Grey wolves were once one of the most widespread mammals in the world with populations ranging
across nearly the entire landscape of the northern hemisphere. Today they inhabit less
than ⅔ of their original territory and this is largely due to persecution from humans.
Most of us have heard the tales, Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs, the Boy
Who Cried Wolf, all amassing to form this image of a monster in the human subconscious
that still permeates our tales today. Just look to Hollywood to see what I’m talking
about. But hey, to be fair, some are getting it right. The problem is that there are people
who actually believe this notion that wolves are evil. While it is true that wolves have
caused human death in the vast expanse of human history, the reality is far from the
fiction. A person is more likely to be killed by an elevator than by a wolf, and let me
tell you I have nightmares about those things - they’re like floating deathtraps. So while
I take the stairs, let me give you a bit of a more realistic perspective on these elusive
creatures.
Grey wolves are the largest wild member of the canids, or ‘dog’ family. Depending
on who you ask the grey wolf species is broken up into five sub-species which are: the Mexican
wolf, the Rocky Mountain wolf, the Algonquin wolf, the buffalo wolf and the arctic wolf.
They typically appear grey in color with a lighter belly though they can vary from brown
to red and black to white.
The males are typically larger than the females and weigh in at about 13 Chesters on average,
or, y’know 130 pounds (59kg). They’re social animals and live in packs usually with
somewhere around 8-12 members, though some groups have reached 30 individuals. These
packs are usually composed of related members and led by an ‘alpha’ pair. It’s typically
that the alpha pair will be the only two breeding wolves in a pack with exceptions occurring
when food is plentiful.
Grey wolves are monogamous and will mate for life. Breeding season is usually at the beginning
of the year and just like a dog, because, yes, ancient wolves really are the ancestors
of our Fido family members, a female wolf will be pregnant for 63 days. The pups will
be born in a den with an average of 6 per litter and will be raised by the entire pack.
At about five months old, depending on food supply, the pups will begin to help with the
hunt. After they reach one year of age they may either incorporate into the pack or venture
out to find a different pack to join sometimes traveling hundreds of miles (up to 800 km).
Packs do their best not to cross paths by scent marking their territory and howling
in that iconic lonely voice. A pack’s territory can span anywhere from 50 to over 1,000 square
miles (130-2,500 square km) depending on scarcity of food. Grey wolves typically eat large hooved
animals such as boar, deer, elk and even moose and musk ox - though they will also consume
smaller prey such as beavers and rabbits. They’re able to eat up to 20 pounds (9 kg)
of food in one sitting and subsist off of that for days and even weeks. On average they
need somewhere around 7 pounds (3 kg) of food per day, though they can survive on 2 (0.9
kg) if the need arises.
One of the biggest myths surrounding grey wolf eating habits is that they compete with
sportsman for trophy animals but this is inaccurate. Wolves are observant animals and will seek
out either young animals or old, sickly ones to take down, not the stronger animals in
their prime. This actually helps to keep populations of wild ungulates healthy as it decreases
the distribution of bad genes. Humans can’t seem to get the hint, though as grey wolves
are killed annually by people seeking to “destroy their competition” so to speak.
Grey wolves are also killed because they are believed to be a menace to livestock, while,
in fact, the opposite is true. In a report completed by Washington State University researchers
it was discovered that for each wolf killed in up to 25% of the grey wolf population there
would be an increase in livestock death by 5%. It’s speculated that this may happen
when alphas are taken out leaving the members of the pack to breed freely, which, in a sick
twist of irony, means more wolves. The best thing we can do is learn to deter grey wolves
from our livestock with guard dogs, lights and sounds.
In reality, grey wolves are withdrawn animals who have grown wary of the people who have
destroyed their populations for centuries due to misguided beliefs and false fairy tales.
They’re out of their element in our overdeveloped landscapes and prefer woodlands, forests,
grasslands, deserts and even tundras. Upon meeting a human most wolves with disappear
into the shadows.
I knew this episode would get long; it’s tough to reign it in and keep it short when
I’m talking about one of my all-time favorite animals. I’ll leave you with this: if you’re
going to pass along wolf stories, pass along the ones that shed wolves in a light that
is more akin to their true nature such as the stories of Okami who would help weary
travelers find their way home and act as judges between good and evil.
For more information on grey wolves check out the links in the description. Thanks again
to Georgia Wright for the suggestion, I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to talk
about these majestic animals. Be sure to give a thumbs up and thanks for watching Animal
Fact Files.