Project Week | Animal Profile MSc

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Wolf
Canis Lupus

Geographic Range Central- and northern Europe / Japan / north America

Habitat Most of the wolves that still exist live in the forests, that is because
they were mercilessly hunted by humans for centuries

Physical Description mostly light brown or grey, brown or white fur. A total of 42 teeth,
including 12 incisors, 4 canines, 16 front teeth and 10 molars.

Reproduction The mating season of the wolf is in February and March. The
gestation period is 60 to 63 days, and the cubs are born in mid-May.
When the cubs are about to be born, the pair chooses a den, usually
a simple sheltered space, for example under the lower branches of a
spruce. After around one to three weeks, they move the cubs to a
more permanent den that is often located near water. This den, which
may even be a proper cave dug in sand, will be more permanent in
structure. While wolves rarely use a birthing den again, they may
return to the same second den.

Lifespan the males live up to 16 years old, the females only 14 years old.

Behaviour Wolves live as fixed couples that usually reproduce annually. The
wolf pack is commonly a family unit consisting of a couple (a so-
called alpha couple) and its offspring. There are also other types of
wolf packs, but they are rarer. On average, Finnish wolf packs
consist of seven wolves. Wolves are on the move at all times of the
day, but they are most active during dusk and at night. The wolf is a
very fast mover that can cover vast distances with speed.

Food Habits Reproducing and growing wolves may need 2-3 times this much. It
has been estimated that wolves consume around 10 pounds of meat
per day, on average. However, wolves don’t actually eat every day.
Instead, they live a feast or famine lifestyle; they may go several days
without a meal and then gorge on over 20 pounds of meat when a kill
is made.

Predation in winter they eat most of the reindeer, deer and wild boar
in summer they also eat small mammals as well as fish birds.
 Project Week | Animal Profile MSc
Constantin van velzen