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
42
​
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?
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.
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.