Gray wolves (Canis lupus) are second only to humans in their ability to adapt to climate extremes; they are able to survive in environments as diverse as the deserts of Israel and the frozen Arctic of Siberia. Unlike their domesticated canine cousins, wolves have not prospered at the hands of humans. After early settlers depleted populations of bison, deer, elk, and moose in the western United States, wolves turned to sheep and cattle for prey. This behavior put settlers and wolves at odds and marked the beginning of the controversy surrounding this species. In western states, wolf recovery and management are polarized and emotional issues.

Description: The gray wolf is the largest member of the canine family. They range in color from gray and black to entirely white, and they resemble large dog breeds such as the German shepherd or husky. Average gray wolves can be 55 to 115 lbs, and females are the larger of the sexes.

Life History: Wolf groups are called "packs" and usually consist of a set of parents, their offspring, and other non-breeding adults. Wolves begin mating at 2 - 3 years of age. Pups are typically reared in dens for the first six weeks, and then they are cared for by the entire pack. Pups begin traveling with the adults by 7 to 8 months. Wolf packs typically live within a specific territory that can range in size from 50 to 1,000 square miles. They typically feed on large, hooved mammals (ungulates) such as deer, antelope, elk, and mountain goats, and the carcasses left behind support foxes, wolverines, bears, eagles, and other animals.

Distribution: Within the continental United States, gray wolves once ranged from Canada to Mexico and from coast to coast. However, wolves were hunted to near extinction at the beginning of the 20th century. Large scale predator eradication programs sponsored by the federal government were supported by settlers who believed wolves were responsible for widespread livestock losses. Today, there are established wolf populations of varying sizes in Alaska, Minnesota, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin, Isle Royale, and the Rocky Mountains. Reintroductions have occurred in Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Status: Gray wolves are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as threatened species in Minnesota and as endangered species elsewhere in the lower 48 states, including those of the Mountain Prairie region. In 1995 and 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reintroduced gray wolves into Yellowstone National Park and U.S. Forest Service lands in central Idaho. These wolves were designated as non-essential, experimental under the ESA, a status that allows their removal and/or destruction if they are found preying on livestock. At present, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed the designation of a "distinct population segment" (DPS) of gray wolves in the Northern Rockies and has proposed delisting this DPS. Read Questions and Answers about this proposed delisting.