The wolf is the largest member of the canine family. Wolves were once common throughout all of North America but were killed in most areas of the United States by the mid 1930s.Today their range has been reduced rapidly which cause many to be considered endangered. Loss of habitat and persecution by Humans are leading factors in the Wolves "Endangered Species Status".There are an estimated 7,000 to 11,200 wolves in Alaska and more than 5,000 in the lower 48 states.

Around the world there are an estimated 200,000 in 57 countries, compared to up to 2 million in earlier times. 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.
Wolves breed once a year, December through March depending on latitude. Pups are born in northern climates as late as early June and in southern climates as early as late February. The gestation period is 63 days with the adverage litter ranging around 6-8 pups.

Wolves belong to family groups called packs; they usually consist of eight to fifteen-members. Wolves will defend their territory. They work as a pack to harass larger animals like bears, although a pack of 12 were once known to kill a grizzly bear, most times if the animal runs away the wolves will not attack. Their diet of choice consists of deer, moose, caribou, elk, bison, musk-oxen and beaver. They have been known to survive on voles and mice if needed.

Red Wolf

Mexican Wolf

Mexican wolves are the smallest subspecies of North American gray wolves. They are also the most endangered. Mexican wolves prefer to live in mountain forests, grasslands and shrublands, and are very social animals. They live in packs, which are complex social structures that include the breeding. Humans and habitat destruction pose the greatest threat to Mexican wolves. There are only about 200 Mexican wolves in captivity. The goal of the reintroduction program was to restore at least 100 wolves to the wild by 2008; unfortunately, at the end of 2008 there were only approximately 50.

Arctic Wolf

The arctic wolf preys on lemmings and arctic hare, but its most substantial source of food is musk oxen and caribou. Because of the scarcity of grazing plants, animals must roam a large area in order to find enough food to survive.The shoulder height of the arctic wolf varies from 25 to 31 inches. On average, they are about 3 feet tall from head to toe

Grey Wolf

It is known as the largest wild member of the canine family. Designed to hunt for meat, the Grey Wolf spends most of its time roaming tirelessly in search of large prey. Capable of running about 35 to 40 miles per hour, the Grey Wolf’s paws provide support in the snow. Another significant fact is that the wolves are basically color blind, and their pups are born deaf and blind. They begin to see only after 9 to 12 days. With a fast growth rate, these pups' weight will increase nearly 30 times in their first four months.

The Adverage Wolf