However, they possess excellent senses of hearing and smell, which allow them to hunt efficiently. Credit: Toshihiro Gamo/CC-BY 2.0. Grey wolves are not fast animals, reaching a speed of about 45km/h. The grey wolf resembles a domestic dog, such as a German shepherd or a sled dog, but has longer legs, bigger paws and a … Gray wolves used to be the most numerous species of any mammal other than humans. This listing status limits the state of Wisconsin's management authority and precludes both the lethal control of wolves that depredate livestock or pets and the establishment of a wolf harvest season. The color of a gray wolf is gray The gray wolf can be gray, black, or in the case of the Arctic wolf, even white. Gray wolves are highly versatile animals and thrive in a wide range of environments, including woodlands, tundra and desert regions. As apex predators, grey wolves have few natural enemies other than humans. Wolves are the largest members of the dog family. The Grey wolf is sometimes called the "common wolf". The gray wolf’s proclivity to roam and its prowess as a predator has for thousands of years made it a powerful symbol of the warrior, and of the freedom, wildness, and ferocity of masculinity. Some of these wolves come in black, brown/tan, gray, and i the Winter the coats turn white, though some wolves keep their white coat year-round. The Grey Wolf is known as the Timber Wolf in North America and the White Wolf in the Arctic, or more generally as the Common Wolf. They have silvery gray-brown backs, light tan and cream underparts, and long bushy tails. What Is the Natural Habitat of a Gray Wolf? They stand 27 to 33 inches (68-84 cm) in height at the shoulders and measure 60 to 72 inches (152-183 cm) in length. They hunt as a pack and that allows a group of 100 pound wolves to … Though they once numbered in the thousands, these wolves were wiped out in the U.S. by the mid-1970s, with just a handful existing in zoos. While they are now endangered in many areas due to historical eradication attempts, the gray wolf is making a comeback in the Rocky Mountain region because of wildlife biologists' work to re-establish the species. Wolf The wolf is one of the most respected and feared animals in all of the world--some parts respect them more than others. The grey wolf is the world’s largest wild dog species, with the male generally taller than the female. Amazing Facts About the Grey Wolf. Yes, alpha male wolves are wild, aggressive, and savage. The Mexican gray wolf is a subspecies of the gray wolf, commonly referred to as “el lobo”. Grey Wolf Characteristics Grey Wolves have a grey coat (hence their name) with interspersed yellow and pepper coloured flicks which seep through from the base of their thick fur. The gray wolf's current habitat includes Canada, Alaska, the Great Lakes, the northern Rockies and the Pacific Northwest. Also, in North America, the species is referred to as "timber wolf" while in the Arctic, the animal is known as "white wolf". It inhabits vast areas of the Northern Hemisphere. The grey wolf is the world’s largest wild dog species. More Animal Symbolism Wolf Symbolism. What they look like: Gray wolves, are the largest wild members of the dog family. Gray wolves in the western US usually weigh between 60 to 120 pounds (27-54 kg) with adult males taking up the higher end of the spectrum. Just like a human older brother or sister looks after its younger sibling, the older wolf offspring care for their younger brothers and sisters by finding them food. Although the Gray Wolf is known for it's grey coat, it's fur does NOT have to be grey. Diet Gray wolves typically prey on large ungulates (mammals with hooves) such as deer, elk , moose, and caribou. Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)Also know as Wolf, Timber Wolf, Tundra Wolf, Lobo, and Prairie Wolf. Their coat has a kind of ‘grizzled’ look about it. The gray wolf's physical characteristics enabled it to adapt quickly to the harsh conditions of the ice age, and its cunning and adaptation helped it survive in the changing environment. Wolves are legendary because of their spine … In some areas, gray wolfs are classified as endangered, but in most places, they are seen to have healthy population numbers. The gray wolf is currently protected as an endangered species by the federal Endangered Species Act. The wolves are referred to as the “gray” wolf, but their primary coat color is intermingled with tan, cinnamon and black hairs. Male wolves usually stand between 27 and 33 inches at the shoulder and measure between five and six feet long. Gray wolf, (Canis lupus), also called timber wolf, largest wild member of the dog family . Although wolves aren't very big when compared to an elk, their hunting methods allow them to take on much larger prey. Some gray wolves may also be brown, solid black and white.