cattle