Dark grey wolf9/22/2023 ![]() In Yellowstone, about half of the gray wolves are black. Two gray wolves cannot have black pups, due to genetics. Black wolves are very uncommon in gray wolf populations to the east, such as those of the Great Lakes region. Over time, the presence of this gene has expanded geographically, especially in western North America. Very recent genomic sequencing of Yellowstone wolves has revealed that North American wolves inherited the black fur gene when they bred with the domesticated dogs of early human inhabitants of North America around 7,000 years ago in the area of the Yukon. Today black wolves are common in the gray wolf populations across western North America, but they do not appear in the Arctic or Mexican gray wolf populations. The ancestors of the gray wolves that inhabit North America today arrived across the Bering Strait land bridge in several waves between 70,000 and 11,000 years ago. At this time, they are usually agile enough to care for themselves and flee from danger.Black wolves are found almost exclusively in North America. The newborn pups are born blind and deaf, and the pack cares for the pups until they are around 10 months of age. Gray Wolves are usually pregnant for around 62 to 75 days, and tend to give birth to 4 to 6 pups per litter. In North America, they usually breed from late January until March. ![]() The gray wolf is typically monogamous, and a mated pair will remain together for life unless the other mate dies. During the Autumn and Spring periods, they are more active, and tend to lie out in the open more often. They fare well when there is an abundance of snow, a condition which is conducive to their hunting of prey. Gray wolves are highly adaptable to most habitats, whether those places be arctic tundra, woodlands, grasslands, or deserts. The most common threat to a wolf’s life in populated areas is a conflict with people over killing their livestock, which often results in the hunting and trapping of them by farmers and ranchers. This fear and misunderstanding poses a great threat to wolves as people often kill them out of unfounded fears. The belief that wolves are dangerous to humans is one of the threats these species are facing. The Gray Wolf is classified as an endangered species by the US Fish and Wildlife Services, largely due to environmental changes and other consequences of human interference within their habitats. The gray wolf population in these regions has remained stable since government efforts have been made to protect them. Where Do Gray Wolves Live?Īccording to the International Wolf Center, the estimated population of gray wolves in Alaska is between 7,000 and 11,200, around 3,700 in the Great Lakes region, and around 1,675 in the Northern Rockies. In a zoo, wolves are often fed with dog kibble or cuts of meat. Impressively, an adult may eat as much as 20 pounds of meat in a single meal. They prefer to eat large hoofed mammals, such as deer, bison or moose, but you may also find them hunting smaller animals as well. Gray wolves are carnivores, and they often source their food by scavenging or stealing prey from other predators. Their heights at the shoulder, when standing on all four legs, ranges from 28 to 30 inches. The adult males are slightly heavier, measuring 5 to 6.5 feet in length. Throughout the typical range, female gray wolves weigh between 40 and 120 pounds, and measure 4 to 6 feet in length. Depending on the subspecies of the gray wolf, their sizes range greatly across both sexes as well. The gray wolf's legs are generally longer than those of other canines, a trait which allows them to more easily overcome deep snow. Gray wolves are large and heavy in comparison to their close wild cousin the Coyote, or “Golden Jackal”. Color can vary greatly, from white to brown, and even black. Their coat colors are usually a mix of gray and brown with unique facial markings. Gray wolves are typical canines with a long bushy tail that is often black-tipped. We use the name “gray” to describe all of the canine sub-population, although the color gray may not be a predominant color among all of its members. The Latin classification translated to English becomes “dog-wolf”. The genus name, Canis, is a Latin word that means “dog”, and lupus the Latin word meaning “wolf”. The Gray wolf ( Canis lupus) is said to be the largest member of the family to which the common dog belongs, Canidae. The Gray Wolf: Animals of North America Despite its name, the Gray Wolf actually comes in a variety of colors, including brown, white, and black.
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