Gray Wolf

     The gray wolf is the largest of the canines. They are one of the most widespread land mammals, inhabiting various ecosystems throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and a small portion of Africa. The gray wolf has many nicknames, such as the Timber Wolf, Arctic Wolf, and Tundra Wolf. The names vary depending on the location of their habitat. Gray Wolves are excellent hunters, seeking their prey using their scent.
     Wolves are known for their howl for many reasons. Howling helps members of the pack keep in touch and to communicate in thick forests or over large distances. It also helps to summon pack members to a specific locations, declaration of territory, or claiming of prey.Gray wolves are also known as keystone predators because they help maintain a balanced ecosystem. Their diet consists of large hoofed mammals, such as elk, deer, moose, and caribou, as well as smaller mammals like beavers and rabbits. Because gray wolves eliminate only weak animals, herds become stronger and healthier as a whole.
     On a global level, the Gray Wolf is considered a species of least concern, but on a regional level it is considered vulnerable of extinction due to loss of habitat, trapping, shooting, and poisoning.

How to Help

     If people would like to help gray wolves, there are several things you can do. You can adopt a wolf through organizations like Defenders of Wildlife or the National Wildlife Federation. These organizations support several initiatives that help gray wolves, such as banning aerial gunning in Alaska, fighting to preserve federal protections, and helping ranchers find effective ways to protect their livestock so they refrain from killing wolves. You can also help by supporting gray wolf habitat protection.

Gray Wolf Puppies

Photograph from NotDiscovery.org

Gray Wolf Pack

Photographed by Superb Wallpapers