autumn dorey autumn

By: Autumn Dorey

Fessenden

Grade 6

The Gray Wolf

Scientific ClassificationScientific Classification

The Gray Wolf is also know as the Canis LupusThe Gray Wolf is also know as the Canis Lupus It is a member of the Canine FamilyIt is a member of the Canine Family It is from the Kingdom AnimaliaIt is from the Kingdom Animalia It’s Phylum is ChordataIt’s Phylum is Chordata It’s Class is MammaliaIt’s Class is Mammalia It’s Order is CarnivoresIt’s Order is Carnivores It’s Family is CanideaIt’s Family is Canidea It’s Subfamily is CanineaIt’s Subfamily is Caninea

AppearanceAppearance

Long LimbsLong Limbs 4 toes on the back paws4 toes on the back paws 5 toes on the front paws5 toes on the front paws 42 teeth-6 incisors, 2 canines, 8 premolars, 4 molars, in the top 42 teeth-6 incisors, 2 canines, 8 premolars, 4 molars, in the top

jaw, 5 in the bottomjaw, 5 in the bottom Eye color- yellowishEye color- yellowish Ears- erect, black edgesEars- erect, black edges Tail- long bushy fur, long tail (45 cm)Tail- long bushy fur, long tail (45 cm) Claws- cannot be retractedClaws- cannot be retracted Fur color- yellowish brown/greyFur color- yellowish brown/grey Fur color of pups- sooty brown/ white/ grey/ yellowish brownFur color of pups- sooty brown/ white/ grey/ yellowish brown

HabitatHabitat

Dense forestDense forest FieldsFields North AmericaNorth America GreenlandGreenland AsiaAsia EuropeEurope

Life CycleLife Cycle Breeding season lasts from January-AprilBreeding season lasts from January-April The alpha female will birth 4-7 pupsThe alpha female will birth 4-7 pups Like a penguin, they barf to feed their youngLike a penguin, they barf to feed their young The pups stay with the pack for 3-5 months, then leave in search for a The pups stay with the pack for 3-5 months, then leave in search for a

matemate In captivity, wolves live up to 20 years of age, but in the wild they live to In captivity, wolves live up to 20 years of age, but in the wild they live to

be about 16 years of agebe about 16 years of age There is one alpha male and female that mate for life and are the only There is one alpha male and female that mate for life and are the only

ones aloud to have pupsones aloud to have pups

DietDiet

Wolves eat mostly meat, but occasionally thy eat berriesWolves eat mostly meat, but occasionally thy eat berries Wolves eat: Mice, rabbits, squirrels, birds, deer, elk, moose, Wolves eat: Mice, rabbits, squirrels, birds, deer, elk, moose,

caribou, reindeer, livestock, and buffalocaribou, reindeer, livestock, and buffalo The pack will not eat until the alpha female and male are finishedThe pack will not eat until the alpha female and male are finished A whole pack of wolves can take down a fully grown moose 10 A whole pack of wolves can take down a fully grown moose 10

times their sizetimes their size

PredatorsPredators

Wolves have 2 main predatorsWolves have 2 main predators A bear is very unlikely to hunt a wolf, but A bear is very unlikely to hunt a wolf, but

sometimes they dosometimes they do Man is their main predatorMan is their main predator

How does this species How does this species help the environment?help the environment?

Wolves hunt many animals that Wolves hunt many animals that reproduce very quickly, like rabbits. So if reproduce very quickly, like rabbits. So if there were no wolves, animals would there were no wolves, animals would over populate because of the lack of over populate because of the lack of predatorspredators

How do humans impact How do humans impact the environment?the environment?

We hunt wolves for their furWe hunt wolves for their fur Every time you kill one wolf, you kill 1 Every time you kill one wolf, you kill 1

million wolves because that wolf could million wolves because that wolf could have had puppies, and those puppies have had puppies, and those puppies could have had puppies, and those could have had puppies, and those puppies could have had puppies!puppies could have had puppies!

How can we help to keep How can we help to keep this species alive?this species alive?

We could stop hunting wolves for fun, like We could stop hunting wolves for fun, like some people do. Instead, if we are going some people do. Instead, if we are going to hunt them, we should do it for a reasonto hunt them, we should do it for a reason

We could also stop cutting down trees in We could also stop cutting down trees in the forest because that is wrecking their the forest because that is wrecking their homehome

Internet sites and booksInternet sites and books

Books: Smithsonian AnimalsBooks: Smithsonian Animals Internet sites: Internet sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_wolf