August Feature: Wolves Wolves belong to the family of Canidae (dogs). IUCN - The World Conservation's SSC (Species Survival Commission) Wolf Specialist Group and Canid Specialist Group recognize 34 species of wild canids. The grey or timber wolf (Canis lupus) is the largest wild canid, with adult males weighing on average, 30-40 kilograms. Once the world's most widely distributed mammal, spread throughout the northern hemisphere, the grey wolf's largest populations are now found in Canada, Alaska, and Russia. Packs generally include a breeding pair, offspring of the current year as well as a few animals from previous years. The number of wolves in a pack rarely exceeds 12 but exceptionally up to 30 have been recorded. Their diet consists mainly of large ungulates (grass-eating mammals) such as moose, caribou, and deer, but they also eat smaller animals and livestock. The grey wolf is hunted for its fur in Canada, Alaska, and Russia. According to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), 6,000 to 7,000 wolf skins have been traded annually since 1981. The wolf skin trade can remain sustainable, that is, wolves can be hunted without seriously depleting the world wolf numbers provided they are hunted only in countries with healthy wolf populations. Learn MORE About Wolves... Wolves Fact Sheet

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