Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
A social, pack-living predator that was once the most widespread mammal on Earth.
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About the Gray Wolf
Gray wolves are usually gray, but can be white, cinnamon or black. They stand about 3 feet tall and are about 5 feet long; males weigh up to 150 pounds and females up to 100. They once lived across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, in forests, tundra, mountains and deserts. Packs work together to hunt elk, bison and deer, and wolves also eat smaller animals and some plants.[1]
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Canis lupus[1]
- Size
- About 3 feet tall and 5 feet long.[1]
- Weight
- Males up to 150 pounds; females up to 100 pounds.[1]
- Lifespan
- About 8 years in the wild.[1]
- Diet
- Mostly elk, bison and deer, plus smaller animals, fish and some plants.[1]
- Habitat
- Forests, tundra, plains, mountains and deserts.[1]
- Where it lives
- North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.[1]
- Group life
- Packs of 2 to 12, usually a family.[1]
- Babies
- Usually 4 to 6 pups.[1]
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2025).[2]
Fun facts
Vocabulary
- pack
- A family group of wolves that live and hunt together.
- subspecies
- A group within a species that lives in a certain area and looks a little different from other groups.
- predator
- An animal that hunts other animals for food.
- pup
- A baby wolf or dog.
- crepuscular
- Most active at dawn and dusk.
See it in person
- Oakland ZooOakland, California · California TrailSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗
These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.
Sources
- [1] Oakland Zoo. “Gray Wolf.” https://www.oaklandzoo.org/animals/gray-wolf/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
- [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Canis lupus (Grey Wolf).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/3746/226161232 (accessed 2026-10-02)
Facts last checked 2026-10-02.
