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Eastern Wolf |
Scientific:
Canis lycaon Description:
Male
wt 25-35 kg. (55-77 lb.) Female wt 20-30 kg. (44-66lb.). A member of the dog family, color ranges from grey/ tan/ red,
reddish color behind ears and lower legs, and black hairs on back and
sides. Wolves use howling
and intricate body language to communicate. Habitat:
Found
in deciduous, mixed-wood, coniferous forests and spruce bogs in central
Ontario. The highest population density is in Algonquin Provincial Park. Denning Sites: Excavate
their dens into embankments, often adjacent to beaver ponds and meadows.
Dens are used for rearing pups; adults will use dens for shelter from
weather and insects. Wolf packs may reuse den sites over multiple years. Life
History:
Only the pack leaders, (alpha male
and female), mate in February. Gestation is 63 days; pups are born in late
April or early May, in litters of 3-7. Pups remain at the den site until
relocated to open areas called rendezvous sites in July or August.
Rendezvous sites provide a safe place for the pups to play and grow.
The pack feeds the pups regurgitated food until they learn enough skills
to hunt for themselves. Similar
Species:
Despite sharing some genetic material with both grey wolves and coyotes
due to hybridization, studies show that eastern wolves are genetically
more similar to red wolves (found in southern U.S.), and likely
belonging to the same species. The eastern wolf size falls between that
of grey wolves and coyotes. Grey wolves generally do not have the red
coloration. Ecological
Role: Predator
white-tailed deer, moose and beaver but will scavenge for food. Wolves
hunt in packs to bring down larger prey. Threats:
Hunting, trapping, road mortality and habitat
loss due to agricultural, industrial and residential developments. A
long term threat of hybridization with domestic dogs threatens genetic
integrity. What
you can do: Promote
a positive attitude towards wolves through education, discourage illegal hunting and trapping. Support local
conservation efforts to protect natural habitat. Report sightings to the Natural Heritage
Information Centre: http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/nhic_.cfm.
Compiled by: Amelia Argue, University of Guelph; Elaine Hurst, Nipissing Naturalists |
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