Gray Wolves once populated most of the Northern Hemisphere, north of 51°N. Now, however, this range is being push back further and further. They are extinct in most of this area. As of now Gray Wolves only inhabit parts of North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In the United States only Alaska home most of the wolves, between 5,700 - 7,200 animals. It is estimated about 30,000 - 50,000 in Canada. [Worldwide Wolf Population]

From the ground to the shoulder, wolves measure between 26 - 32 inches (66 - 81cm) tall. The length of males, from tip of nose to tip of tail, is about 5 - 6.6 feet (1.5 - 2.0m), females 4.6 - 6 feet (1.4 - 1.8m). Males weigh around 70 - 85 pounds (31.8 - 38.6kg), and females are about 55 - 75 pounds (25 - 34.1kg). They have 42 teeth. Gray Wolves have brown-gray-blackish fur. It is the largest of the Canine family. They have long legs that run from 5 miles per hour (8km/hr) to a fast pace of 34 miles/hour (55km/hr), but for a duration of 20 minutes only. Their average life span is 8 - 16 years, and up to 20 years in captivity.

Wolves travel in pack of 7 - 8 animals. Sometimes the pack can grow to a large crowd of 20. There are advantages to living in packs. When wolves hunt they all attack their prey. This way they are guaranteed kill their victims. Also, they can protect each other when enemies attack them. The pack is usually consisted of a family unit. Though they are wolves, there is order in the pack. There is usually a pair of dominating wolves, an alpha male and an alpha female. The males and the females are partners for a lifetime.

Breeding begins from late January to early March. The gestation period is 61 - 63 days. A female usually gives birth a litter of 4 - 7 pups. Both of parents care for their pups. At birth the pups are black and weigh a little less than a pound, 15.9 ounces (450g). They are blind and deaf. They can hear a few days after birth, but it takes them about 11 - 15 days to see. By the 4th week the pups are ready to associate with other wolves. They can eat solid food by the 8th week. The parents or other adult wolves, however, have to partially digest the food and regurgitate it for the pups. At week 12 the pups can blend in with the big wolves. They lose their black coat by the 14th week and take on the adult coat. Sadly to say however, 50% of the pups die within the first year. If they don't die, the male pups are matured when they are 2 or 3 years old and the females when they are 2.

Gray Wolves eat mostly moose, deer, caribou, and small animals. The abundance of prey determines the population of wolves in an area. The more the preys the more the number of wolves. Wolves usually hunt animals that are bigger than themselves because large preys can feed the whole pack. When food is scarce, sometimes fights break out between members of the pack or among packs.