Wolves
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Timber Wolves.
Arctic Wolves.
Mexican Grey Wolves.
Red Wolves.
Wolfdogs.
The Timber Wolf, also more commonly known as the
Grey Wolf (Canis Lupus), is the broad species of animals that compose the entire world's collection of subspecies of what we call "wolves". Some of them are familiar to most people, such as the Arctic Wolf, Mexican Grey Wolf, and possibly the Red Wolf.
But many, especially on other continents, you probably haven't ever heard of before such as the Iberian Wolf, Tibetan Wolf, and Tundra Wolf.
PHYSICAL

Height: 26 - 32 in (shoulder height.)
Length: 4.5 - 6.5 ft (nose to tail.)
Weight: 55 - 130lbs Averagely, but not limited to.
Age: 7 - 10 years (in the wild.)
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION:

The wolf has one of the largest ranges of any animal in the world. In total, all of the wolf species that are categorized under the Grey Wolf currently occupy over 50 different countries around the world in several continents including North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

HUNTING AND PREY:

Due to the vast range of territory that the wolf occupies around the globe, the prey type of individual species varies greatly on the particular region in which the species live.
In the great plains, wolves prey on elk, deer and rabbits.
Mountains provide wolves with larger prey such as elk, moose, and deer.
Unlike many predators that hunt solo, wolves hunt together as a pack. This requires a level of coordination rarely seen in nature.
During a hunt of a herd of animals, several wolves will communicate with each other, while attempting to test and single out the weaker, sickly or younger prey. They will then simultaneously converge, attack their target and bring it down.
The arctic wolf (C. lupus arctos) is a subspecies of the Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) that lives in the Arctic region of North America - primarily in northern Canada and Greenland. Arctic wolves are commonly identified by their thick white fur and large size in comparison to their somewhat smaller southern cousins.
The Mexican Grey Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) is a critically endangered subspecies of the Grey Wolf that lives in the Southwest United States.
Recent sources such as the Department of Fish and Wildlife (which is the government agency caring for their survival) have shown that the population of Mexican Grey Wolves have been hovering around approximately 50 for at least the last year - a far cry from the optimistic numbers that were hoped for at the beginning of their reintroduction project.
The Red Wolf (C. lupus rufus)
is considered to be a critically endangered subspecies of the Grey Wolf found in the southeast United States, specifically in the southern section of the Appalachian mountains.
Red wolves are among the smaller subspecies of the Grey Wolf and less is known about the taxonomic origins.

Every year in the United States, and around the world people will look to owning a exotic pet(s). Wolfdogs are highly popular, because wolves are majestic, powerful, and visually stunning.
The social shock and awe of owning an exotic animal like a Wolfdog is too enticing for most. However, most potential owners do not conduct the proper research on diets, housing, and other requirements before obtaining these animals. Most homeowners insurance companies will not insure Wolfdog owners due to laws such as the Dangerous Dog Law. Inexperienced Wolfdog owners also soon find out that their Wolfdog has injured other pets in and out of their house, has injured children, chewed up furniture and walls, and that their new pet can easily escape out of the yard.
As Wolves and Wolfdogs are master escape artist!

PHYSICAL

Height: 25 - 31 in (shoulder height.)
Length: 3-6 ft (nose to tail.)
Weight: 100 - 150lbs Averagely but not limited to.
Age: 7 - 10 years (in the wild.)
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION:

The range of the Arctic wolf's territory is entirely contained in North America above 67 degree north latitude - also known as the Arctic Circle.

Above this invisible line is the frigid cold region known as the Arctic. The arctic region is extremely inhospitable for both plants and animals; in fact, during the harsh winters temperatures often plummet to below -70F! Most of the year the ground is covered by snow and ice, resulting in only a few tundra plants which grow during the short summer season.
Despite the harsh landscape, the Arctic wolf has adapted to it's environment in several ways. It's large body in the proportion to skin area allows it to generate and retain a larger amount of heat along with it's black skin which promotes solar heat retention. No matter where the heat comes from, it is kept close to the wolf because of it's hollow, heat trapping, guard hairs. In fact, the Arctic wolf is so good at preserving heat that during the cold winter months, snow does not even melt on it's fur. But not only does the fur keep them warm, it also provides a great camouflage in the snow to help them hunt. If those were not enough adaptations, Arctic wolves also have huge paws with a bit of webbing between the paws which act as snow-shoes.
HUNTING AND PREY:

The Arctic is just as harsh to the wolves as it is to their prey.
Prey densities in the Arctic are much lower than can be expected in the territory of wolves further south.
Therefore, an Arctic wolf pack's territory may be as large as 1,000 square miles!

The most common prey of the Arctic wolf is musk, oxen, and wild Arctic hares.
However, because food is always in shortage, Arctic wolves will not pass up an opportunity to hunt caribou, lemmings, seals, ptarmigan, or other ground birds.
PHYSICAL

Height: 26-32 in (shoulder height.)
Length: 4.5 - 6.5 ft (nose to tail.)
Weight: 60 - 80lbs.
Age: Up to 15 years (in captivity.)

HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION:

The Mexican Grey Wolf is one of the most critically endangered sub-species of the Grey Wolf in the world today. Historically, the Mexican Grey Wolf's range spreads from central Mexico, all the way to Texas, and across to the south-eastern New Mexico. However, in the 1900s human persecution on the Mexican Grey Wolf intensified due to increased livestock production and human settlement.
This resulted in the local extinction of the species for over 30 years.

Concerned with the dwindling population of the Mexican Grey Wolf, the United States and Mexico combined forces in 1998 and embarked on a reintroduction program to restore them into their former range.
Unfortunately, this project has had little success both practically and publicly.
The reintroduction effort's 2008 goal was to have an established and healthy population of 100 wild wolves. But due to illegal poaching, habitat degradation, and unknown losses, there are only an estimated 50 individuals left in the wild.

The future of the Mexican Grey Wolf remains largely uncertain. The current population of wild wolves is in need of constant monitoring and support, leaving their fate entirely up to the project and the local public. If we work together, and create an awareness of the current crisis surrounding these beautiful and majestic animals, perhaps the future may turn a little brighter.
HUNTING AND PREY:

Mexican Grey Wolves eat prey very similar to their fellow wolves preferring large ungulates (hoofed creatures). It is common for Mexican Grey wolves to prey upon species such as white-tailed deer, mule deer, and elk, as well as smaller creatures of the arid Southwest such as rabbits, mice, and even ground squirrels.
PHYSICAL

Height: 26 in (shoulder height.)
Length: 4 ft (nose to tail.)
Weight: 45 - 80lbs.
Age: 7 - 10 years (in the wild.)
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION:

The Red Wolf is among the smallest and rare subspecies of the wolf in the United States. It is likely topped only by the Mexican Grey Wolf which, at one time, was completely eradicated in the wild. The current range of the Red wolf is primarily in the southern region of the Appalachian mountains of the southeastern United States. However, the species is very few in number and sightings are generally rare by visitors. The historic range of the Red wolf is generally unclear due to the controversial topic about the species' origin and taxonomic heritage but some scientists believe that the Red wolf's territory may have once reached north to Canada and West to the Ohio River Valley.

THE CONTROVERSY:

During the introduction of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973, the Red Wolf was placed on the list to protect and promote survival of it's dwindling population.
Unfortunately controversy (which still rages today) on whether the Red Wolf was actually a subspecies of the wolf, a completely different species, or simply a hybridization between wolves and coyotes soon was brought to light. Following decades of research the USFWS concluded in the early 1990s that the Red wolf was a unique species or a subspecies of the wolf however, in 2011 a study concluded that the Red wolf was a genetic mixture of coyote and wolf.
The most important aspect to this controversy lies in the fact that if the Red wolf is actually a hybrid, it cannot be protected under the ESA.
Thankfully for the Red wolf, even in the face of this new research, the USFWS has spoken it's intent and continues it's protection of the Red Wolf.
Due to this lack of education, owners soon find themselves overwhelmed in caring for this special needs companion animal.
Commonly, owners will look to place their Wolfdog in a new home, however, they soon find this is no easy task.
Sanctuaries, Zoos, and Shelters are routinely full, and don't have the room or resources to take care of such a special needs animal. They are typically immediately euthanized in these situations.

It is also nearly impossibly to place a Wolfdog into a new family, as like wolves, Wolfdogs will bond with their families and may not take to another so easily.
Wolves raised in captivity cannot and should not be released into the wild, as they will NOT have the skills needed to survival the wild.
Just the same, Wolfdogs should not and cannot be released into the wild, as not only would they not have the skills to survive, but releasing a hybrid into the wild could diminish the purity of wolves in the wild.

It is estimated that wolves and wolfdogs living in captivity are euthanized before their 3rd birthday, and over 250,000 are euthanized every year.

It is important to realize that education and proper requirements are needed to be met, to own these animals.
Those who cannot provide proper housing or care can still become powerful impact for wolves. By becoming a voice and standing up for conservations and preservation of the species, we can help raise our populations in the wild instead of raising euthanasia rates in captivity.
Wolfdogs come in various shapes and sizes.
The size and or coloration will all depend and can greatly vary due to what kind of Wolf, and Dog breed is involved.

Most common Wolfdog mixes will be one part Timber Wolf (Grey Wolf), or Arctic Wolf crossed with;
Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, and or German Shepherd.

There is some controversy over the effectiveness of the standard dog/cat rabies vaccine on a wolfdog. The USDA has not to date approved any rabies vaccine for use in wolf-dog hybrids, though they do recommend an extra-label use of the vaccine.

Temperament and behavior
Wolf-dog hybrids are a mixture of genetic traits, which results in less predictable behavior patterns compared to either the wolf or dog.

It is important to realize A wolf’s behavior is typically more socially shy and timid toward humans than that of a dog. But regardless, a wolf is a predator and that predator instinct may very much be passed along into the Wolfdog, as well as the lack of shyness and timidness which often is a trait within dogs.
Again the behavior patterns and or genetic traits can result in unpredictable behavior compared to that of the wolf or dog. With this said, it is extremely important to research into these potential companions before bringing them home!