wolves are steeped in legends throughout
history
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the predator’s powerful nature
piercing looks
and spine tingling howls
continue to inspire both adoration and
controversy around the world
there are two major species of wolves
one species is the ethiopian wolf or
canis cemensis
only about 500 of these wolves exist and
they inhabit the mountains of ethiopia
the majority of the world’s wolves
belong to the species called grey wolf
or canis lupus
numbering up to around 250 000 and
including up to about 40 subspecies gray
wolves are scattered across the northern
hemisphere
wolves vary greatly in size
the smaller wolf subspecies inhabit the
desert regions of the middle east
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they stand at an average of about 26
inches tall and weigh less than 45
pounds
the larger wolf subspecies live in the
northern regions of asia and north
america
the canines usually stand up to 36
inches tall at the shoulder and can
weigh up to 175 pounds
making them the largest wild members of
the dog family
wolf packs are ruled by an alpha male
and an alpha female
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wolves are highly social creatures and
operate as a group or pack
often comprised of six to ten wolves
packs are cohesive units that hunt and
live together within the packs each wolf
has a unique personality
to maintain order among them a male and
a female dominate the pack as alphas
they establish a strict hierarchy and
are the only wolves in the pack to breed
each wolf’s howl is unique
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much like fingerprints on humans howls
are distinct to each wolf
characteristics like pitch and amplitude
of these vocalizations help signify
which wolves create certain howls
these vocalizations allow wolves to
communicate with other wolves
they may howl to indicate their location
to pack members and even show their
affection
wolves may also howl to nearby rivals to
claim their territory
wolves nearly became extinct in the
continental united states throughout the
early history of the u.s
waves of settlers traveled into the
young country’s then undeveloped west
rising human populations and settlements
nearly wiped out deer elk and bison
populations prey normally hunted by
wolves
without their usual prey wolves then
resorted to hunting livestock making the
canines targets for hunters and trappers
by the mid-1930s wolves were almost
completely exterminated
the late 20th century began to bring
about change for wolves
conservation policies efforts to educate
the public and programs that
reintroduced wolves into the wild were
enacted aiding the comeback of these
legendary creatures
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