What are most common gray wolf facts?

Here are some of the most common facts about gray wolves:

  1. Scientific Name: Canis lupus

  2. Habitat: Forests, grasslands, tundra

  3. Diet: Carnivorous, including deer, elk, moose, caribou, and smaller animals like rodents

  4. Social structure: Live in packs, typically 6-12 members, with a dominant breeding pair

  5. Lifespan: 6-8 years in the wild, up to 15 years in captivity

  6. Weight: 66-110 pounds (females), 77-145 pounds (males)

  7. Height: 26-32 inches at shoulder

  8. Population: estimated 200,000-300,000 globally, with subpopulations in North America, Europe, Asia

  9. Conservation Status: Least Concern (IUCN), but endangered in some regions

  10. Communication: Howl, bark, whine, growl

  11. Top predators: No natural predators, except humans and possibly other wolves

  12. Role in ecosystem: Helps maintain balance by controlling populations of prey species, which in turn affects plant populations and overall biodiversity