The largest wild member of the dog family. Wolves live in family packs, usually a breeding pair and their young, that hunt large prey together over big territories.
Quick answers
What is it?Mammal
Carnivore?Yes
Dangerous?Can be
Attacks on people are rare, and most recorded ones involved wolves with rabies.
Domesticated?No
Wolves were never domesticated. Dogs come from an ancient wolf population, and today’s wolves are a sister line, not dogs’ direct ancestors.
Awake when?Night
Hibernates?No
Kept as a pet?No
Do people eat it?No
At a glance
Found inNorth America, Europe, Asia
HabitatForest, Grassland, Mountains, Polar
ColoursGrey, White, Black
SizeLarge
Length105–160 cm
Height80–85 cm at the shoulder
WeightAbout 25–40 kg on average, by region
Legs4
Covered inFur
Lives inpacks
Lives for6–8 years
Can swim
In the wild
- Where it lives
- Across much of North America, Europe and Asia, from Arctic tundra to forest, steppe and desert edges.
- What it eats
- Mostly large hoofed animals such as deer, elk and moose, taken by the pack, plus smaller prey and carrion.
- Conservation
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List)
Did you know
Dogs weren't bred from today's wolves, but from an ancient wolf population that has since died out.
Often confused with
- Dog
A wolf has longer legs, bigger feet, a broader head and a straight tail carried low. Many dogs carry their tails curled or high.
Sources
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