Gray Wolf

A social carnivore

Gray wolves live in packs that are usually families made up of a breeding pair and their offspring. They hunt large hoofed animals cooperatively and travel long distances within large territories.

Howling and its uses

Howling is used to gather the pack, communicate over distance and signal territory to other packs. Individual wolves have distinctive howls, and pack members often overlap their voices in a chorus, which may make the group sound larger than it really is. Our article on wolf howling explains the science in more depth.

Returning to old ranges

Wolves were wiped out across much of western Europe and the United States, but protection and returning prey have let them recolonise many areas. Their return can change how deer behave and how forests regrow, but it can also cause conflict with livestock owners, so coexistence measures such as guard animals and fencing matter.

Further reading: Why Do Wolves Howl? The Science Behind the Sound

Conservation status follows the IUCN Red List as we understand it at the time of writing. Assessments are revised regularly, so please check the IUCN Red List for the current listing.