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BC Conservation Data Centre: Species Summary


Canis lupus
Grey Wolf

 
Scientific Name: Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758
English Name: Grey Wolf
 
Classification / Taxonomy
Scientific Name - Concept Reference: Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Classification Level: Species
Species Group: Vertebrate Animal
Species Code: M-CALU
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Animalia Craniata Mammalia Carnivora Canidae
   
Conservation Status / Legal Designation
Global Status: G5 (Apr 2016)
Provincial Status: S4S5 (Mar 2025)
BC List: Yellow
Provincial FRPA list:   
Provincial Wildlife Act:
COSEWIC Status: Not at Risk (May 1999)
COSEWIC Comments: Occidentalis and Nubilus Subspecies
SARA Schedule:
General Status Canada: 4 - Secure (2005)
   
Ecology & Life History
General Description: Largest of the wild dogs; total length to 205 cm, tail to 50 cm, nose pad averaging 31 mm or more in diameter; upper canine more than 12 mm in anteroposterior diameter at base and not extending below level of anterior mental foramen when lower jaw is in place; peleage varies from nearly black to white, some shade of gray in most areas; condylobasal length of skull 203-269 mm (Hall 1981).
Global Reproduction Comments: Breeds late fall/early winter in south, February-March in north. Gestation lasts about 2 months. Young are born in March and early April in the south (Hoffmeister 1986), late April in northwestern Montana, late May-early June in Northwest Territories (Heard and Williams 1992). Litter size is 4-10 (average 6-7); 1 litter/year. Only the dominant male/female mate and rear offspring. Pups emerge from the den in about 3 weeks. Pups are weaned in 50 days (also reported as 5 weeks). Young and parents vacate the den when young are about 3 months old (Hoffmeister 1986). Some offspring remain with the pack, others disperse as they mature. Breeding first occurs in the second or third year (Hoffmeister 1986). Lone wolves generally do not successfully rear young, but they may if food is abundant (Boyd and Jimenez, 1994, J. Mamm. 75:14-17).
Global Ecology Comments: Territorial throughout the year in most areas (but see Migration/Mobility comments). Packs consist of one or more family groups (generally 2-8 members, up to 21) with dominance hierarchy. In the Glacier National Park area, packs generally include 8-12 individuals (Bangs and Fritts 1993). Not uncommonly solitary; lone wolves may move through territories of established packs (e.g., see Thurber and Peterson 1993).

Population density is low; at Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, peak density was 9/100 sq km. Population density on Isle Royale followed trends in food supply (moose), with lag of 2-3 years (Peterson and Page 1988).

Generally wolves are not instrumental in causing prey declines; effect varies with other circumstances. In Quebec, winter weather appeared to affect deer population trend more than did wolf predation (Potvin et al. 1992). In south-central Alaska, wolf predation may have limited caribou recruitment (Bergerud and Ballard 1988), though winter starvation also was proposed as a significant poplation control. May take livestock as secondary prey when deer fawns (the primary summer prey) are less vulnerable due to better prenatal nutrition resulting from mild winter (USFWS 1990). In Minnesota, snow-induced changes in deer distribution and mobility resulted in changes in wolf movement patterns, sociality, and feeding behavior (when snow was shallow, wolves traveled farther and more often, spent less time with pack members, and used conifer cover less and killed fewer deer there) (Fuller 1991).
Migration Characteristics:
(Global / Provincial)		 
    Nonmigrant:
    Local Migrant:
    Distant Migrant:
    Within Borders Migrant: 		Y /
N /
N /
na /
Global Migration Comments: Wolves in far northwestern North America may move as required to remain with migratory caribou.

Home ranges very large but very variable as well, generally ranging from less 100 to 10,000s of square kilometers. In Minnesota, Fritts and Mech (1981) found territory sizes ranging from 195 to 555 square kilometers; in south to central Alaska, Ballard et al. (1987) reported territory sizes from 943 to 2541 square kilometers; in the southern Yukon, Hayes (1992) found territory sizes of 583 to 794 km square kilometers; in the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, Peterson et al. (1984) found average territory sizes of 638 square kilometers; and in coastal forests of Vancouver Island, Atkinson and Janz (1994) found territory sizes from 100 to 400 square kilometers. Packs that depend on barren ground caribou migrate with the caribou as far as 360 km (Kuyt 1972; Mech 1970, 1974). In the Glacier National Park area, territory size averages around 780 sq km (Bangs and Fritts 1993).

In the Northwest Territories and western Nunavut, Walton et al. (2001) fitted 23 wolves in 19 different packs with collar-mounted satellite transmitters. Annual home-range sizes (95% minimum convex polygon) averaged 63,058 sq km for males and 44,936 sq km for females. Straight-line distances from the most distant location on the winter range to the den site averaged 508 km in 1997-1998 and 265 km in 1998-1999 (wolves followed caribou). All but 2 of 15 wolves returned to within 25 km of a previous den, and 2 wolves returned to the same den site.

Dispersing young may move several hundred kilometers. In Minnesota, most dispersers left when they were 11-12 months old; dispersal occurred mainly in February-April and October-November; 35% of known-age wolves remained in their natal territory for more than 2 years (Gese and Mech 1991).
Habitats:
(Type / Subtype / Dependence) 		Alpine/Tundra / Alpine Grassland / Unknown
Alpine/Tundra / Alpine/Subalpine Meadow / Unknown
Alpine/Tundra / Krummholtz / Facultative - occasional use
Alpine/Tundra / Tundra / Facultative - frequent use
Forest / Conifer Forest - Dry / Facultative - frequent use
Forest / Conifer Forest - Mesic (average) / Facultative - frequent use
Forest / Conifer Forest - Moist/wet / Facultative - frequent use
Forest / Deciduous/Broadleaf Forest / Facultative - frequent use
Forest / Mixed Forest (deciduous/coniferous mix) / Facultative - frequent use
Grassland/Shrub / Grassland / Facultative - frequent use
Grassland/Shrub / Meadow / Facultative - frequent use
Grassland/Shrub / Sagebrush Steppe / Facultative - occasional use
Grassland/Shrub / Shrub - Natural / Facultative - occasional use
Lakes / Lake / Facultative - occasional use
Other Unique Habitats / Avalanche Track / Facultative - occasional use
Other Unique Habitats / Beach / Facultative - occasional use
Other Unique Habitats / Estuary / Facultative - occasional use
Riparian / Gravel Bar / Facultative - frequent use
Riparian / Riparian Forest / Facultative - frequent use
Riparian / Riparian Herbaceous / Facultative - frequent use
Riparian / Riparian Shrub / Facultative - frequent use
Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Cliff / Facultative - occasional use
Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Facultative - occasional use
Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Talus / Facultative - occasional use
Stream/River / Stream/River / Facultative - occasional use
Wetland / Bog / Facultative - occasional use
Wetland / Fen / Facultative - occasional use
Wetland / Marsh / Facultative - occasional use
Wetland / Swamp / Facultative - occasional use
Global Habitat Comments: No particular habitat preference. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, usually occurs in areas with few roads, which increase human access and incompatible land uses (Thiel 1985, Mech et al. 1988, Mech 1989) but apparently can occupy semi-wild lands if ungulate prey are abundant and if not killed by humans (see Mladenoff et al. 1997). Minimum of 10,000-13,000 sq km (with low road density) might be necessary to support a viable population (USFWS 1990); a single pack does not constitute a "minimum viable population" (USFWS 1990). Young are born in an underground burrow that has been abandoned by another mammal or dug by wolf. In Northwest Territories, dens were most commonly located witin 50 km of northern tree line, which resulted in maximal availability of caribou during the denning and pup rearing period; within the tundra zone, dens were not preferentially located near caribou calving grounds (Heard and Williams 1992). In Minnesota, dens usually were not near territory boundaries; den use was traditional in most denning alpha females studied for more than 1 year; possibly the availability of a stable food supply source helped determine den location (Ciucci and Mech 1992).
Food Habits: Carnivore: Adult, Immature
Global Food Habits Comments: Predominant prey: ungulates. When these are low or seasonally unavailable, eats alternative prey, such as beaver, snowshoe hare, rodents, and carrion. Commonly hunts in packs, but lone wolves and pairs are able to kill prey as large as adult moose (Thurber and Peterson 1993). In the vicinity of Glacier National Park, feeds primarily on white-tailed deer; sometimes kills mountain lions and sometimes usurps ungulate prey killed by lions (Bangs and Fritts 1993). White-tailed deer and moose carrion were the primary prey in southern Ontario (Forbes and Theberge 1996).
Global Phenology: Crepuscular: Adult, Immature
Nocturnal: Adult, Immature
Global Phenology Comments: Mainly nocturnal. In fall-winter in Minnesota, spends most of time sleeping, resting, or traveling, little time feeding (Mech, 1992, J. Mamm. 73:570-571). In south-central Alaska, den site activity was mainly nocturnal; there was a high probability that groups of wolves would be present at the den at midday (Ballard et al., 1991, Can. Field-Nat. 105:497-504).
Provincial Phenology:
(1st half of month/
2nd half of month)
Colonial Breeder: N
Length(cm)/width(cm)/Weight(g): 205/ / 40000
Elevation (m) (min / max): Global: 
Provincial: 
   
 
Distribution
Endemic: N
Global Range Comment: Formerly throughout North America south through much of Mexico; also Europe and Asia. Replaced by the red wolf in the southeastern United States. Today found south of Canada only in northern Mexico (no recent confirmed reports; extirpated or maybe a few in eastern Sonora, Chihuahua, and/or Zacatecas?), a few areas in the Rocky Mountains (northwestern Montana, reintroduction sites in Wyoming and Idaho), northwestern Great Lakes region (northeastern third of Minnesota, northern Wisconsin, Michigan Upper Peninsula), and Cascade Mountains of northern Washington. Formerly much more numerous in the Rocky Mountain states than in the southwestern U.S. (Johnson 1991). Extirpated in much of southern Canada (see Theberge [1992] and Can. Field-Nat. 106:138 for range/status map); remains in 85% of former total Canadian range (Theberge 1991).

In 1995, wolf reintroductions were initiated in the Yellowstone ecosystem and in central Idaho (nonessential experimental populations) (USFWS 1994; Federal Register, 16 August 1994; Bangs and Fritts 1993; End. Sp. Bull. 20(4):4-5). See Bangs et al. (1998) for information on the status of gray wolf restoration in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. In 1998, USFWS (Federal Register, 12 January 1998) announced its intention to reintroduce the Mexican gray wolf (subspecies baileyi) into Arizona and New Mexico (Apache and Gila national forests, also possibly White Sands Missile Range).

Wolf observations in the Dakotas have increased in recent years, likely related to range expansion and population increases in adjacent areas, especially Minnesota; most occurrences have been of young individuals, suggesting dispersal (Licht and Fritts 1994).

Grewal et al. (2004) used genetic data to determine that the wolf population in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada, is a southern part of a larger metapopulation of Canis lycaon (or Canis lupus lycaon).
 
Authors / Contributors
Global Information Author: Hammerson, G.
Last Updated: Mar 21, 2005
Provincial Information Author:
Last Updated:
   
References and Related Literature
Allen, D. L. 1979. Wolves of Minong -- their vital role in a wild community. 385 pp.
Baker, R. H. 1983. Michigan mammals. Michigan State University Press. 642 pp.
Banfield, A. W. F. 1974. The mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. 438 pp.
Bangs, E. E., and S. H. Fritts. 1993. Reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho. Endangered Species Tech. Bull. 18(3):1, 18-20.
Bergerud, A. T., and W. B. Ballard. 1988. Wolf predation on caribou: the Nelchina herd case history, a different interpretation. J. Wildlife Management 52:344-357.
Bjorge, R. R., and J. R. Gunson. 1989. Wolf, Canis lupus, population characteristics and prey relationships near Simonette River, Alberta. Canadian Field-Naturalist 103:327-334.
Carbyn, L. 1983. Wolves in Canada and Alaska. Ottawa. 135 pp.
Ciucci, P., and L. D. Mech. 1992. Selection of wolf dens in relation to winter territories in northeastern Minnesota. J. Mammalogy 73:899-905.
Cohn, J. P. 1990. Endangered wolf population increases. BioScience 40(9):628-632.
Curlee, A. P., et al. 1994. Large carnivore conservation: back to the future. Endangered Species Update 11(3 & 4):1-4.
Evers, D. C. 1992. A guide to Michigan's endangered wildlife. Univ. Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. viii + 103 pp.
Forbes, G. J., and J. B. Theberge. 1996. Response by wolves to prey variation in central Ontario. Canadian Journal of Zoology 74:1511-1520.
Fritts, S. H. 1982. Wolf depredation on livestock in Minnesota. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Resource Publication 145:1-11.
Fritts, S. H., and L. D. Mech. 1981. Dynamics, movements, and feeding ecology of a newly protected wolf population in northwestern Minnesota. Wildlife Monographs No. 80:1-79.
Fritts, S. H., et al. 1992. Trends and management of wolf-livestock conflicts in Minnesota. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Resource Publication 181. 27 pp.
Fuller, T. K. 1991. Effect of snow cover on wolf activity and prey selection in north central Minnesota. Canadian J. Zoology 69:283-287.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.

Suggested Citation:

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2005. Species Summary: Canis lupus. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed May 30, 2026).