Wolf

Gray Wolf Facts

Size	31-33 inch (80-85 cm) (shoulder height)
Speed	Up to 5 mph (8 km/h) (long distances)
Weight	28-170 pounds (13-78 kg)
Lifespan	6-8 years
Food	Deer, moose, bisons, moose, hares, mountain sheep
Predators	Bears, eagles, large owls
Distribution	Europe, Asia, Russia, North America
Habitat	Forest, tundra, grassland, bushland, steppe, mountains
Order	Carnivore
Family	Dogs
Scientific name	Canis lupus
Characteristics	Large predator from which all dogs descend

Main Characteristics

The wolf is a large predator. Its most eye-catching features are its long, blunt muzzle, triangular ears and long tail. It is about the size and weight of a German Shepherd. There are over 30 subspecies, including the arctic wolf, tundra wolf and timber wolf. All today's dog breeds are descended from wolves.

Gray Wolf - Photo: mlorenz/Shutterstock

Distribution and Habitat

Distribution Worldwide

Wolves live in the northern hemisphere. They're found in Europe, Asia, Russia and North America.

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Distribution in Germany

According to the Federal Office for the Environment and Nature Conservation, there are currently 1,339 wolves living in Germany (according to a study from 2022/2023). Most of them are found in northeast Germany.

Habitat

Wolves prefer forests, but also inhabit grassland and bushland, rocky regions and mountains.

Way of Life

Wolves are mainly active at dusk and at night. They rest during the day and hunt for prey at night. They live in packs and are very social.

Wolf Charateristics - Photo: Martin Mecnarowski/Shutterstock

Anatomy and Appearance

Size and Weight

Wolves are about the size of German Shepherds. Their body length is 40-62 inches (100-160 cm) and the shoulder height is 31-33 inches (80-85 cm). The tail is 35-56 cm long. They weigh 28-170 pounds (13-78 kg), with the average being 84 pounds (38 kg).

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Physique

Wolves have a body structure that is quite similar to that of German Shepherds. They have long, slender legs, a large head, triangular ears and a long, blunt muzzle.

Fur

Eurasian wolves are yellowish-gray, gray-brown or dark brown. Belly, legs and muzzle are slightly lighter. Wolves that live further north have lighter fur, for example the arctic wolf.

Wolf or Coyote - What's the Difference? - Photo: AB Photography (left), SVDPhoto (right)/stock.adobe.com

Diet

Wolves are carnivores. They feed primarily on deer, but also eat wild boars, rabbits, wild sheep and geese. They also prey on lizards, snakes, frogs and insects. Occasionally they eat apples, peaches, figs, melons, blueberries, raspberries and cherries.

Behavior

Body Language

Wolves communicate through body language much like dogs do. When they're upset, they may bare their teeth and growl. To signal submission to a pack member, they lower their body and tail to the ground. Ears that are pinned back can indicate that a wolf is feeling scared.

Why Do They Howl at the Moon?

Wolf howling serves as a means of communication among themselves. Their howls can mean many things, for example “Quick, everyone come here!”, “Stop, don’t go any further, this is my territory!” or “Let’s go hunting!” Since wolves are active at night, people used to think that they would howl at the moon. But that's not true. It has nothing to do with the moon.

Howling Wolves - Photo: Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/Shutterstock

Are Wolves Dangerous?

Wolves generally avoid people. But as humans keep moving into their territory, wolves have less space to escape and end up living closer to towns and cities. This leads to a big question: Is an encounter dangerous for us?

Why Do Wolves Attack People?

There are three reasons why wolves attack people:

They have rabies.
They feel threatened or are harassed.
They are fed (!).

What to Do When You Encounter a Wolf

A wolf is not like a fighting dog that people train to attack and hurt others. Actually, wolves are pretty shy and try to stay away from us. If you happen to see one, the best thing to do is to stay calm. If the wolf doesn’t leave on its own, here are some things you can try:

Don't run away
Don't turn your back on it
Don't stare at it
Keep your distance
Stand still
Wait
Walk backwards slowly

If the wolf doesn't move away or approaches, growling and snarling:

Make yourself look bigger
Scream loudly or make noise
Clap your hands

Gray Wolf - Photo: Karlos Lomsky/stock.adobe.com

Wolf Attacks

On Humans

• Worldwide

Between 2002 and 2020, there were 491 attacks on people worldwide. In 75% of the attacks the wolves had rabies and in 8% they defended themselves because they were being harassed. Fortunately, out of 491 attacks, only 26 were fatal. During the study period, this means that around one to two people died each year worldwide.

• In Germany

The wolf was extinct in Germany for 150 years. Wild wolves were first seen again in 2000 and there have been no fatal attacks on humans since then.

On Dogs

In recent years, there have been some unfortunate reports of fatal encounters with dogs. In most instances, the dogs approached a den with wolf pups, either knowingly or unknowingly. Wolves are very protective of their young. Don't forget that the dog is an intruder in their territory. That's why it's important to always keep dogs on a leash, even when you're in the forest. It's also a good idea for dog owners to stick to the paths and avoid forests where wolves are present. Off-leash dogs can pose a significant threat to deer and their young ones.

The Big Bad Wolf

A lot of people get really upset when a wolf captures a sheep, goat, or other animal. They quickly call the wolf “evil,” but it’s just trying to survive. We, on the other hand, don’t actually need to eat meat to live, yet we still kill animals in places like slaughterhouses for food. So, is the wolf really the bad guy here, and how do you think our actions compare?

Wolf Pack - Wolf Pack - Photo: Derek R. Audette/Shutterstock

The Pack

Pack Size

Wolves live in families called packs. Usually a family has around eight members. It consists of two adults and their offspring.

Territory

The area where wolves can live is mostly controlled by humans, and it depends on how much space we give them. In Europe, a territory is around 95 square miles (250 qkm), which is equivalent to around 35,000 soccer fields. In Canada it can be three times as large.

Alpha and Omega

It used to be believed that a pack was led by the highest-ranking male, the so-called “alpha animal”. “Alpha” because it is the first letter in the Greek alphabet. The “omega animal” was therefore the lowest-ranking animal as it is the last letter in the alphabet. However, the establishment of a hierarchy has only been observed in wolves that live in captivity. This behavior doesn't occur in the wild.

Playing Wolves Playing Wolves - Photo: Evelyn D. Harrison/Shutterstock

Senses and Abilities

Senses

Wolves have excellent hearing and a very good sense of sight. However, their most important and best sense is the sense of smell. If the wind blows from where their prey is, they can smell it from as far as 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) away.

Speed

Wolves can run really fast, hitting speeds of about 38 mph (60 km/h), but they can only keep that up for a short time. They're great at running long distances and cover between 25-37 miles (40-60 kilometers) each day while looking for food. Usually they move at a steady pace of around 8 km/h.

Eastern Wolf Eastern Wolf - Photo: Jeff Grabert/Shutterstock

Enemies and Threats

Natural Enemies

Wolves are preyed upon by polar bears, grizzly bears, black bears and Siberian tigers. The pups can be at risk from bears, eagles, and large owls. In Germany, an adult wolf has no natural enemies.

Human Impact

The biggest threat to the wolf is the loss of its habitat. In more densely populated areas, road traffic is a major danger. Hunting is also a big problem. The wolf is strictly protected and it is forbidden to hunt and kill it. In Germany, 859 wolves have been run over and 96 wolves illegally killed in Germany since 2000 (according to the DBBV).

Tundra Wolf Tundra Wolf - Photo: Galina Savina/Shutterstock

Importance for the Ecosystem

Wolves play an important role in maintaining balance in nature because they prey on sick or weak animals. A nice example of what the wolf can do is the reintroduction in Yosemite Park (USA):

Wolves in Yosemite Park

For 70 years, Yosemite Park in the USA didn't have any wolves. Because of this, the deer population grew quickly and ended up damaging a lot of plants and trees. In 1995, some wolves were released into the park. Since then, they have greatly improved the ecosystem and the landscape. The wolves killed sick and weak deer. Plants and trees were able to grow again. Beavers came back and created habitat for many species such as birds, foxes, badgers, weasels, eagles and bears. Even more amazing, the plants strengthened river banks and reduced erosion.

Arctic Wolf Arctic Wolf - Photo: Big Bambi Productions/Shutterstock

Reproduction

After they mate, it usually takes about 62 to 75 days for a mother to give birth to one to twelve puppies in a den. When they are born, the puppies can’t see or hear anything and they start to open their eyes after about 11 to 15 days. After 20 days, they venture out of the den for the first time. The mother takes care of them by nursing them until they are around 6 to 8 weeks old. By the time they reach one year, they are fully grown.

Evolution

Is a Wolf Just a Kind of Wild Dog?

The opposite is the case. The dog developed from the wolf through breeding over centuries. All domestic dogs from the German Shepherd, the Poodle to the Labrador and Chihuahua to the Husky have the wolf as an ancestor. Although wolves and dogs share many anatomical and biological characteristics, they are completely different.