Facts
- Canis Lupus means the Gray Wolf species. There are many types of Gray Wolves like the Alaskan (Canis Lupus occidentalis), Arctic (Canis Lupus Arctos), Great Plains Wolf (Canis Lupus Nubilus), and the Mexican Grey (Canis Lupus Baileyi). Other Species of Wolves like the Abyssinian (Canis Simensis), Red (Canis Rufus), and the Eastern (Canis Lycoan).
- Wolves can be found in parts of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
- Wolves can live up to 7 years in the wild and 12 in captivity.
- A Wolf Pack has ranks of wolves in different order based on their power in the pack. First, are the Alpha pairs. The Alpha pair are in charge of the pack and they decide if they should kick out a member of the pack. The second ranked wolf is the Beta. The Beta is usually either the younger brother or sister of the Alpha. And finally, the Omega. The Omega is at the bottom of the pack and always eats last, doesn't hunt often, and is mostly the one who gets kicked out of the pack.
- Wolves can weigh up to 40 - 120 pounds. The heaviest wolf recorded in the world was a male that weighed 175lbs. and was killed in Alaska in 1939.
- Wolves also have 42 teeth. 22 on the lower jaw and 20 on the upper jaw. Wolves need more teeth then humans to grind and rip at the carcass.
- Canis Lupus means the Gray Wolf species. There are many types of Gray Wolves like the Alaskan (Canis Lupus occidentalis), Arctic (Canis Lupus Arctos), Great Plains Wolf (Canis Lupus Nubilus), and the Mexican Grey (Canis Lupus Baileyi). Other Species of Wolves like the Abyssinian (Canis Simensis), Red (Canis Rufus), and the Eastern (Canis Lycoan).
- Wolves can be found in parts of Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
- Wolves can live up to 7 years in the wild and 12 in captivity.
- A Wolf Pack has ranks of wolves in different order based on their power in the pack. First, are the Alpha pairs. The Alpha pair are in charge of the pack and they decide if they should kick out a member of the pack. The second ranked wolf is the Beta. The Beta is usually either the younger brother or sister of the Alpha. And finally, the Omega. The Omega is at the bottom of the pack and always eats last, doesn't hunt often, and is mostly the one who gets kicked out of the pack.
- Wolves can weigh up to 40 - 120 pounds. The heaviest wolf recorded in the world was a male that weighed 175lbs. and was killed in Alaska in 1939.
- Wolves also have 42 teeth. 22 on the lower jaw and 20 on the upper jaw. Wolves need more teeth then humans to grind and rip at the carcass.
Wolves as Mothers
- The Female Wolf that is 4-6 weeks of pregnancy will search for an appropriate den for birth that is within the female's home range. Most dens chosen are made from the base of a large tree, a hollow log, or caves. When about to give birth, the female makes a fresh mound of dirt as a "welcome mat" that measures about 14 to 26 inches long. The size of the den is usually 6 to 14 feet back and there is a bare, enlarged chamber where the newborn pups are. There can be 2-8 wolf pups in a litter.
- When a wolf pup is born, it can neither see nor hear, but when they are at 10 to 13 days old, their eyes and ears start to open and they can sense the light coming from the den entrance. When they begin to stand on their wobbly legs, they move towards the entrance to take their first steps into the outside world. Adult wolves have great interest in the pups. They play with the pups and are very delicate with them so they don't hurt them. The older wolves help the mother or father provide food by regurgitation.
- Wolf Mothers usually mate around January through April. The Alpha Females of the pack don't allow lower ranking pack members to mate. If the Subordinate wolf trys to mate, they will be bullyed or attacked by the Alpha Pair. An amount of litters that wolves produce depends on the herds of prey, the territory size, and the predators like Grizzlies and coyotes.
- The Female Wolf that is 4-6 weeks of pregnancy will search for an appropriate den for birth that is within the female's home range. Most dens chosen are made from the base of a large tree, a hollow log, or caves. When about to give birth, the female makes a fresh mound of dirt as a "welcome mat" that measures about 14 to 26 inches long. The size of the den is usually 6 to 14 feet back and there is a bare, enlarged chamber where the newborn pups are. There can be 2-8 wolf pups in a litter.
- When a wolf pup is born, it can neither see nor hear, but when they are at 10 to 13 days old, their eyes and ears start to open and they can sense the light coming from the den entrance. When they begin to stand on their wobbly legs, they move towards the entrance to take their first steps into the outside world. Adult wolves have great interest in the pups. They play with the pups and are very delicate with them so they don't hurt them. The older wolves help the mother or father provide food by regurgitation.
- Wolf Mothers usually mate around January through April. The Alpha Females of the pack don't allow lower ranking pack members to mate. If the Subordinate wolf trys to mate, they will be bullyed or attacked by the Alpha Pair. An amount of litters that wolves produce depends on the herds of prey, the territory size, and the predators like Grizzlies and coyotes.
A Pup's Stages of Growth
Here are the age stages of when and what a pup can do:
10-13 days: their eyes and ears begin to open
3 weeks: their milk teeth begin to appear, they explore the den
4-5 weeks: take short trips outside the den, start to eat regurgitated meat
6 weeks: moving a mile away from the den with an adult wolf
Here are the age stages of when and what a pup can do:
10-13 days: their eyes and ears begin to open
3 weeks: their milk teeth begin to appear, they explore the den
4-5 weeks: take short trips outside the den, start to eat regurgitated meat
6 weeks: moving a mile away from the den with an adult wolf