Wolf (Canis lupus) NPS photograph by J. Paluh
Wolf (Canis lupus):[]
The following species profile information obtained from Alaska Department of Fish and Game where additional information can also be obtained. The ADF&G Wolf Wildlife Notebook Series also provides additional information.
General Description:[]
Wolves are members of the family Canidae. Early taxonomists recognized about 24 New World and eight Old World subspecies of Canis lupus, with four subspecies thought to occur in Alaska. Recent studies of skull characteristics, body size, and color suggest that differences are slight with considerable overlap in the characteristics of wolves from various areas. Only two Alaska subspecies are now recognized. Wolves in Southeast Alaska tend to be darker and somewhat smaller than those in northern parts of the state. The pelt color of Alaska wolves ranges from black to nearly white, with every shade of gray and tan in between. Gray or black wolves are most common, and the relative abundance of each color phase varies over time and from place to place.
Most adult male wolves in Interior Alaska weigh from 85 to 115 pounds (38.6-52.3), but they occasionally reach 145 pounds (65.3 kg). Females average 10 to 15 pounds (2-5 kg) lighter than males and rarely weigh more than 110 pounds (50 kg). Wolves reach adult size by about 1 year of age.
Life History:[]
Wolves are social animals and usually live in packs that include parents and pups of the year. The average pack size is six or seven animals, and pack members often include some yearlings and other adults. Packs of 20 to 30 wolves sometimes occur, and these larger packs may have two or three litters of pups from more than one female.
The social order in the pack is characterized by a separate dominance hierarchy among females and males. In most areas wolf packs tend to remain within a territory used almost exclusively by pack members, with only occasional overlap in the ranges of neighboring packs.
Despite a generally high birth rate, wolves rarely become abundant because mortality is also high. In much of Alaska, the major sources of mortality are: predation by other wolves; hunting; and trapping. Diseases, malnutrition, and accidents also help regulate wolf numbers. Predation by other wolves is a major cause of death because wolves defend their territories from other wolves. Dispersing wolves (e.g., young adults) are common but they typically find little suitable habitat that is not already occupied by other wolves.
Reproduction:[]
Typically one female wolf in a pack has a litter of about seven pups each year. This varies, in some packs more than one female may bring off a litter.
In some cases a pair of wolves may not form a pack or belong to a pack, and will bring off a litter of pups.
Diet:[]
Wolves are carnivores, and in most of mainland Alaska moose and/or caribou are their primary food, with Dall sheep, squirrels, snowshoe hares, beaver, and occasionally birds and fish as supplements in the diet. The rate at which wolves kill large mammals varies with prey availability and environmental conditions. A pack may kill a deer or moose every few days during the winter. At other times, they may go for several days with almost no food. Since wolves are opportunistic, young, old, or debilitated animals are preyed upon more heavily than healthy middle-age animals. Under some circumstances, however, such as when snow is unusually deep or prey is scarce, even animals in their prime may be vulnerable to wolves.
In Southeast Alaska, Sitka black-tailed deer, mountain goats, and beaver are the most important sources of food. Research indicates that salmon are important seasonally where they are available, especially to young wolves. During summer, small mammals including voles, lemmings and ground squirrels are taken. Wolves also scavenge, and coastal wolves will beach comb.
Range & Habitat:[]
The wolf occurs throughout mainland Alaska, on Unimak Island in the Aleutians, and on all of the major islands in Southeast except Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof. This range includes about 85 percent of Alaska's 586,000 square-mile area. Wolves are adaptable and exist in a wide variety of habitats extending from the rain forests of the Southeast Panhandle to the arctic tundra along the Beaufort Sea. Alaska is home to an estimated 7,000 to 11,000 wolves. Wolves have never been threatened or endangered in Alaska. They are found in nearly all of their historic range, excepting the center of urban areas, although they are found on the outskirts of Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. Wolves are common over much of the state. The highest densities occur in Southeast Alaska, where Sitka black-tailed deer serve as the major food source for wolves. Wolf densities are lowest in the coastal portions of western and northern Alaska. Although the distribution of wolves has remained relatively constant in recent times, their abundance is influenced by harvest levels, diseases, and prey availability
Genetic evidence suggests that as Alaska deglaciated following the most recent glacial maximum and animals colonized the newly exposed areas, wolves from the contiguous Western United States entered Southeast Alaska, likely following the northward expansion of black-tailed deer along the coast. Wolves in Interior Alaska are likely descended from animals that inhabited Beringia during the ice age, and wolves in Southeast are genetically distinctive from "continental" wolves.
Social Habits:[]
Wolves are highly social animals and usually live in packs that include parents and pups of the year Larger packs may have two or three litters of pups from more than one female. Pack members often include some yearlings and other adults. The social order in the pack is characterized by a separate dominance hierarchy among females and males. Fighting is uncommon within packs except during periods of stress, with the dominance order being maintained largely through ritualized behavior. Although pack size usually ranges from 2 to 12 animals, packs of as many as 20 to 30 wolves sometimes occur. The average pack size is 6 or 7 animals. In most areas wolf packs tend to remain within a territory used almost exclusively by pack members, with only occasional overlap in the ranges of neighboring packs. Wolves that are primarily dependent on migratory caribou do, however, temporarily abandon their territories and travel long distances if necessary. In Alaska the territory of a pack often includes from 200 to 1,000 square miles of habitat with the average in Interior Alaska being about 500 to 600 square miles.
Sign:[]
Photographs of wolf tracks can be seen here.
Fast Facts:[]
Alaska is home to an estimated 7,000 to 11,000 wolves. Wolves have never been threatened or endangered in Alaska.
Other names: Grey wolf, timber wolf.
KNP&P Ranger Live Chats Wolves of Katmai/Brooks Camp:[]
Wolves Fishing At Brooks Falls: July 10, 2020[]
Live Chat hosted by Mike Fitz, Explore's Resident Naturalist. With Misi Stine, Outreach Director at the International Wolf Center.
Explore.org video:
Wolves Fishing at Brooks Falls - Live Chat with Mike & the International Wolf Center
July 10, 2020 video by Explore.org
KNP&P video:
Live Chat- Wolves Fishing at Brooks Falls with Mike Fitz and the International Wolf Center
July 10, 2020 KNP&P video
Captive & Wild Wolves: October 21, 2020[]
Live Chat hosted by Mike Fitz, Explore's Resident Naturalist. With Lori Schmidt, Curator at the International Wolf Center.
Captive & Wild Wolves - Live Chat
October 21, 2020 Explore.org video
The Wolves of Coastal Katmai: October 20, 2021[]
Live Chat hosted by Ranger Lian Law, Katmai National Park. With Ellen Dymit, Ellen Dymit, guest researcher with the Katmai Coastal Wolf Project.
The Wolves of Coastal Katmai - Live Chat
October 20, 2021 video by Explore.org
Katmai Coastal Wolves Project: October 26, 2022[]
Live Chat hosted Ranger Lian Law, Katmai National Park. With Ellen Dymit, Katmai Coastal Wolf Project.
Katmai Wolves - Brooks Live Chat
October 26, 2022 Explore.org video
Wolves Observed At Brooks Camp:[]
KNP&P's August 10, 2023 06:02 AKDT Facebook post re: Katmai's wolf population:
Little is known about Katmai’s wolf population. Wolves have been seen throughout the park, along the coast hunting sea otters and harbors seals, and in Brooks Camp fishing alongside bears.
Did you know?
Wolves, on average, can live up to 12 years old in the wild.
They can be 2.5 feet (.8 m) tall at the shoulders.
The average male weighs 105 pounds (48 kg), and the average female weighs 88 pounds (40 kg).
Wolf packs usually include dominant male and female breeding pairs, their offspring, and other non-breeding adults.
Wolf packs usually live within a specific territory and may travel within that territory as far as 30 miles (48 km).
NPS photo/J. Paluh
Wolves Observed At Brooks Camp On Explore Live Cams:[]
Below are some of the examples of wolves utilizing the Brooks River area for it's abundant food resources that have been observed on the live bear cams:
2019:[]
July 2019:[]
2019.07.27: Wolf chases 708 Amelia and her 2 spring cubs in this video captured by Lani H.:
Wolf chases 708 Amelia and coy 7 27 2019 by Lani H
video by Lani H
October 2019:[]
2019.10.23: Scooch created this gif of the wolf at Brooks Falls. CamOp Aspire captured this snapshot . Bookmom captured this snapshot .:
Lani H created this video;
Wolf walks by falls cam 10 23 2019 by Lani H-0
2020:[]
July 2020:[]
2020.07.04: mckate captured this video of a wolf fishing the lip of Brooks Falls. She fished the early morning hours when only 20 "Mane Bear"/"Shaggy" and later 801 were around. Someone counted and said she caught something like 30 fish.:
4 Jul 2020- A Wolf Fishes the Lip
video by mckate
2021:[]
June 2021:[]
2021.06.22: At approximately 00:29 AKDT on June 22. 2021, cam viewer donna spotted the 1st wolf of the 2021 bearcam season. Scooch created these gifs (#1 & #2). LunaCre captured this snapshot. LunaCre also captured this snapshot. Bookmom captured this snapshot and Blair-55 captured this snapshot at approximately 04:56 AKDT. Grumpy Cat Lisa captured this snapshot at approximately 04:59 AKDT. FrogsOn captured this snapshot at approximately 05:01 AKDT.:
Buddy's Mom captured this video of the 1st wolf observed during the 2021 season.:
Lower River. First wolf sighting of the season. Explore.org. 6-22-21
1st Wolf of 2021 Season June 22, 2021 by Buddy's Mom
Arlene Beech (aka Homebird) captured this video of the 1st wolf observed during the 2021 season. The date on her video says that it was June 21, 2021...it was just actually at approximately 00:29 AKDT June 22, 2021.:
Wolf on Spit Road. Explore.org 21 June 2021
1st Wolf of 2021 season June 22, 2021 00:29 AKDT by Arlene Beech (aka Homebird)
CherylB (aka BearNecessities) created this video of the wolf.:
6-22-2021 12-35 AM Gorgeous Wolf on Spit road LR Explore.org
1st Wolf observed 2021 season, June 22, 2021 by CherylB (aka BearNecessities)
Flyer 4477 (aka SteveCA) created this video of the wolf:
2021 06 21 A Wolf Visits the Lower River from Explore.org
1st Wolf observed 2021 season June 22, 2021 by Flyer 4477 (aka SteveCA)
2023:[]
June 2023:[]
2023.06.30: GABear captured this video of wolves at approximately 3:05 AM AKDT on June 30, 2023:
Brown Bear Cam Kat's River View - Wolves? - explore.org 6-30-23
video by GABear
August 2023:[]
2023.08.06: Les spotted a wolf on the Dumpling Mountain cam at 11:17 AKDT, GABear created these gifs (#1 & #2) (p 11:36).:
October 2023:[]
2023.10.18: Is this a wolf on Dumpling Mountain? Mike Fitz, Ranger Naomi Boak, Ranger Felicia Jimenez, and Ranger Chris Klieswrath discuss the possible wolf, coyote, or fox or what observed on Dumpling Mountain on October 18, 2023 during the play-by-play (approx 56:04 into video).
Play by Play 10.18.23 - Brooks Live Chat
October 18, 2023 Play-By-Play Mike Fitz discusses possible wolf on Dumpling Mountain at approx 56:04 into video
Call_Me_Maeby created these gifs (#1, #2 & #3) of the wolf(?) on Dumpling Mountain (p 09:45).
Wolf on Dumpling Mountain gif created by fernw from approx 2 hour rewind (p 11:23):
Wolf(?) on Dumpling Mountain cam October 18, 2023 gif created by fernw from approx 2 hr rewind (p 11:23)
November 2023:[]
2023.11.16: The 2023 season was a season that provided a second season for cam viewers and park visitors to witness two documented unusual events...the adoption of an emancipated cub from another sow (910 adopted her niece, 909's 2.5 year-old female offspring) and a bear with what appeared to be a wire snare around it's neck (the identification of this bear is not known). In November 2023 a wolf provided the 2023 season cam viewers with a documented FIRST! A WOLF GOES OFF THE LIP OF BROOKS FALLS and APPEARS TO SCORE A FISH!
MOGU MOGU created this gif of the wolf slipping the lip of Brooks Falls (p 14:09). Cruiser created these gifs (#1 & #2) of the wolf slipping off the lip of Brooks Falls (p 14:12). MOGU MOGU created this gif of the wolf swimming to the platform side of the river after going over the lip (p 14:21). fernw created this slo-mo gif of the wolf slipping the lip of the falls (p 14:36). Call_Me_Maeby created these gifs (#1 & #2) of the wolf slipping off the lip of Brooks Falls (p 14:44).:
LunaCre created this series of gifs to tell the story: 1) wolf arrived on the lip , 2) the wolf tried very hard to stay put, 3) but the wolf eventually got washed off the falls & 4) not to worry, though. It may be hard to see, but the wolf was safe and swam to the shore with what appears to be a fish (p 11/17/23 03:52 w/daily update summary).:
LaBelleCorisande captured this video of a wolf slipping off the lip of Brooks Falls:
Wolf slips off Brooks Falls! (+ zoom slo-mo replays, & fish!) 2023-11-16 c. 1-53pm BF explore.org
video by LaBelleCorisande
On November 20, 2023 at 17:31 Goldilocks, Canada shared this information she observed when the wolf washed over the lip of Brooks Falls on November 16, 2023:
"It was amazing to see a wolf on the falls. It was even more amazing to see it fall off of the lip. BUT, what was really amazing was to see it do a 164/Bucky maneuver, and go into/behind the falls for approx 10 seconds. It then jumped from in/behind the falls down into the jacuzzi, and swam out. :)))
Corisande’s video…..at :51 seconds we get a very brief view of it as it climbs into the falls. Approx.10 seconds later we see it jump out from inside/behind the falls…..and leap down into the jacuzzi. Corisande also does a close-up view. At 2:07 we see it briefly as it climbs up into the falls…..because the video is edited, we see it almost right away jump out of the falls and down into the jacuzzi.
pics I took that day….
first one shows the wolf as it is briefly seen climbing/jumping back into the wall of water of the falls.
Wolf as it is briefly seen climbing/jumping back into the wall of water of the falls November 16, 2023 snapshot by Goldilocks, Canada (p 11/20/23 17:31 #1)
pics 2,3,4&5 approx 10 seconds later, show it as it jumps down, from inside the falls, and into the jacuzzi.
The cam did not change it’s horizontal positioning, in the last three photos…..But, the wolf does as it jumps out and down. I marked the two rocks that show the camera’s horizontal positioning does not change."
twelve22's video of the wolf washing over the lip of Brooks Falls provides a view of the wolf until the wolf swims toward the shore of the river.:
Wolf Goes Over Brooks Falls - November 16, 2023 (explore.org)
video by twelve22
2024:[]
September 2024:[]
2024.09.20: Buddy's Mom captured this video of a wolf running on Dumpling Mountain.:
DM. Wolf runs across the mountain. Explore.org 9-20-24
video by Buddy's Mom
Wolf wiki page created June 30, 2023 by LTC