| Wolf, Gray | |||
| Genus | Canis | ||
| Species | lupus | ||
| Status | Endangered in USA except Minnesota; Threatened in Minnesota (USA) | ||
| Habitat | Forest | ||
| Distribution | Northern half of North America, parts of Europe, all of Asia except India and the jungle regions of China | ||
| Height | 26-38 inches (66-97 cm) | ||
| Length | 50-70 inches (127-178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 60-157 pounds (27-71 kg) | ||
| Behavior | Wolves are social animals and live in small packs, caring for one another. Generally, they stay away from people and populated areas. | ||
| Feeding | Wolves usually hunt small animals such as mice. When they hunt larger animals, they seek out the sick and weaker members of the herd. | ||
| Diet | Meat | ||
| Feeding | Wolves usually hunt small animals such as mice. When they hunt larger animals, they seek out the sick and weaker members of the herd. | ||
| Conservation |
Canada, Alaska, and Russia still have large numbers of these wolves remaining. However, in the United States, Europe, and Mexico, there are only about one hundred animals left.
In Europe and Asia, there are many stories of wolves attacking people - a rumor that gives these animals a bad name. Other people killed wolves because they were thought to prey upon animals that people depended upon for food. Hunters didn't like to lose deer to wolves, and farmers didn't want their livestock eaten. An as people began to build on the wolves' homes, they were trapped and shot until only a few remained. In areas where all the wolves have been killed, deer herds have grown so large that after a bad winter thousands of deer die of starvation. To remedy this problem, wolves are being reintroduced into the areas where they once lived. The wolves help keep the deer population healthy and under control. Unfortunately, many people do not want the wolves to return and are fighting to stop this plan. | ||
| Animal Communication Panel | |||
