Gray Wolf - Sierra Club BC
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Gray Wolf

CAN BE FOUND IN:

Grey Wolf

Canis lupus

Appearance

Gray wolves have gray, brown, black and tan-coloured coats. They have distinct yellow eyes with a bushy tail, long legs and big feet. They grow to one and a half metres long, and have an average weight of 45 kilograms.

Range & Habitat

Gray wolves were once found across the northern hemisphere, but in North America, they currently live in Alaska, Canada, and a few small pockets in the northern US Rockies. In B.C., this animal is found in the Coast and Mountains, Central Interior, Sub-Boreal Interior, Boreal Plains and Northern Boreal Mountains ecoprovinces.

Reciprocal Relationships

The gray wolf is an important predator to many hoofed animals, rabbits, squirrels, mice, birds, and fish (they will also eat berries and grasses). On the coast of B.C., there's a subspecies of the gray wolf known as the coastal wolf. Unlike gray wolves found in the Interior, coastal wolves rely on the ocean for their meals. They feast on molluscs, crustaceans and fish. Threats to wolves include habitat loss and hunting. Much of their range has been taken over by humans and there are fewer habitats for the wolves’ prey as well. 

The gray wolf has many gifts to share! They are especially talented collaborators and hunters. They live in families called territorial packs with anywhere from 2-20 wolves. Whether they are hunting, swimming, tracking, or scavenging for food, they always work together. Wolves have an amazing sense of smell, are fast runners and possess great hearing and night vision. Wolves are also incredible communicators; their howls can be heard up to 10 km away! 

Recently, the American grey wolf was taken off the endangered species list. Since then, there has been a rampant increase in killings of the grey wolf. Indigenous communities in America have been at the forefront of protecting these wolves. Wolves have significant cultural value for First Nations across B.C. For the Tsleil-Waututh people, the Wolf was transformed into the first Tsleil-Wautt by the Creator. As a vital part of their creation story, the Wolf was responsible for this land and protecting it.  

Life Cycles

Females go into dens to have their young, while family and pack members hang around and bring food. Mothers give birth to an average of four or five pups in late April or early May. The pups venture out of their den after three or four weeks. If they reach maturity, they typically live at least five years in the wild.

Status

COSEWIC: Not Reported
CDC: Yellow

More Information

If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca.

Photo Credit

Canva

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