Wolves Home / Gray Wolves of Yellowstone
Gray Wolf Fact Sheet
Description
Not all gray wolves are gray! There are 32 subspecies -- or types — of gray wolves found in the world. They range in color from coal black to snowy white and all color variations in between. In appearance they look similar to German shepherds, but their legs are longer, their chests narrower, and their feet are bigger. Gray wolves come in different sizes. The combined head and body length ranges from 40 inches to over 60 inches. An adult gray wolf can weigh between 50 and 140 pounds.
Range
In North America, gray wolves are found in fair numbers
throughout Canada and Alaska and in much smaller numbers
in a few northern states bordering Canada.
History
Gray wolves were once found throughout North America
with the exception of the southeastern United States.
They were destroyed in most of their range in the
lower 48 states by trapping, poisoning, shooting, and
destruction of critical habitat.
