The Gray Wolf (Canis lupus; other forms: "Timber Wolf", "Wolf") is a mammal of the Canidae family. The wolf shares a common ancestry with the domestic dog (Canis familiaris), and, according to most experts, is likely the progenitor of all dogs as they exist today (in which case, the domestic dog would more accurately be classified as Canis lupus familiaris). Gray wolves were once abundant and distributed over much of North America, Eurasia, and the Middle East. Today, for a variety of human-caused reasons involving widespread habitat destruction and excessive hunting, wolves inhab ...

Including:

• Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology
• Gray Wolf - Social structure
• Gray Wolf - Packs
• Gray Wolf - Rank order
• Gray Wolf - Body language
• Gray Wolf - Howling
• Gray Wolf - Hunting
• Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality
• Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves
• Gray Wolf - Changing attitudes
• Gray Wolf - Reintroduction
• Gray Wolf - Wolves in religion and folklore
• Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting
• Gray Wolf - Livestock predation
• Gray Wolf - Trapping and breeding for fur
• Gray Wolf - Taxonomy
• Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog
• Gray Wolf - Subspecies of the wolf
• Gray Wolf - Media

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The relationship between people and wolves has had a very long and turbulent history. Traditionally, humans have viewed wolves negatively, perceiving them to be dangerous or as nuisances to be destroyed. European folklore exacerbated this negative image, which was brought over to North America as it was settled. During this time, the wilderness was perceived as something to be conquered, settled, and cultivated, as through Manifest Destiny or by man's inherent worldly right. Wolves, for a time, were partially valued for their fur, but ...

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Gray Wolf, Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology, Gray Wolf - Social structure, Gray Wolf - Packs, Gray Wolf - Rank order, Gray Wolf - Body language, Gray Wolf - Howling, Gray Wolf - Hunting, Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality, Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves, Gray Wolf - Changing attitudes, Gray Wolf - Reintroduction, Gray Wolf - Wolves in religion and folklore, Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting, Gray Wolf - Livestock predation, Gray Wolf - Trapping and breeding for fur, Gray Wolf - Taxonomy, Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog, Gray Wolf - Subspecies of the wolf, Gray Wolf - Media

Read more here: » Gray Wolf: Encyclopedia II - Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves

Gray Wolf - Packs. Wolves function as social predators and hunt in packs organized according to a strict social hierarchy and led by an alpha male and alpha female. This social structure was originally thought to allow the wolf to take prey many times its size. However, emerging new theories suggest the pack strategy has less to do with hunting than with reproductive success. The size of the pack may change over time and is controlled by several factors, including habitat, personalities of individual wolve ...

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Gray Wolf, Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology, Gray Wolf - Social structure, Gray Wolf - Packs, Gray Wolf - Rank order, Gray Wolf - Body language, Gray Wolf - Howling, Gray Wolf - Hunting, Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality, Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves, Gray Wolf - Changing attitudes, Gray Wolf - Reintroduction, Gray Wolf - Wolves in religion and folklore, Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting, Gray Wolf - Livestock predation, Gray Wolf - Trapping and breeding for fur, Gray Wolf - Taxonomy, Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog, Gray Wolf - Subspecies of the wolf, Gray Wolf - Media

Read more here: » Gray Wolf: Encyclopedia II - Gray Wolf - Social structure

Wolf weight and size tend to increase proportionally with worldly latitude, with height varying between 0.6 and 0.9 meters (24 to 35 inches) at the shoulder, and weight typically ranging from 30–55 kg (65-120 pounds), making wolves the largest among all wild canids. Males average about 45 kg (100 pounds), while females, generally speaking, weigh around twenty percent less. Extremes have been recorded from 9 to 86 kg (20 to 190 pounds). Wolves measure between 1 and 1.5 meters (39 to 59 inches) from nose to tail tip, with the tail itself consistin ...

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Gray Wolf, Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology, Gray Wolf - Social structure, Gray Wolf - Packs, Gray Wolf - Rank order, Gray Wolf - Body language, Gray Wolf - Howling, Gray Wolf - Hunting, Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality, Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves, Gray Wolf - Changing attitudes, Gray Wolf - Reintroduction, Gray Wolf - Wolves in religion and folklore, Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting, Gray Wolf - Livestock predation, Gray Wolf - Trapping and breeding for fur, Gray Wolf - Taxonomy, Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog, Gray Wolf - Subspecies of the wolf, Gray Wolf - Media

Read more here: » Gray Wolf: Encyclopedia II - Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology

Wolves are hunted for their pelt, recreation, and population control. Gray Wolf - Livestock predation. As long as there are enough prey, wolves seem to avoid taking livestock. However, some wolves or packs can specialize in hunting livestock once the behavior is learned despite relative food supply. Sheep are frequently the most vulnerable, while horses and cattle are also at risk. Wolf-secure fences, relocation (in some cases), or local exter ...

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Gray Wolf, Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology, Gray Wolf - Social structure, Gray Wolf - Packs, Gray Wolf - Rank order, Gray Wolf - Body language, Gray Wolf - Howling, Gray Wolf - Hunting, Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality, Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves, Gray Wolf - Changing attitudes, Gray Wolf - Reintroduction, Gray Wolf - Wolves in religion and folklore, Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting, Gray Wolf - Livestock predation, Gray Wolf - Trapping and breeding for fur, Gray Wolf - Taxonomy, Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog, Gray Wolf - Subspecies of the wolf, Gray Wolf - Media

Read more here: » Gray Wolf: Encyclopedia II - Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting

Wolf weight and size tend to increase proportionally with worldly latitude, with height varying between 0.6 and 0.9 meters (24 to 35 inches) at the shoulder, and weight typically ranging from 30–55 kg (65-120 pounds), making wolves the largest among all wild canids. Males average about 45 kg (100 pounds), while females, generally speaking, weigh around twenty percent less. Extremes have been recorded from 9.1 to 79.5 kg (20 to 175 pounds). The American record was in Alaska of approximately 176 pounds (80 kg), the Canadian record was 174 po ...

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Gray Wolf, Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology, Gray Wolf - Social structure, Gray Wolf - Packs, Gray Wolf - Rank order, Gray Wolf - Body language, Gray Wolf - Howling, Gray Wolf - Hunting, Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality, Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves, Gray Wolf - Changing attitudes, Gray Wolf - Reintroduction, Gray Wolf - Wolves in religion and folklore, Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting, Gray Wolf - Livestock predation, Gray Wolf - Trapping and breeding for fur, Gray Wolf - Taxonomy, Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog, Gray Wolf - Subspecies of the wolf, Gray Wolf - Media

Read more here: » Gray Wolf: Encyclopedia II - Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology

Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog. Much debate has occurred over the relationship between the wolf and the domestic dog. Most authorities see the wolf as the dog's direct ancestor, but others have postulated descent from the Golden Jackal. Because the canids have evolved recently and different canids interbreed readily, untangling the true relationships has presented difficulties. However, molecular systematics now indicate very strongly that domestic dogs and wolves are more closely related than either is to any other canid, and the domestic dog is now normally classified as a subspecies of th ...

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Gray Wolf, Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology, Gray Wolf - Social structure, Gray Wolf - Packs, Gray Wolf - Rank order, Gray Wolf - Body language, Gray Wolf - Howling, Gray Wolf - Hunting, Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality, Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves, Gray Wolf - Changing attitudes, Gray Wolf - Reintroduction, Gray Wolf - Wolves in religion and folklore, Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting, Gray Wolf - Livestock predation, Gray Wolf - Trapping and breeding for fur, Gray Wolf - Taxonomy, Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog, Gray Wolf - Subspecies of the wolf, Gray Wolf - Media

Read more here: » Gray Wolf: Encyclopedia II - Gray Wolf - Taxonomy

Wolves are hunted for their pelt, recreation, and population control. Gray Wolf - Livestock predation. As long as there are enough prey, wolves seem to avoid taking livestock. However, some "problem animals" can specialize in hunting livestock. Sheep are frequently the most vulnerable, while horses and cattle are at less of a risk. Wolf-secure fences and the re ...

See also:

Gray Wolf, Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology, Gray Wolf - Social structure, Gray Wolf - Packs, Gray Wolf - Rank order, Gray Wolf - Body language, Gray Wolf - Howling, Gray Wolf - Hunting, Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality, Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves, Gray Wolf - Changing attitudes, Gray Wolf - Reintroduction, Gray Wolf - Wolves in religion and folklore, Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting, Gray Wolf - Livestock predation, Gray Wolf - Trapping and breeding for fur, Gray Wolf - Taxonomy, Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog, Gray Wolf - Subspecies of the wolf, Gray Wolf - Media

Read more here: » Gray Wolf: Encyclopedia II - Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting

The wolf is a carnivore. Packs of wolves hunt any large herbivores in their range, while lone wolves are apt to consuming smaller animals due to their relative inability to catch anything larger. Pack hunting methods range from surprise attacks to long-lasting chases, though they strongly favor the latter. Through meticulous cooperation, a pack of wolves is able to pursue large prey for several hours before relenting, though the success rate of such chases is rather low. Solitary wolves depend on small animals, capturing them by pouncing and ...

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Gray Wolf, Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology, Gray Wolf - Social structure, Gray Wolf - Packs, Gray Wolf - Rank order, Gray Wolf - Body language, Gray Wolf - Howling, Gray Wolf - Hunting, Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality, Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves, Gray Wolf - Changing attitudes, Gray Wolf - Reintroduction, Gray Wolf - Wolves in religion and folklore, Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting, Gray Wolf - Livestock predation, Gray Wolf - Trapping and breeding for fur, Gray Wolf - Taxonomy, Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog, Gray Wolf - Subspecies of the wolf, Gray Wolf - Media

Read more here: » Gray Wolf: Encyclopedia II - Gray Wolf - Hunting

Normally, only the alpha pair of the pack breeds. This kind of organization also occurs in other pack-hunting canids, such as the Dhole and the African Hunting Dog. Mating usually occurs between January and May, happening later in the year as latitude increases. Wolves, unlike dogs, only mate once a year. A pack usually procures one litter, though sometimes multiple litters will be born if the alpha male mates with one or more subordinate females. Under normal circumstances, the alpha female will try to prevent this by aggressively dominating other fem ...

See also:

Gray Wolf, Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology, Gray Wolf - Social structure, Gray Wolf - Packs, Gray Wolf - Rank order, Gray Wolf - Body language, Gray Wolf - Howling, Gray Wolf - Hunting, Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality, Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves, Gray Wolf - Changing attitudes, Gray Wolf - Reintroduction, Gray Wolf - Wolves in religion and folklore, Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting, Gray Wolf - Livestock predation, Gray Wolf - Trapping and breeding for fur, Gray Wolf - Taxonomy, Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog, Gray Wolf - Subspecies of the wolf, Gray Wolf - Media

Read more here: » Gray Wolf: Encyclopedia II - Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality

Wolf weight and size tend to increase proportionally with worldly latitude, with height varying between 0.6 and 0.9 meters (24 to 35 inches) at the shoulder, and weight typically ranging from 30–55 kg (65-120 pounds), making wolves the largest among all wild canids. Males average about 45 kg (100 pounds), while females, generally speaking, weigh around twenty percent less. Extremes have been recorded from 20 to 80 kg (44 to 175 pounds). Wolves measure between 1 and 1.5 meters (39 to 59 inches) from nose to tail tip, with the tail itself consistin ...

See also:

Gray Wolf, Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology, Gray Wolf - Social structure, Gray Wolf - Packs, Gray Wolf - Rank order, Gray Wolf - Body language, Gray Wolf - Howling, Gray Wolf - Hunting, Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality, Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves, Gray Wolf - Changing attitudes, Gray Wolf - Reintroduction, Gray Wolf - Wolves in religion and folklore, Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting, Gray Wolf - Livestock predation, Gray Wolf - Trapping and breeding for fur, Gray Wolf - Taxonomy, Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog, Gray Wolf - Subspecies of the wolf, Gray Wolf - Media

Read more here: » Gray Wolf: Encyclopedia II - Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology

Wolves howl for several reasons. Howling helps pack members keep in touch, allowing them to effectively communicate in thickly forested areas or over great distances. Furthermore, howling helps to summon pack members to a specific location.[9] Howling can also serve as a declaration of territory, as portrayed by a dominant wolf's tendency to respond to a human imitation of a "rival" individual in an area that the wolf considers its own. This behavior is als ...

See also:

Gray Wolf, Gray Wolf - Anatomy & Physiology, Gray Wolf - Social structure, Gray Wolf - Packs, Gray Wolf - Rank order, Gray Wolf - Body language, Gray Wolf - Howling, Gray Wolf - Hunting, Gray Wolf - Reproduction and mortality, Gray Wolf - Past human perceptions of wolves, Gray Wolf - Changing attitudes, Gray Wolf - Reintroduction, Gray Wolf - Wolves in religion and folklore, Gray Wolf - Wolf hunting, Gray Wolf - Livestock predation, Gray Wolf - Trapping and breeding for fur, Gray Wolf - Taxonomy, Gray Wolf - Classification and relation to the dog, Gray Wolf - Subspecies of the wolf, Gray Wolf - Media

Read more here: » Gray Wolf: Encyclopedia II - Gray Wolf - Howling