Wolf Information

Wolf Haven is committed to advancing knowledge about wolves, instructing thousands of people annually on wolf ecology and the importance of maintaining a balanced ecosystem complete with top predators. This type of education dispels many myths surrounding wolves and is vital to promoting human acceptance of them. From dispelling misinformation surrounding wolves to the false impression that they make good pets, Wolf Haven promotes understanding of this often misunderstood keystone predator. Stay on this page for basic wolf information and fun facts, or click a topic below for a deeper dive!

Basic Gray Wolf Facts

* indicates the number provided is the average; statistics vary for each individual animal

Length (nose to tail tip) *

Male: 5 to 6.5 feet

Female: 4.5 to 6 feet

Height*

26 to 32 inches

Weight*

Male: 80 to 110 pounds

Female: 60 to 80 pounds

Paw Size*

4 inches wide x 5 inches long

(approximately the same as a human hand)

Number of Teeth

Bite Force

debated among experts, but most scientists believe it's somewhere between 400 & 1200 PSI

Fur Color

any shade of gray, brown, black, white, or rust

(a single litter can contain a variation of colors)

Breeding Season

mid-January to mid-April depending on climate

(colder climates result in later breeding seasons)

Gestation Period*

63 days

Litter Size*

4 to 6 pups

Weight at Birth*

1 pound

Pup Mortality Rate

highly variable, but approximately 40 to 60% per year

Pack Size*

4 to 8 members

(the Druid Peak pack in Yellowstone once had 37)

Pack Territory Size

100 square miles or less in temperate regions; reaching up to 1000 square miles in Alaska & Northern Canada

Speed

4 to 5 miles per hour on average, but can reach speeds up to 35 miles per hour during a chase

Common Prey

caribou, elk, deer, bison, musk-oxen, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, rodents, beavers, fish, and birds

Eating Habits

5 to 7 pounds of meat per day, but can survive on 2 pounds & are known to eat up to 20 pounds in one sitting

Wolf to Deer Ratio

1 wolf to 175 deer, depending on the region

(studies show that 1 wolf kills 15-19 deer per year)

Lifespan*

6 to 10 years in the wild

up to 18 years in captivity

Historic Range

once common across all of Canada & every continental U.S. state; only found in most of Canada & 14 states now

Threats

loss of habitat due to destruction, development, and encroachment by humans; persecution by humans

did you know?

American Red Wolf Pups at Wolf Haven 2017

A wolf pack...

is a family and often contains the breeding pair and the current year’s pups. It likely also includes the previous year’s surviving pups and unrelated wolves may sometimes join, too.

We used to call the breeding pair the alpha male and alpha female, but these terms are being replaced by breeding male and breeding female. The term family group is also more often being used instead of the term pack.

Learn More

Want to Learn More?

There's always more to learn at Wolf Haven! We are currently working on adding additional information to this page about wolf communication, behavior, range, and territory, as well as an FAQs page about our sanctuary residents and wild wolves. Until then, we invite you to attend one of our educational programs or events to learn more about the work we do and how you can support our mission.

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