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Gray wolf

Canis lupus

Photo by KarenL
Published on Project Noah
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49.3723, -123.097

Field Notes

Description:

The gray wolf also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family. Though once abundant over much of Eurasia, North Africa and North America, the gray wolf inhabits a reduced portion of its former range due to widespread destruction of its territory, human encroachment, and the resulting human-wolf encounters that sparked broad extirpation. Even so, the gray wolf is regarded as being of least concern for extinction by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, when the entire gray wolf population is considered as a whole. Today, wolves are protected in some areas, hunted for sport in others, or may be subject to population control or extermination as threats to livestock, people, and pets.
Gray wolves are social predators that live in nuclear families consisting of a mated pair, their offspring and, occasionally, adopted immature wolves. They primarily feed on ungulates, which they hunt by wearing them down in short chases. Gray wolves are typically apex predators throughout their range, with only humans and tigers posing significant threats to them.

Notes:

The timber wolves of the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife are retirees from the movie industry. Originally born into captivity and hand raised, the wolves were unable to be released into the wild. Now they make their home within a large protected habitat at the base of the Mountain, where they can roam freely and explore their surroundings.

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Comments (14)

Beautiful colours (and wolf), and great to hear about the Refuge.
Thanks Mangai & Jessy!
This looked to be a pretty old guy so you never know!
He does look peaceful to me rather than sad..wow!..wolf celebrities. I wonder if they participated in "Dancing with wolves" for example :-)
You are right Darwin26 - not too many tigers in BC! :)
I think he has a pretty good life! - The timber wolves of the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife are retirees from the movie industry. Originally born into captivity and hand raised, the wolves were unable to be released into the wild. Now they make their home within a large protected habitat at the base of the Mountain, where they can roam freely and explore their surroundings.
I hope it's just satisfaction after a good meal and not a sign of depression....he looks a little like our dog - my heart goes out to him.
Well, fortunately we don't see many Tigers in NA... but i've caught a glimpse of Susquatch~ The wolf of the lower 48 was extirpated long ago and science and the govmint have been trying to replace that extinct wolf with a wolf a Foot Longer and 6 inches higher and expect it to behave as an exact replica ~ and its not happening. But i'm also aware these same Wolf-slayers would be Shark-slayers if they lived by the Sea... that Apex doesn't necessarily translate to foresight and compassion.

Spotted for Missions

Photographed
PublishedDecember 2, 2011

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