Head and body, 36 to 63 in (91 to 160 cm); Tail, 13 to 20 in (33 to 51 cm)

Max and Alex Welcome to TitanPad! This pad text is synchronized as you type, so that everyone viewing this page sees the same text. This allows you to collaborate seamlessly on documents! National Geographic facts: Type: Mammal Diet: Carnivore Average life span in the wild: 6 to 8 years Size: Head and body, 36 to 63 in (91 to 160 cm); Tail, 13 to 20 in (33 to 51 cm) Weight: 40 to 175 lbs (18 to 79 kg) Group name: Pack Protection status: Endangered Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man: Wolves are legendary because of their spine-tingling howl, which they use to communicate. A lone wolf howls to attract the attention of his pack, while communal howls may send territorial messages from one pack to another. Some howls are confrontational. Much like barking domestic dogs, wolves may simply begin howling because a nearby wolf has already begun. Wolves are the largest members of the dog family. Adaptable gray wolves are by far the most common and were once found all over the Northern Hemisphere. But wolves and humans have a long adversarial history. Though they almost never attack humans, wolves are considered one of the animal world's most fearsome natural villains. They do attack domestic animals, and countless wolves have been shot, trapped, and poisoned because of this tendency. In the lower 48 states, gray wolves were hunted to near extinction, though some populations survived and others have since been reintroduced. Few gray wolves survive in Europe, though many live in Alaska, Canada, and Asia.

Red wolves live in the southeastern United States, where they are endangered. These animals actually became extinct in the wild in 1980. Scientists established a breeding program with a small number of captive red wolves and have reintroduced the animal to North Carolina. Today, perhaps 100 red wolves survive in the wild. The maned wolf, a distant relative of the more familiar gray and red wolves, lives in South America. Physically, this animal resembles a large, red fox more than its wolf relatives. Wolves live and hunt in packs of around six to ten animals. They are known to roam large distances, perhaps 12 miles (20 kilometers) in a single day. These social animals cooperate on their preferred prey large animals such as deer, elk, and moose. When they are successful, wolves do not eat in moderation. A single animal can consume 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of meat at a sitting. Wolves also eat smaller mammals, birds, fish, lizards, snakes, and fruit. Wolf packs are established according to a strict hierarchy, with a dominant male at the top and his mate not far behind. Usually this male and female are the only animals of the pack to breed. All of a pack's adults help to care for young pups by bringing them food and watching them while others hunt. Light brown = wolf range Alaska.net Wolf factoids1) The wolf (Canis lupus ) Order: Carnivore, Family: Canidae (2) The wolf is the largest in the wild canine family (3) The coyote evolved separately from the wolf over 500,000 years ago (4) The wolf has 42 teeth (5) The wolf has rounded ears (6) The wolf has a broad heavy muzzle (7) The wolf has extremely powerful jaws capable of generating 1,500 psi pressure (8) The wolf has one of the widest ranges of size, shape and color of any mammal in North America (9) The wolf lives in a pack, family oriented social structure 10) Mating season for the wolf occurs in February and March. 11) The gestation period for the wolf is 63 days (12) Wolf pups are born in April and May (13) The average litter size for the wolf is 4 to 7 pups (14) Litter size for the wolf depends on nutrition factors as well as fitness of the female

(15) Mortality rates for wolf pups can be as high as 50% (16) Wolves have a vast communication repertoire including scent marks, vocalizations, visual displays, facial and body postures and rituals (17) Wolves communicate with each other more by harmony and integration rather than by aggression and submission (18) Wolves are territorial and defend their territory through vocalizations and scent marking (19) If necessary, wolves will attack other wolf intruders to protect their territory (20) There are two species of the wolf in North America, the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus ) and the Red Wolf (Canis rufus ) (21) In North America there are 10 recognized sub-species of the wolf (22) The main threat to wolf populations is loss of habitat (23) Predation is not violence, it is the act of obtaining food for survival (24) The wolf is an ultimate predator at the top of the food chain (25) The wolf is designed for running, catching and killing large animals (26) The wolf is opportunistic and will attempt to catch the easiest and most vulnerable animal (27) The wolf can kill healthy animals but naturally seeks out the sick, the weak, crippled, old and young animals (28) The wolf primarily travels at a 5 mile per hour trot (29) In chases, the wolf can achieve estimated speeds of between 28 and 40 miles per hour for up to 20 minutes (30) Radio tracking wolves has been used in wildlife research since 1963 (31) Wolves are vulnerable to skull injury from kicking prey (32) The canine teeth "interlock" so the wolf can grip and hang on to struggling prey (33) The back teeth, or carnassial molars, are designed to crush bones and shear meat (34) The wolf uses facial display in ritual aggression, dominance, submission or fear (35) The wolf has 2 types of hair, "Guards and "Undercoat" (36) The hair of the wolf is shed in the spring and summer and sheds out in sheets unlike most dogs (37) The color of a wolf's pelt can be anywhere from white to black (38) The wolf uses its hair to communicate anger, dominance and aggression (39) The wolf's sense of smell is more than 100 times greater than a human

(40) A wolf 'scent rolls' to promote interaction with other pack members (41) Dominance in a wolf pack is not necessarily established by brawn or direct attack (42) A wolf 'scent marks' its home range. This serves as messages, and provides warnings (43) The hierarchy in a wolf pack neutralizes aggression, reduces conflict and promotes social order (44) There are two hierarchies in a wolf pack, one for females and one for males (45) Change of rank in a wolf pack is more frequent in lower rank positions (46) Wolf pups, while low in hierarchy, have many privileges and social freedom (47) 'Ethology' is the study of animal behavior as a scientific counterpart to human psychology (48) The "Alpha" wolf is the highest ranking individual within the dominance hierarchy (49) "You just can't let nature run wild" by Alaska Governor Walter J. Hickel (50) The "beta" wolf is the second ranking individual within the dominance hierarchy (51) The "omega" wolf is the lowest ranking individual within the dominance hierarchy (52) In the winter, the wolf's tail helps keep the face warm (53) Wolves breed only once a year; most dogs breed twice (54) In addition to the wolf (Canis lupus ), the genus Canis also contains the domestic dog, the coyote, the golden jackal, the black backed jackal, the side-striped jackal and the dingo (55) Three (3) geographic races of the red wolf have been recognized; the Florida Red Wolf, The Mississippi Red Wolf and the Texas Red Wolf (56) Wolves are often confused with Indian dogs, huskies, malemutes and German Shepherd Dogs (57) Arctic tundra, taiga, plains or steppes, savannahs, hardwood, softwood and mixed forest were all originally inhabited by the wolf (58) Adult male wolves average ninety-five to one hundred pounds and females about fifteen pounds less (59) Wolves howl to greet one another, to indicate their location, to define their territorial boundaries, and to call the pack together (60) Wolves can trot at five to ten miles per hour almost indefinitely (61) A wolf may spend as much as a third of its time on the move (62) The wolf is generally a docile animal with a strong aversion to fighting (63) Submissive behavior plays a big role in maintaining peace within the pack (64) A wolf's front feet are larger than their back feet (65) Packs hunt in territories of up to 600 square miles

(66) A pack's home range will sometimes overlap the territory of another pack (67) In addition to howling, wolves bark, yap, whine, and growl (68) Litters of up to 14 pups are born in April through June (69) Pups emerge from the den at about one month of age (70) All members of a wolf pack take part in caring for the young (71) When pack members return from the hunt and they are nipped on the snout by the pups, the hunters regurgitate undigested meat for them (72) Wolves are considered to be competitors with people for game animals such as moose and caribou (73) Although wolves are feared throughout much of the world, documented attacks on people are extremely rare (74) Attempts to keep wolves as pets are not usually successful (75) Wolves use direct scenting, chance encounter, and tracking to locate prey (76) In scenting an animal, wolves must usually be downwind of the prey (77) Wolves are active at all times of the day in winter (78) Where waterways are plentiful, wolves often travel on the windswept and hard packed ice in winter (79) Wolves actually have a low hunting success rate (80) To catch enough food, wolves must hunt often and test many animals before finding one that they can catch and kill (81) Most packs contain less than eight members (82) Wolves bear an average of six young per litter(82) Wolves become sexually mature at approximately twenty-two months (83) Strong bonds are needed to hold a pack together; if there were no bonds, each wolf would go its separate way (84) Most packs include a pair of breeding adults, pups, and extra adults that may also breed (85) Ambushing is used by both single wolves and by packs (86) Wolves at one time had an extensive range, occurring throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Japan (87) The only substantial population of wolves left at present in the contiguous 48 states inhabits northern Minnesota (88) The range of the red wolf once extended from eastern Texas to Georgia and Florida and northward through Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Illinois (89) The basic unit of wolf society is the pack

(90) The wolf's front teeth are sharp and pointed and adapted to puncturing, slashing, and clinging (91) The wolf's pointed premolars and molars are useful for tearing and shearing once the prey has been killed (92) The wolf's massive rear molars aid in cracking and crushing bones (93) The wolf does little chewing (94) A wolf can consume almost twenty pounds of prey at a feeding (95) Wolves can maintain a chase for at least twenty minutes (96) The wolf feeds almost exclusively on flesh, bones, and other animal matter (97) Lone wolves have no social territory and rarely scent-mark or howl (98) The range size for a given pack of wolves depends on many environmental factors, particularly prey density (99) It is common for wolves to be moving eight to ten hours in a day (100) A pack may cover distances from 30-125 miles in a day (101) Wolves possess upwards of two hundred million olfactory cells (102) A wolf's tail hangs while the tail of the dog tends to be held high and is often curly Askkidscom Help Report a Problem This page cannot be displayed at the current time. Please try again. Source Red Wolf Kingdom: Animal Phylum: Chordate Class: Mammal Order: Carnivore Family:

Canidae Genus: Canis Species: Canis rufus The Red Wolf can exist alongside humans, but is much less adaptable than the Coyote. It is possible that the Coyote has had success in the East because it fills a niche formerly occupied by the Red Wolf. The Red Wolf is mainly... Gray Wolf HEIGHT = 26 to 32 inches LENGTH = 4.5 to 6.5 feet from nose to tail WEIGHT = 55-130 ibs. LIFESPAN = 7-8 years DIET Wolves eat large hoofed animals like elk. Wolves also are scavengers and eat small prey. POPULATION There are about 9000 wolves left in Alaska and more than 5000 in the other 48 states. RANGE Wolves live in Alaska, Idaho, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. BEHAVIOR Wolves live in packs of 4-7, and have an alpha pack. Mating season = January and February Gestation = 63 days Litter size = 4-7 pups THREATS People, hunting and habitat loss. WEBSITE http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/wolf,_gray.php MEXICAN WOLF Height is 26-32 inches at shoulder Length 4.5-5.5 feet from nose to tail Weight is 60 to 80 ibs; males are typically bigger than female Lifespan is up to 15 years in captivity DIET Mexican wolves eat large-hoofed animals like deer, but they will eat smaller animals. POPULATION In 2008, there were only 50 wolves still alive. RANGE The Mexican wolf, despite its name, and there population, live in Apache National forest. BEHAVIOR Mating season = mid February mid March

Gestation (time weaned) = 63 days Litter size = 4-7 pups THREATS Humans and habitat loss WEBSITE http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/mexican_wolf.php RED WOLF Height = 26 inches at shoulders Length = 4.5 to 5.5 feet long Weight = 50 to 80 ibs. Lifespan = 6 to 7 years DIET Small mammals, insects, berries, and occasional deer. POPULATION 100 wild wolves. RANGE Roan 1.7 million acres through North Carolina. BEHAVIOR Red wolves are nocturnal, and communicate with scent marks and howling. Mating Season = Late Winter Gestation = 60 to 63 days Litter Size = 2-8 pups WEBSITE http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/red/wolf.com Mrs Lyster s Cool Links on Diigo http://www.diigo.com/list/techtrekker/copelands-wolf-project http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/wolves/howl.html http://www.wolf.org/wolves/experience/malik.asp http://www.kidsplanet.org/www/index.html http://www.wolfquest.org/about_wolves.php http://www.wolf.org/wolves/learn/justkids/kids_wolf_families.asp http://www.alaska.net/~wolfsong/wolf_facts.html http://wolves.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/phantom-hill_elk-carcass.jpg http://www.google.com/images? rlz=1t4adsa_enus378us406&q=wolves+hunting+elk+in+the+foreset&um=1&ie=utf- 8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-wolf-that-changed-america/video-full-episode/4414/ http://www.wolfweb.com/ http://www.cosmosmith.com/wolfpage.html http://users.ap.net/~chenae/wolfhome.html http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/wolf.html

http://fohn.net/wolf-pictures-facts/wolf-2.html The Ethiopian wolf, also known as the Abyssinian Wolf or Simien Jackal, is believed by some scientists not to be a true wolf. However, DNA studies show it to be more closely related to gray wolves and coyotes than to any other African canines. It is the most endangered canine species in Africa, and, among wolves, its rarity is second only to the red wolf. It inhabits only a few mountain pockets of the Ethiopian highlands. There is believed to be fewer than 450 alive in the wild. The largest concentration of Ethiopian wolves exist in the Bale Mountains National Park. The people living in the Bale Mountains own on average 2 dogs per household in order to protect their livestock. Although the wolves' habitat has constantly dwindled as a result of human encroachment, its greatest threat of extinction is a recurring epidemic of rabies which is transmitted from domestic dogs with whom the wolves compete for food. The Ethiopian wolf has long legs and a long muzzle, resembling the coyote in both shape and size. It has a distinctive reddish coat with a white throat, chest, and underparts, broad pointed ears, and a thick bushy black tail with a white base. It ranges in size from 43 to 55 inches (tip of nose to end of tail) and weighs from 24 to 42 pounds. By nature, the Ethiopian wolf hunts by day, but it is found to sometimes be nocturnal in areas where it is persecuted. Though they live in packs which share and defend their territories, they almost always hunt alone. Rodents make up over 90% of their diet, but they occasionally feed on small antelopes, hares, and hyraxes. Breeding season usually occurs between August and November. During breeding season and pregnancy, the female's coat turns a pale yellowish color and her tail turns brownish and loses hair. The dominant female of the pack gives birth to a litter of 2 to 7 pups between October and January. Full maturity is reached at 2 years. The only real predators other than humans are spotted hyenas and tawny eagles that occasionally prey on unattended pups. Life span in the wild is about 8 to 10 years. It inhabits only a few mountain pockets of the Ethiopian highlands. There is believed to be fewer than 450 alive in the wild. The largest concentration of Ethiopian wolves exist in the Bale Mountains National Park. The people living in the Bale Mountains own on average 2 dogs per household in order to protect their livestock. Although the wolves' habitat has constantly dwindled as a result of human encroachment, its greatest threat of extinction is a recurring epidemic of rabies which is transmitted from domestic dogs with whom the wolves compete for food. The Ethiopian wolf has long legs and a long muzzle, resembling the coyote in both shape and size. It has a distinctive reddish coat with a white throat, chest, and underparts, broad pointed ears, and a thick bushy black tail with a white base. It ranges in size from 43 to 55 inches (tip of nose to end of tail) and weighs from 24 to 42 pounds. By nature, the Ethiopian wolf hunts by day, but it is found to sometimes be nocturnal in areas where it is persecuted. Though they live in packs which share and defend their territories, they almost always hunt alone. Rodents make up over 90% of their diet, but they occasionally feed on small antelopes, hares, and hyraxes. Breeding season usually occurs between August and November. During breeding season and pregnancy, the female's coat turns a pale yellowish color and her tail turns brownish and loses hair. The dominant female of the pack gives birth to a litter of 2 to 7 pups between October and January. Full maturity is reached at 2 years. The only real predators other than humans are spotted hyenas and tawny eagles that occasionally prey on unattended pups. Life span in the wild is about 8 to 10 years. From, Max WEBSITE http://www.cosmosmith.com/ethiopian_wolves.html Do you think we have enough work? The Arctic Wolf (Canis lupus arctos), also called Polar Wolf or White Wolf, is a mammal of the Canidae family and a subspecies of the Grey Wolf. Arctic Wolves inhabit the Canadian Arctic and the northern parts of Greenland. The Arctic Wolf and the Timber Wolf are the only subspecies of the Grey Wolf that still can be found over the whole of its original range, largely because in their natural habitat they rarely encounter humans.

Arctic Wolves generally are smaller than Grey Wolves, measuring around 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 metres) long including the tail. Male Arctic Wolves are larger than female Arctic Wolves. Their shoulder heights vary from 25 to 31 inches (63 to 79 centimetres). Arctic Wolves are bulkier than Grey Wolves, often weighing over 100 pounds (45 kilograms). Weights of up to 175 pounds (80 kilograms) have been observed in full-grown males. Arctic Wolves usually have small ears, which help the wolf maintain body heat. The alpha male is always the largest and will continue growing after other wolves had stopped. Arctic wolves can be black, grey or white. Arctic Wolf Hunting Arctic wolves, like all wolves, hunt in packs. They mostly prey on Caribou and musk oxen, however, they will also kill a number of Arctic Hares, seals, ptarmigan and lemmings, as well as other smaller animals. Moose are also common prey, their long legs may render them slow and at times, stuck, in thick snow, leaving them vulnerable to attacks by wolf packs. As grazing plants are scarce, they roam large areas to find prey up to and beyond 2600 kilometres squared (1000 square miles) and they will follow migrating caribou during the winter. Arctic Wolf Reproduction Normally, only the alpha male and female Arctic wolves breed, however, in large packs others may mate as well. Due to the Arctics permafrost soil and the difficulty it poses for digging dens, Arctic Wolves often use rock outcroppings, caves or even shallow depressions as dens instead. The mother gives birth to 2 or 3 pups in late May to early June, about a month later than Grey Wolves. It is generally thought that the lower number of pups compared to the average of 4 to 5 among Grey Wolves is due to the lack of prey in the Arctic. Female Arctic wolves have a gestation period of about 63 days. The wolf pups stay with their mother for 2 years. At birth, wolf pups tend to have darker fur and their eyes have blue irises that will change to a yellowgold or orange colour when the pups are between 8 and 16 weeks old. Though extremely unusual, it is possible for an adult wolf to retain its blue-coloured irises. Arctic Wolves have achieved life spans of over 18 years in captivity; however, in the wild, the average life span is only 7-10 years. Arctic Wolf Conservation Status The Arctic Wolf is classed as 'Least Concern'. The White Wolf Sanctuary is a refuge for Arctic wolves located in Tidewater, Oregon. The average population of wolves in the sanctuary is 8-10 over 40 acres, of which some are rescued wolves who were injured, unwanted or abandoned. The Eastern Wolf (Canis lupus lycaon), also know as Eastern Canadian Wolf or Eastern Canadian Red Wolf is a subspecies of the Grey Wolf. Sometimes it is also viewed as a result of historical hybridizations between grey wolves and red wolves or coyotes. The Eastern Wolf is recognize as a potential distinct species, but close related to Red Wolf. The Eastern Wolf mainly occupies the area in and around Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario and also ventures into adjacent parts of Quebec, Canada. The Eastern Wolf also may be present in Minnesota and Manitoba. In the past, the Eastern Wolf might have ranged south into the United States, however, after the arrival of Europeans, these wolves were heavily persecuted and became extirpated from the United States. In Canada, exact numbers of Eastern Canadian Wolves are unknown. Eastern Wolf Characteristics The Eastern Wolf is smaller than the Grey Wolf. It has a pale greyish-brown pelt. The back and the sides are covered with long, black hairs. Behind the ears, there is a slight reddish colour. These differences in attributes are thought to be a result of their Red Wolf ancestry. The Eastern Wolf is also more slender than the Grey Wolf and displays a coyote-like appearance. This is because wolves and coyotes often mate and breed hybrid wolf/coyote pups in the Canadian Parks. Because the two wolves look so much alike, a ban on the hunting of these wolves and coyotes has been in place to make sure no accidental deaths occur. Eastern Wolf Diet The Eastern Wolf preys on White-tailed Deer, Moose, rabbits and rodents including beaver, muskrat and mice. Preying on American Black Bear was also reported. Studies in Algonquin Provincial Park showed that three species accounted for 99% of the wolves's diet, Moose (some of which is scavenged), White-

tailed Deer and Beaver. The wolves tend to prey more frequently on American Beaver in the summer and on White-tailed Deer in the winter. The Eurasian Wolf (Canis lupus lupus), also known as the Common Wolf, European Wolf, Carpathian Wolf, Steppes Wolf, Tibetan Wolf and Chinese Wolf is a subspecies of the Grey Wolf (Canis lupus). Currently, it has the largest range among wolf subspecies and is the most common in Europe and Asia, ranging through Western Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, China, Mongolia and the Himalayan Mountains. Originally spread over most of Eurasia, with a southern limit of the Himalayas, the Hindukush, the Koppet Dag, the Caucasus, the Black Sea and the Alps, it has been pushed back from most of Western Europe and Eastern China, surviving mostly in Central Asia. Eurasian Wolf Characteristics Eurasian wolves have shorter, denser fur than their North American relatives. Their size varies according to region, although adults measure 30 inches (76 centimetres) at the shoulder and weigh around 70-130 pounds (32-59 kilograms), with females usually being about twenty per cent smaller than males. The heaviest known Eurasian wolf was killed in Romania and weighed 158 pounds (72 kilograms). The colour of the Eurasian Wolf ranges from white, cream, red, grey and black, sometimes with all colours combined. Wolves in central Europe tend to be more richly coloured than those in Northern Europe. Eurasian Wolf Behaviour Eurasian wolves are highly social animals, though due to a decline in territory, they form smaller packs than in North America. Social behaviour seems to vary from region to region, an example being that wolves living in the Carpathians tend to be predominantly solitary hunters. Eurasian Wolf Reproduction The Eurasian Wolf alpha male and female mate between January and March. Litters, usually consist of 6 pups which are born 7 weeks later in a den which has been dug among bushes or rocks. The male brings food back to the den, either by carrying it whole or by swallowing and then regurgitating it for the others to eat. As the pups grow, the mother and other members of the pack help to feed them. Eurasian Wolf Diet The diet of Eurasian wolves varies enormously throughout their ranges. Eurasian wolves commonly prey on medium sized ungulates like moufflon, chamois, saiga, wild boar, red deer, roe deer and livestock. Eurasian wolves will occasionally eat smaller prey such as frogs and hares. In Europe, their largest prey is the wisent, while in Asia, it is the yak. Because of increasing shortage of natural prey, wolves are sometimes forced to give up their packhunting habits and scavenge for food around villages and farmhouses. Many rural villages have open dumps where the local slaughterhouse disposes of its waste. Many wolves feed there alongside feral or stray dogs. Eurasian Wolf Conservation Status In Norway, in 2001, the Norwegian Government authorised a controversial wolf cull on the grounds that the animals were overpopulating and were responsible for the killing of more than 600 sheep in 2000. The Norwegian authorities, whose original plans to kill 20 wolves were scaled down amid public outcry. In 2005, the Norwegian government proposed another cull, with the intent of exterminating 25% of Norways wolf population. A recent study of the wider Scandinavian wolf population concluded there were 120 individuals at the most, causing great concern on the genetic health of the population. Wolves cross over the border from Russia into Finland on a regular basis. Although they are protected under EU law, Finland has issued hunting permits on a preventative basis in the past, which resulted in the European Commission taking legal action in 2005. In June 2007 the European Court of Justice ruled that Finland had breached the Habitats Directive but that both sides had failed in at least one of their claims. Finland's wolf population is estimated at around 250. Eurasian wolves are currently considered as 'Least Concern' by the IUCN. The Italian Wolf (Canis lupus italicus) also known as the Apennine Wolf, is a subspecies of the Grey Wolf found in the Apennine Mountains in Italy. It was first described in 1921 and recognised as a distinct subspecies in 1999. Recently due to an increase in population, the subspecies has also been spotted in areas of Switzerland.

During recent years, Italian wolves have also established themselves in Southern France, particularly in the Parc National du Mercantour. It is federally protected in all three countries. Italian Wolf Characteristics The Italian Wolf is a medium wolf. Male Italian Wolves have an average weight of 24-40 kilograms (53-88 pounds), with females usually being 10% lighter. The body length of the Italian Wolf is usually 100-140 centimetres (39-55 inches). Their fur colour is commonly blended grey or brown, though black specimens have recently been sighted in the Mugello region and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. Italian Wolf Diet The Italian Wolf is a nocturnal hunter which feeds primarily on medium sized animals such as Chamois, Roe Deer, Red Deer and Wild Boar. In the absence of such prey items, its diet will also include small animals such as hares and rabbits. An Italian wolf can eat up to 1,5-3 kilograms of meat a day. The Italian Wolf will occasionally consume berries and herbs for roughage. The Italian Wolf has adapted well in some urbanised areas and as such, will usually not ignore refuse or domestic animals. Italian Wolf Behaviour Due to a scarcity of large prey, wolf packs in Italy tend to be smaller than average. Packs are usually limited to a nuclear family composed of a reproducing alpha pair, young sub adults which remain with their birth family until they are old enough to disperse and produce cubs. However, in areas where large herbivores such as deer have been reintroduced, such as the Abruzzo National Park, packs consisting of 6-7 individuals can be found. Italian Wolf Reproduction Mating occurs in mid-march with a 2 month gestation period. The number of pups born is dependant on the mothers age, usually ranging from 2 to 8 pups. Italian Wolf pups weigh 250-350 grams at birth and open their eyes at the age of 11-12 days. Italian Wolf pups are weaned at the age of 35-45 days and are fully able to digest meat at 3-4 months. Italian Wolf Conservation StatusItalian Wolves in Italy Starting from the 1970s, political debates began favouring the increase in wolf populations. A new investigation began in the early 1980s, in which it was estimated that there were now approximately 220-240 animals and growing. New estimates in the 1990s revealed that the wolf populations had doubled, with some wolves taking residence in the Alps, a region not inhabited by wolves for nearly a century. Current estimates indicate that there are 500-600 Italian wolves living in the wild. Italian Wolf populations are said to be growing at a rate of 7% annually. The Tundra Wolf (Canis lupus albus) is a subspecies of Grey Wolf that can be found throughout northern Europe and Asia, primarily in the northern arctic and boreal regions of Russia. Although Tundra Wolves were eliminated from some of the Arctic islands north of Siberia, they have been recently seen on Wrangle Island. Tundra Wolf Characteristics Consistent with Bergmann's Rule (Bergmann's rule is an ecogeographic rule that correlates latitude with body mass in animals), tundra wolves are among the largest of grey wolf subspecies. Tundra Wolves can attain a body length of 2 metres (7 feet) and usually an average weight of 45-57 kilograms (100-125 pounds), though there are some unconfirmed reports of animals reaching weights of 100 kilograms (220 pounds). Males are usually larger than females. Most tundra wolves have a grey colour, with mixes of black, rust and silver grey. Like most canids, Tundra wolves have a high body, long legs, broad skull tapering to a narrow muzzle. Their tail is bushy and their coat has a thick, dense underfur. Tundra Wolf Reproduction Due to the high latitude of their environment (71 degrees), they breed much later in the year than most other wolves, usually in late March through April. Females enter into an estrus period for approximately 5-15 days during which time she will mate with the male Tundra Wolf. Gestation period for the female Tundra Wolf is 62-63 days. Between 2-6 wolf pups are born and are nursed for a duration of around 45 days. The life span of the Tundra Wolf is around 16 years. Tundra Wolf Diet Like all wolves, Tundra wolves are carnivorous. They primarily prey on large mammals such as deer, wapiti, moose, caribou, bison, musk ox and mountain sheep. Their smallest prey taken consistently is beaver. An adult Tundra Wolf can consume as much as 9 kilograms (20 pounds) in one feeding. Tundra Wolf Conservation

Tundra Wolves are classed as 'Least Concern', however, Tundra wolves are especially vulnerable to the fur trade, as their pelages are more luxuriant than forest dwelling wolves, sometimes selling for twice as much. The Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the largest canid in South America. The Maned Wolf resembles a large dog with reddish fur. The Maned wolves distribution includes southern Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Bolivia east of the Andes. The Maned Wolf is an endangered species and its range once included Uruguay and northern Argentina, although IUCN lists it as 'lower risk'. The Maned Wolf is the only species in the genus Chrysocyon. Maned Wolf Characteristics The Maned Wolf appears as a cross among different species: the head and colouring of a wolf, the large ears of an African hunting dog and the body of a hyena. Some think the wolf looks like a mix between a wolf and a fox. The Maned Wolf has often been described as a 'Red Fox on stilts'. The adult Maned Wolf stands almost 1 metre (3 feet) tall at the shoulder and weighs 20 to 25 kilograms. (50 to 55 pounds). The Maned Wolfs fur is reddish brown on the sides, with long black legs and a distinctive black mane. The coat is further marked with whitish tufts at the tip of the tail and a white 'bib' beneath the throat. Their mane is able to stand upright and is typically used to enlarge the wolfs profile when threatened or when displaying aggression. Maned Wolf Reproduction Maned Wolves do not form packs like other wolves. Maned Wolves live in monogamous pairs (having one partner for life) and only interact during the breeding season. April marks the beginning of the breeding season. In August and early September mothers give birth to 2-5 maned wolf pups. In captivity, males help raise pups by regurgitating food. Captive Maned wolves live between 12-15 years. Little information is known about family habits of wild Maned wolves. Maned Wolf Diet Whereas other large canids hunt cooperatively to capture ungulate prey, Maned wolves specialize in small prey. At night Maned Wolves search for rodents, hares and birds. Fruits are a large fraction of their diet. Most interestingly of all, a large portion of the diet, over 50%, according to some studies, is made of fruits and plant matter, especially Wolf Apples, the tomato-like fruit of Solanum lycocarpum. Captive maned wolves were traditionally fed meat-heavy diets and developed kidney stones. Zoo diets now feature fruits and vegetables, as well as meat and dog chow. Maned Wolf Behaviour Maned wolves are nocturnal (most active in the night) preferring to rest under forest cover during the day and hunt until sunrise. Contrary to popular opinion, Maned wolves are very shy and only attack humans when they feel threatened or afraid. Maned Wolf Habitat Maned wolves live in the South American grasslands and scrub forests of Brazil, northern Argentina, Paraguay, eastern Bolivia and southeastern Peru. Maned Wolf Conservation Status Habitat destruction through agricultural development threatens Maned wolves. The effects of agriculture, overgrazing by cattle, annual burning of pasture and soil erosion leave less food and territory for Maned wolves. Maned wolves cannot meet and mate with other Maned wolves when they are isolated from each other. Sometimes Maned wolves are killed by ranchers when they try to eat domestic chickens, a convenient food. It is estimated that there are between 4500-2200 Maned wolves. The Maned wolf is one of the many species maintained at the National Zoos Conservation and Research Centre that participate in cooperative breeding programs under the auspices of the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). defenders of wildlife Behavior Wolves live, travel and hunt in packs of 4-7 animals on average. Packs include the mother and father wolves, called the alphas, their pups and several other subordinate or young animals. The alpha female and male are the pack leaders that track and hunt prey, choose den sites and establish the pack's territory.

Wolves develop close relationships and strong social bonds. They often demonstrate deep affection for their family and may even sacrifice themselves to protect the family unit. Did You Know? Wolves can range in color, from pure white in Arctic populations, to brown, gray, cinnamon and black. Wolves have a complex communication system ranging from barks and whines to growls and howls. While they don't howl at the moon, they do howl more when it's lighter at night, which occurs more often when the moon is full. Reproduction Mating Season: January or February. Gestation: 63 days. Litter size: 4-7 pups. Pups are born blind and defenseless. The pack cares for the pups until they mature at about 10 months of age Threats The most common cause of death for wolves is conflict with people over livestock losses. While wolf predation on livestock is fairly uncommon, wolves that do prey on them are often killed to protect the livestock. Defenders is working with livestock owners to develop non-lethal methods to reduce the chances of a wolf attacking livestock. These methods include fencing livestock, lighting, alarm systems and removing dead or dying livestock that may attract carnivores like wolves Cool website http://icwdm.org/handbook/carnivor/ca_c123.pdf Threats The most common cause of death for wolves is conflict with people over livestock losses. While wolf predation on livestock is fairly uncommon, wolves that do prey on them are often killed to protect the livestock. Defenders is working with livestock owners to develop non-lethal methods to reduce the chances of a wolf attacking livestock. These methods include fencing livestock, lighting, alarm systems and removing dead or dying livestock that may attract carnivores like wolves. Another serious threat is human encroachment into wolf territory, which leads to habitat loss for wolves and their prey species. Overall, the greatest threat to wolves is people's fear and misunderstanding about the species. Many fairy tales and myths tend to misrepresent wolves as villainous, dangerous creatures. Legal Status/Protection Endangered Species Act (ESA): wolves throughout the Lower 48 United States are listed as endangered except in Minnesota where they are listed as threatened. In Alaska, wolves are not listed under the ESA. Read more about wolves and the Endangered Species Act >> In Wyoming and portions of the Southwest wolves are designated as non-essential experimental populations, which isolates geographically-described groups from other existing populations and offers broader management regulations. Learn more about legal status and protection of wolves >> Wolves prey mainly on large animals including white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, caribou, elk, Dall sheep, bighorn sheep, and beaver. Small mammals and carrion make up the balance of their diet. During the 1800s, gray wolves on the Great Plains preyed Fig. 2. Current range of the gray wolf (light) and red wolf (dark) in North America. Pet dogs are related to wolves, so our coyotes.

Most wolves are Gray Wolves. The Alpha wolves always eats first in a pack. Two species of wolves occur in North America, gray wolves (Canis lupus) and red wolves (Canis rufus). The common names are misleading since individuals of both species vary in color from grizzled gray to rusty brown to black. Some gray wolves are even white. The largest subspecies of the gray wolf are found in Alaska and the Northwest Territories of Canada. Adult male gray wolves typically weigh 80 to 120 pounds (36.3 to 54.4 kg), and adult females 70 to 90 pounds (31.8 to 40.8 kg). Although males rarely exceed 120 pounds (54.4 kg), and females 100 pounds (45.4 kg), some individuals may weigh much more. Gray wolves vary in length from about 4.5 to 6.5 feet (1.4 to 2 m) from nose to tip of tail and stand 26 to 36 inches (66 to 91.4 cm) high at the shoulders (Mech 1970). Red wolves are intermediate in size between gray wolves and coyotes. Typical red wolves weigh 45 to 65 pounds (20.4 to 29.5 kg). Total length ranges from about 4.4 to 5.4 feet (1.3 to 1.6 m) (Paradiso and Nowak 1972). Wherever wolves occur, their howls may be heard. The howl of a wolf carries for miles on a still night. Both gray wolves and red wolves respond to loud imitations of their howl or to sirens. Canis lupus) and red wolves (Canis rufus). The common names are misleading since individuals of both species vary in color from grizzled gray to rusty brown to black. Some gray wolves are even white. The largest subspecies of the gray wolf are found in Alaska and the Northwest Territories of Canada. Adult male gray wolves typically weigh 80 to 120 pounds (36.3 to 54.4 kg), and adult females 70 to 90 pounds (31.8 to 40.8 kg). Although males rarely exceed 120 pounds (54.4 kg), and females 100 pounds (45.4 kg), some individuals may weigh much more. Gray wolves vary in length from about 4.5 to 6.5 feet (1.4 to 2 m) from

nose to tip of tail and stand 26 to 36 inches (66 to 91.4 cm) high at the shoulders (Mech 1970). Red wolves are intermediate in size between gray wolves and coyotes. Typical red wolves weigh 45 to 65 pounds (20.4 to 29.5 kg). Total length ranges from about 4.4 to 5.4 feet (1.3 to 1.6 m) (Paradiso and Nowak 1972). Wherever wolves occur, their howls may be heard. The howl of a wolf carries for miles on a still night. Both gray wolves and red wolves respond to loud imitations of their howl or to sirens. Canis rufus). The common names are misleading since individuals of both species vary in color from grizzled gray to rusty brown to black. Some gray wolves are even white. The largest subspecies of the gray wolf are found in Alaska and the Northwest Territories of Canada. Adult male gray wolves typically weigh 80 to 120 pounds (36.3 to 54.4 kg), and adult females 70 to 90 pounds (31.8 to 40.8 kg). Although males rarely exceed 120 pounds (54.4 kg), and females 100 pounds (45.4 kg), some individuals may weigh much more. Gray wolves vary in length from about 4.5 to 6.5 feet (1.4 to 2 m) from nose to tip of tail and stand 26 to 36 inches (66 to 91.4 cm) high at the shoulders (Mech 1970). Red wolves are intermediate in size between gray wolves and coyotes. Typical red wolves weigh 45 to 65 pounds (20.4 to 29.5 kg). Total length ranges from about 4.4 to 5.4 feet (1.3 to 1.6 m) (Paradiso and Nowak 1972). Wherever wolves occur, their howls may be heard. The howl of a wolf carries for miles on a still night. Both gray wolves and red wolves respond to loud imitations of their howl or to sirens. Range During the 1800s, gray wolves ranged over the North American continent as far south as central Mexico. They did not inhabit the southeastern states, extreme western California, or far western Mexico (Young and Goldman 1944). In the late 1800s and early 1900s, wolves were eliminated from most

regions of the contiguous United States by control programs that incorporated shooting, trapping, and poisoning. Today, an estimated 55,000 gray wolves exist in Canada and 5,900 to 7,200 in Alaska. In the contiguous United States, the distribution of the gray wolf has been reduced to approximately 3% of its original range. Minnesota has the largest population of wolves in the lower 48 states, estimated at 1,550 to 1,750. A population of wolves exists on Isle Royale in Lake Superior, but the population is at an all-time low of 12 animals. In recent years, wolves have recolonized Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, northwestern Montana, central and northern Idaho, and northern Washington. A few isolated gray wolves may also exist in remote areas of Mexico. Current efforts to reestablish gray wolves are being conducted in northwestern Montana, central Idaho, the Greater Yellowstone area, and northern Washington (USFWS 1987). Recovery through natural recolonization is likely in northwestern Montana, central Idaho, and northern Washington. Due to Greater Yellowstone s geographic isolation from areas with established wolf populations, recovery there would likely require the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park. Red wolves originally occurred from central Texas to Florida and north to the Carolinas, Kentucky, southern Illinois, and southern Missouri (Young and Goldman 1944). Years of predator control and habitat conversion had, by 1970, reduced the range of the red wolf to coastal areas of southeastern Texas and possibly southwestern Louisiana. When red wolf populations became low, interbreeding with coyotes became a serious problem. In the mid- 1970s, biologists captured the last few red wolves for captive breeding before the species was lost to hybridization. The red wolf was considered extinct in the wild until 1987, when reintroductions began. Red wolf recovery attempts have been made on Bulls Island near Charleston,

South Carolina, and on Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in eastern North Carolina (Phillips and Parker 1988). The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee is also being considered as a red wolf reintroduction area. The goal of the red wolf recovery plan is to return red wolves to nonendangered status by re-establishment of self-sustaining wild populations in at least 2 locations within the species historic range (Abraham et al. 1980:14). Habitat Gray wolves occupy boreal forests and forest/agricultural edge communities in Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, and northern Michigan. In northwest Montana, northern Idaho, and northern Washington, wolves inhabit forested areas. In Canada and Alaska, wolves inhabit forested regions and alpine and arctic tundra. In Mexico, gray wolves are limited to remote forested areas in the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains. The last areas inhabited by red wolves were coastal prairie and coastal marshes of southeastern Texas and possibly southwestern Louisiana. These habitats differ markedly from the diverse forested habitats found over most of the historic range of red wolves. Food Habits Mech (1970) reported that gray wolves prey mainly on large animals including white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, caribou, elk, Dall sheep, bighorn sheep, and beaver. Small mammals and carrion make up the balance of their diet. During the 1800s, gray wolves on the Great Plains preyed Fig. 2. Current range of the gray wolf (light) and red wolf (dark) in North America. C-125 mostly on bison. As bison were eliminated and livestock husbandry established, wolves commonly killed livestock. Red wolves in southern Texas fed primarily on small animals such as nutria, rabbits, muskrats, and cotton rats (Shaw 1975). Carrion, wild hogs, calves, and other small domestic animals

were also common food items. General Biology, Reproduction, and Behavior Gray wolves are highly social, often living in packs of two to eight or more individuals. A pack consists of an adult breeding pair, young of the year, and offspring one or more years old from previous litters that remain with the pack. The pack structure of gray wolves increases the efficiency of wolves in killing large prey. Red wolves may be less social than gray wolves, although red wolves appear to maintain a group social structure throughout the year. Each wolf pack has a home range or territory that it defends against intruding wolves. Packs maintain their territories by scent marking and howling. On the tundra, packs of gray wolves may have home ranges approaching 1,200 square miles (3,108 km2). In forested areas, ranges are much smaller, encompassing 40 to 120 square miles (104 to 311 km2). Some wolves leave their pack and territory and become lone wolves, drifting around until they find a mate and a vacant area in which to start their own pack, or wandering over large areas without settling. Extreme movements, of 180 to 551 miles (290 to 886 km), have been reported. These movements were probably of dispersing wolves. The home ranges of red wolves are generally smaller than those of gray wolves. Red wolf home ranges averaged 27.3 square miles (71 km2) in southern Texas (Shaw 1975). Wild gray wolves usually are sexually mature at 22 months of age. Breeding usually takes place from early February through March, although it has been reported as early as January and as late as April. Pups are born 60 to 63 days after conception, usually during April or May. Most litters contain 4 to 7 young. Courtship is an intimate part of social life in the pack. Mating usually occurs only between the dominant (alpha) male and female of the pack. Thus, only 1 litter will be produced by a pack during a breeding season. All pack members aid in rearing the pups.

Dominance is established within days after gray wolf pups are born. As pups mature, they may disperse or maintain close social contact with parents and other relatives and remain members of the pack. Little is known about reproduction in red wolves, but it appears to be similar to that of gray wolves. Red wolves may breed from late December to early March. Usually 6 to 8 pups are produced. 2). In forested areas, ranges are much smaller, encompassing 40 to 120 square miles (104 to 311 km2). Some wolves leave their pack and territory and become lone wolves, drifting around until they find a mate and a vacant area in which to start their own pack, or wandering over large areas without settling. Extreme movements, of 180 to 551 miles (290 to 886 km), have been reported. These movements were probably of dispersing wolves. The home ranges of red wolves are generally smaller than those of gray wolves. Red wolf home ranges averaged 27.3 square miles (71 km2) in southern Texas (Shaw 1975). Wild gray wolves usually are sexually mature at 22 months of age. Breeding usually takes place from early February through March, although it has been reported as early as January and as late as April. Pups are born 60 to 63 days after conception, usually during April or May. Most litters contain 4 to 7 young. Courtship is an intimate part of social life in the pack. Mating usually occurs only between the dominant (alpha) male and female of the pack. Thus, only 1 litter will be produced by a pack during a breeding season. All pack members aid in rearing the pups. Dominance is established within days after gray wolf pups are born. As pups mature, they may disperse or maintain close social contact with parents and other relatives and remain members of the pack. Little is known about reproduction in red wolves, but it appears to be similar to that of gray wolves. Red wolves may breed from late December to early March. Usually 6 to 8 pups are