Gray Wolf

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The gray wolf (Canis lupus), or simply the wolf, is the largest carnivore in the Canidae family. The gray wolf has been around for 130,000—300,000 years, and it started inhabiting the territory of Latvia immediately after the last Ice Age. DNA studies indicate that the gray wolf and the dog (Canis lupus familiaris) are the same species—the dog is considered a subspecies of the wolf that likely started to separate from it around 100,000 years ago.

In areas inhabited by wolves, they become the main predators. Wolves are social animals. Solitary wolves are very rare and are usually either old animals driven out of the pack or young males seeking their own territory. Typically, a wolf pack consists of a pair of adult wolves and their offspring; all pack members are part of one family. Wolves reach “adulthood” only at two years of age. All members help raise the pups. Each pack has its own territory, which can span up to 200 km². The pack continuously moves to hunt.

Wolves give birth to pups once a year. Usually, 4—7 blind and deaf pups are born. The pups are born in a den located in remote forest edges, islands, or swampy areas. The pups stay in the den for about 2 months. Once the pups are 2 months old, they are taken along, but they are left in a quieter place while the adults hunt. An adult, called the “babysitter,” always stays with the pups. After a few weeks, the pups are allowed to participate in the hunt if they are able to keep up.

The wolf is a typical carnivore that only occasionally consumes plant food. It mainly hunts roe deer, red deer, wild boar, and livestock—sheep, goats, calves, and other small farm animals—such as chickens, cats, and more. It also hunts smaller mammals, such as foxes, raccoon dogs, hares, beavers, mice, and rats.

Source: wikipedia.org