The grey wolf also known as timber or western wolf belongs to the canid family and is native to the wilds of North America and Eurasia. It is recognized by it’s large stature, thick coat, piercing howl and complex social behaviour. Grey wolves are able to hunt in forests, grassland or tundra environments due to their intelligence and social ability. They are also apex predators.



Wolves are the largest member of the canid family and are capable of inhabiting different habitats including forests, grasslands, prairies, tundras, deserts and mountains. In the wild, they have a life expectancy of 13 years but can live up to 17 years in zoological settings.



Prior to the conscious conservation efforts that began in the 1970s, grey wolves had a history of persecution. Humans used to hunt grey wolves intentionally because they were considered a dangerous threat to livestock and humans as well. Although captive breeding and reintroduction programs have been successful and stabilizing the grey wolf population, they continue to occupy less than 10% of the range they once occupied.

Fun Facts

While they might be considered omnivores due to their occasional consumption of roots and berries, they are predominantly carnivorous animals that feed on large herbivorous animals like elk, bison, etc and smaller animals such as rabbits and rodents. Grey wolves are one of the only species that were deliberately driven to near extinction by humans.