Wildlife Project Timber/Gray Wolf

History Gray wolves inhabited areas from the southern swamps to the northern tundra. They existed wherever there was an abundance of food supply. As the continent was settled, wolves declined in numbers and became more restricted in range.

History continued…. In the 1830’s there was an estimated population of 3,000-5,000 wolves. In 1865 the WI legislature passed a state bounty offering $5 for every wolf killed there were no wolves left in the southern two-thirds of the state. In 1974 they were protected by the Endangered Species Act.

Classification Kingdom - Animalia Phylum – chordata Class - Mammalia subclass - Eutheria Order - Carnivora Family - Canidae Genus - Canis Grey Wolf - Canis Lupis Red Wolf - Canis Rufus Domestic Dog – Canis Familiaris Dingo - Canis familiaris dingo Coyote - Canis latrans

Breeds/Groups/Pop. Current population in WI is approximately 800 (2011)

Breeds/Groups/Pop. Continued…. There is only one breed of wolf that lives in WI, which is the Gray wolf or Timber wolf.

Nutrition Wolves eat… deer beaver rabbits

Nutrition continued…. During the summer they eat smaller mammals such as…. Mice Squirrels Muskrats.

Health The diet of wolves is comprised of ….. 55% white-tailed deer 16% beavers 10% snowshoe hares 19% mice, squirrels muskrats and other small mammals. Deer comprise over 80% of the diet most of the year.

Diseases Distemper Rabies Parvovirus

Diseases continued… Distemper and parvovirus are not contagious to humans, but rabies is. Rabies can not be cured, but can be prevented if you have a vaccine before it occurs.

Habitat The Timber Wolf lives in the northern part of Wisconsin.

Habitat continued… Wolves travel in a pack of 6 to 10, which is why they live in a large area. The pack can cover between miles.

Reproduction In WI wolves breed in late winter. After a 9 week pregnancy the female will have one litter a year with 5 to 6 pups.

Reproduction cycle The reproduction cycle starts when the alpha male and the dominant female leave the pack. Within 5 to 7 days the female becomes pregnant and will have her litter in about nine weeks. Next year the same thing will happen in late winter, with the dominant male and female, and this cycle will continue on.

References als/wolf.htm#Breeding%20Biology als/wolf.htm#Breeding%20Biology wolfweb/wolf1.htm wolfweb/wolf1.htm &hl=en&lr=&q=grey+wolf &hl=en&lr=&q=grey+wolf

Difference between wolf and coyote The main difference between a wolf and a coyote is that a wolf is much larger. Wolves have narrower chests and longer legs. A coyote can weigh anywhere from 20 to 30 pounds, but a wolf will weigh 50 to 100 pounds. Both howl, but a coyote has a higher pitched howl and will change its tone more than a wolf.

Wolf……..Coyote

Wolf/Coyote comparison