25 Awesome Facts About Grey Wolves
Grey wolves, also known as timber wolves or western wolves, are sexy beasts with an uncanny resemblance to your neighborhood German Shepard. If our spirit animal quiz has revealed your connection to this baby, you’ll want to soak up these 25 awesome facts on grey wolves.
Grey wolves are an incredible species for many obvious reasons. If your spirit guide is this beauty, we’re pretty sure you’ll be impressed and proud once you learn more about the grey wolf!
25 Awesome Facts About Grey Wolves
1. Grey Wolves Call North America and Eurasia Home
2. Howling as A Form Of GPS
3. Wolves Don't Mind Cold Weather
4. Wolf Fur Is Perfect for Colder Climates
5. Wolves Help the World Go Round
6. Wolves Don't Mind Traveling
7. Wolves Have Unique Howls
8. Newborn Wolves Need Protection
9. Wolves Have Great Hearing and Sense of Smell
10. Wolves Feed Their Young by Mouth
11. Wolves Stay in Packs
12. Mating Season Is Once a Year for Wolves
13. Wolves Are All About Their Community
14. Wolves Are Susceptible to Extinction
15. There Are Plenty of Nonprofits You Can Support to Save Wolves
16. Wolves Live Relatively Long Lives
17. Besides Howling, Wolves Communicate in Many Other Ways
18. Wolves Look Cute Dancing
19. Wolves Have to Be Careful of Predators, Too
20. Wolves Can Eat (Like, A Lot)
21. Wolves Are Basically One Big Family
22. There's A Lot to Learn About Wolves
23. Grey Wolves Can Be Picky When It Comes to Breeding
24. Wolves Are Pretty Big Canines
25. Wolves Rarely Fight Within the Pack
1. WOLVES CALL NORTH AMERICA AND EURASIA HOME
Curious about the habitat of grey wolf packs? These badass creatures can be found in the wilderness and remote areas of North America and Eurasia. They were once common throughout all of North America; however, they were wiped out in most areas of the U.S. by the mid-1930s.
2. HOWLING AS A FORM OF GPS
These intuitive furries appreciate GPS as we do. Like our phone's ability to send our location, the howl of grey wolves can serve as a GPS. They can use their hot howls to signal others and communicate their whereabouts. #easypartyinvite Because of the high pitch, grey wolves produce a howl that can carry as far as ten miles.
3. WOLVES DON'T MIND COLD WEATHER
There are 7,000 to 11,000 grey wolves in Alaska, 3,700 in the Great Lakes region, and 1,675 in the Northern Rockies. They are super chill with the cold. We kinda like this choice as the habitat of the grey wolf because we’re super chill with getting to know more about Alaska.
4. WOLF FUR IS PERFECT FOR COLDER CLIMATES
Their winter fur is exceptionally resilient to cold temperatures, allowing them to rest comfortably at -40 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, Wolf fur provides better insulation than dog fur and does not collect ice.
5. GREY WOLVES HELP THE WORLD GO ROUND
Did you know your beast bestie plays an integral role in keeping ecosystems healthy? That’s right! Your spirit animal helps keep the deer and elk populations normalized. This little fun fact on grey wolves benefits many plant and animal species.
6. GREY WOLVES DON'T MIND TRAVELING
Do you have a travelin’ spirit? If so, it shouldn’t be surprising to learn the average grey wolf travels about twelve miles a day. But, much like you, they're never one to complain about aching paws.
Grey wolves roam great distances, always ready for what may come their way. So, if you live to seek out adventure, it's no wonder you've been paired with this travel junkie. In fact, wolf packs in the far north travel even longer distance when following migrating herds.
7. GREY WOLVES HAVE VERY UNIQUE HOWLS
The wolf pack is incredibly connected and can communicate with one another through unique howls. Think of it like fingerprints that help tell us apart—they are distinct and helpful in many situations.
Their unique howls can summon the pack at a moment's notice. Imagine enjoying yourself at Coachella when your friend howls out from the opposite side of the crowded sea. Her distinct howl could alert you that your homegirl is getting hit on by Mr. Not Right, Never Will Be Right, and she needs you pronto. Pretty awesome, right?
8. NEWBORN GREY WOLVES NEED PROTECTION
Pups are born blind and unable to defend themselves. The protective habitat of the grey wolf keeps these cuties safe. The pack cares for them until they can hunt independently, which usually happens at around ten months old.
Some of the newly grown grey wolves may get a bit antsy and travel off alone in hopes of finding their mate. This can be very dangerous for these ambitious little guys, as they are leaving the protection of their pack at a young age. I guess these rebel fellas took the “don’t follow the pack” saying literally.
9. GREY WOLVES HAVE GREAT HEARING AND SENSE OF SMELL
Grey wolves are not exceptionally fast. They may have a sprinting capacity of about 35 miles per hour, but only in short bursts. Instead, these majestic beasts rely on their insanely sharp hearing and sense of smell to detect prey.
10. GREY WOLVES FEED THEIR YOUNG BY MOUTH
Sorry if you’re eating right now - wolves feed their young by throwing up in their mouth. Yep, these sexy animals feed by the baby bird method. They carry chewed-up food in their stomach and then regurgitate it into the pup's mouth when they return to the den. It's kind of sweet if you can get past the fact that it's downright disgusting.
11. WOLVES ARE LOYAL AND STAY IN THEIR PACKS
Never break bread alone, bro. If you’ve been linked to the grey wolf, you’re close to your pack. Packs include the mother and father wolf, known as the alphas, their pups, and older offspring. They are known to live and hunt in packs of about six to ten. If a wolf does find himself alone, he lets out his legendary howl to get himself back to the safety of his pack. Not to mention, the alpha male is ready to ruin a homeboy’s life if he tries to mess with his pack.
12. MATING SEASON IS ONCE A YEAR
Wolves only have one breeding season per year: winter. Yeah, we saw that eyebrow raise. While we are snuggled at home in our cozy faux fur Grazer Onesies Netflixing and chillin', wolves are getting it on. Which is essentially… well, you get it.
If their mission is successful, they have their pups in late April or early May. Pup birthing happens in an underground hole or den, the preferred habitat of the grey wolf. There are typically four to six adorable pups in each litter. For the record, baby grey wolves are officially the only photos in my camera roll.
13. WOLVES ARE ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY
Wolves develop close relationships and strong social bonds. Does this sound like you, too? They exhibit deep attachment and love for their families and have even been known to give their lives to protect their pack. Now that’s sexy!
14. GREY WOLVES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXTINCTION
The wolf is tremendously feared by man and has been persecuted more than almost any other animal. Yet, it is their intelligence and adaptability that have protected them from extinction. Still, the grey wolf is considered very susceptible to extinction across many regions. Sadly, their depletion in numbers is due to the loss of habitat of the grey wolf, trapping, shooting, and poisoning.
15. THERE ARE PLENTY OF NONPROFITS YOU CAN SUPPORT TO SAVE WOLVES
Want to adopt a wolf? You can “adopt” a grey wolf through organizations such as Predator Defense, Defenders of Wildlife, or the National Wildlife Federation. These organizations fight on behalf of grey wolves and have many ongoing and valiant efforts to protect them.
Learn more about our Nonprofit Partner, Predator Defense.
16. WOLVES LIVE RELATIVELY LONG LIVES
How long do these fearless creatures roam the earth? In the wild, wolves live 8-13 years, and sometimes longer. In captivity, they live upward of 15 years.
17. WOLVES COMMUNICATE IN MANY WAYS
While howling has become the most famous form of communication linked to the wolf, they communicate in many forms. However, most of their communication is about fortifying the social hierarchy of the pack.
Your spiritual bestie may use additional forms of communication, including:
body language
scent marking
barking
growling
18. WOLVES LOOK CUTE WHILE DANCING
The wolf dance is pawfection at its best! A playful wolf will dance and bow. How cute is that? Can someone please dance with a wolf and send us a video?! #DancesWithWolves
19. GREY WOLVES HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF PREDATORS, TOO
Wolf pups may be preyed on by golden eagles and bears, but mama and papa wolf don’t play that game! There are several records of adult wolves decoying bears away from their pups' dens. You just don’t mess with wolf’s offspring unless you’re looking for trouble.
20. WOLVES CAN EAT (LIKE, A LOT!)
How much food can you pack in that pie hole in one sitting? The typical adult wolf can eat up to twenty pounds of meat a serving. That’s about 1/5th of their body weight…and they’re always in search of more. All forty-two teeth sit in anticipation, waiting for the next meal. Not to mention, they go hard when it comes to the kill!
These wolves prey on elk, deer, and moose, all generally far larger animals than they. But, if large-hoofed animals are not an option, they will also eat beaver, rabbit, birds, fish, snakes, and even fruit. They sure aren’t picky. I mean, it IS for the good of the pack. It’s all part of their loyal commitment to making sure the pack eats well— this is a squad we could have a lot of love for.
21. WOLVES ARE BASICALLY ONE BIG, HAPPY FAMILY
Grey wolves generally mate for life— the real ride or die, am I right? Only the alpha male and female will mate. The wolves in the inferior hierarchy will take on the role of helping care for the offspring. Now THAT’S having each other’s back. These guys know how to focus on one unanimous and harmonious mission: survival.
22. THERE'S A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT GREY WOLVES
We’re all about soaking up the fun facts on grey wolves. The grey wolf is one of the world's best-known and well-researched animals, with likely more books written about it than any other wildlife species.
There are many details that make them quite intriguing. For instance, wolves use facial expressions to communicate. Yep, these bad boys can actually express nine emotions with those furry faces, and no, they aren’t all furrrocious looks. In fact, they kind of get a bad rap for always being the vicious antagonist. Makes you wonder if the Big Bad Wolf was so bad after all.
23. GREY WOLVES CAN BE PICKY WHEN IT COMES TO BREEDING
Unlike the red and eastern wolf, the grey wolf does not readily interbreed with coyotes — because they have high standards, obviously. Write that down.
24. WOLVES ARE PRETTY BIG CANINES
Grey wolves are the most prominent member of the canine family, excluding certain large breeds of dogs. Just don’t go petting any grey wolves on the head thinking they’ll give you a wag and a lick.
25. WOLVES RARELY FIGHT WITHIN THEIR PACK
Wolves have a very intricate social structure. There is a hierarchy for both males and females. Despite popular belief, fighting does not frequently happen within the pack for a higher ranking.
Instead, grey wolves exhibit a well-functioning hierarchy structure used to protect the entire pack. The other members respect their positions and follow their leadership in almost all things. Now THIS is a team that wins! Where are our jerseys, coach?
We hope you learned a little something about this majestic creature as well as yourself. Now wrap yourself in faux fur fashion and embrace your inner grey wolf!
Join the Grey Wolf pack!
JOIN OUR SMS
Text ANIMAL to 1-833-217-2555
for more fun animal inspired content
