Basic Facts About Gray Wolves
| Average length | Male: 5-6.5 feet (nose to tip of tail) Female: 4.5 to 6 feet |
|---|---|
| Average height | 26 to 32 inches |
| Average weight | Male: 80-110 lbs. Female: 60-80 lbs. |
| Average paw size | 4 inches wide by 5 inches long |
| Longevity | 5-9 year average in the wild 14-15 years in captivity |
| Pelage | Any shade of gray, brown, black, white, or tawny |
| Number of teeth | 42 |
| Breeding season | Mid January to Mid April (depending on climate-the colder the climate, the later the breeding season) |
| Gestation Period | 63 days on average |
| Weight at birth | 1 pound on average |
| Litter size | 4-6 pups on average |
| Pup mortality rate | Highly variable, but approximately 40-60% per year |
| Pack size | 6-8 members on average |
| Pack territory/ size | 10-100 square miles per animal |
| Speed | 6 miles on average but can reach speeds of 43 mph during a chase |
| Common prey | Caribou, elk, deer, bison, musk-oxen, sheep, goats. Also will prey on rodents, beavers, fish, and birds. Basically whatever is available when ungulate are scarce. |
| Wolf to deer ratio | 1 wolf to a population of 50-200 deer |
| Main threats to survival | Loss of habitat due to destruction, development and encroachment by humans, persecution by humans. |
