Both feared and revered, wolves play an important role as apex predators. In this guide, we take a look at their habitat, hunting techniques and more
Ultimate guide to wolves, a deadly apex predator: From Arctic hunters to forest stalkers, here’s all you need to know about the dog’s wild cousin
Wolves are the largest members of the dog family (Canidae) and are highly sociable mammals that typically travel and hunt in packs.
In our guide to wolves, discover how they hunt, communicate and how many grey wolves there are.
Where do wolves live?
Wolves are the largest members of the dog family (Canidae) and can be found in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa.
These apex predators are a keystone species because they encourage biodiversity and support ecosystems by keeping prey numbers under control. Wolves live in a variety of habitats, including forests, shrublands, wetlands, grasslands, rocky areas and deserts.
What do wolves eat?
These carnivores occur primarily but not exclusively in wilderness and remote areas where there is suitable food. Unsurprisingly, there are usually more wolves where there is more to eat. The wolves’ diet mainly consists of large ungulates such as moose, caribou, deer, elk and wild boar but they are also known to catch smaller mammals. Wolves will also consume livestock, carrion and garbage.
How do wolves hunt?
These endurance athletes can track prey over huge distances. They hunt large mammals in packs, outrunning and exhausting their target: the young, old, injured or sick are often selected.
Once they get close to their prey, wolves attack by biting the flanks, legs or throat to immobilise it. Higher-ranking members of the pack feed first, followed by the rest. When wolves hunt smaller animals such as rabbits, they tend to hunt alone and rely on stalking and pouncing.
How big are wolves?
According to the Guinness World Records, “The largest member of the dog family is the widely distributed grey or timber wolf, which has a head-body length of 1 to 1.6m, a tail length of 31 to 51cm, a shoulder height of 66 to 81cm and a weight of 16 to 80kg.”
What is the structure of a wolf pack?
According to the National Park Service, wolves live in a family unit known as a pack, which consists of a mated pair and their offspring, and other non-breeding adults, though variations to this pack structure do exist. In a pack, the alpha male and female (breeding pair) lead the pack and exhibit their dominance through posturing, scent marking and food ownership.
How do wolves communicate?
Communication is key to the survival of a wolf pack. Wolves howl for different reasons and for different purposes, including to advertise claim on a territory and to find a mate. When a wolf howls, the sound travels over large distances, and can be heard from 16km away. These canines also yelp, snarl, whimper, whine, growl and bark. Wolves rely on body language and their incredible sense of smell to communicate. They scent mark to denote territory and presence.
How long do wolves live?
Wolves live 8 to 13 years in the wild.
How fast are wolves?
Wolves can travel up to 64kmph over short distances. They can travel up to 48km in a day.
How many species of wolf are there?
Generally, three species of wolf are globally recognised – the grey wolf, red wolf and Ethiopian wolf – and all belong to the Canis genus. However, there is debate about the red wolf being a separate species as some argue it is a subspecies of grey wolf.
Before its range was reduced by about one third because of persecution, the grey wolf was the world’s most widely distributed mammal (excluding humans). Although the species still faces some threats, it has a stable population trend and at a global level, has been assessed as Least Concern.
In comparison, the red wolf is Critically Endangered because it was extinct in the wild by 1980 and now only a reintroduced population of about 20 to 30 individuals exists in eastern North Carolina, USA. The Endangered Ethiopian wolf is endemic to the Ethiopian highlands and has a declining population.
How many subspecies of grey wolf are there?
The IUCN lists several subspecies of grey wolf (Canis lupus): C. l. signatus (Iberia); C. l. italicus (Italy, France and Switzerland); C. l. pallipes (most of the Asian range from Israel to China); C. l. arabs (Arabian Peninsula) and C. l. chanco (wolves of the Himalayan range have been proposed as a distinct subspecies). In North America, five subspecies are often recognised: C. l. arctos (Arctic wolf), C. l. lycaon (Eastern wolf), C. l. nubilus (Plains wolf), C. l. occidentalis (Northwestern wolf or Northern timber wolf), and C. l. baileyi (Mexican wolf).
How many grey wolves are there?
The grey wolf global population is estimated at 200,000 to 250,000 individuals.
Are there any wild wolves in the UK?
No, wolves were native to Britain but were hunted to extinction. The last recorded wild wolf in the UK was reportedly killed in Scotland in the late 1600s. There is ongoing debate about reintroducing wolves to certain remote areas of the UK.
What threats do wolves face?
The primary threats to wolves include habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict and illegal hunting. Habitat fragmentation limits their natural range and isolates populations. Human-wildlife conflict occurs, particularly where wolves predate livestock.
Despite legal protections in many regions, illegal hunting and poaching, driven by negative perceptions or cultural attitudes, still threaten wolves. Hybridisation with coyotes (red wolf) and hybridisation with domestic dogs (Ethiopian wolf) are also problematic because they threaten the genetic integrity of the wolf populations.
How often do wolves reproduce?
At about 2 to 3 years, wolves start mating and a breeding pair will produce a litter of pups every year. Pups are born in spring and reared in a den for the first 6 weeks, initially relying on their mother’s milk. After they are weaned, other members of the pack help raise them by feeding them regurgitated food. Young start travelling with the adults at about 7 to 8 months old. Typically, they will stay in the natal pack for about 2 years before dispersing, joining other packs or starting their own.
Physical characteristics of wolves
- Sharp teeth
- Strong jaws
- Broad snout
- Rounded ears
- Streamlined shape
- Thick coat of fur
- Scent gland on their tail (supracaudal gland)
- Long legs
- Large paws
Wolf facts
Family: Canidae (Canis lupus)
Weight: up to 80kg
Lifespan: 8 to 13 years in the wild
Speed: up to 64kmph over short distances
More animal guides:
- African wild dogs guide: species facts, habitat and why they’re endangered
- Tiger guide: species facts, how they hunt and where to see in the wild
- Coati guide: what they are, where they live, what they eat and coati social groups