Northwestern wolf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northwestern wolfCanis lupus occidentalis |
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| A Northwestern wolf at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in Montana. | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Canis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
C. l. occidentalis
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| Trinomial name | |
| Canis lupus occidentalis Richardson, 1829
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| Synonyms | |
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The northwestern wolf (Canis lupus occidentalis), also called the Mackenzie Valley wolf or Alaskan timber wolf, is a type of gray wolf found in western North America. Many people believe it's the largest gray wolf subspecies in the world! You can find these wolves in Alaska, the Mackenzie River Valley in Canada, and parts of the western Canadian provinces and the Northwestern United States.
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About the Northwestern Wolf
This wolf is officially recognized as a subspecies of Canis lupus (the gray wolf). A Scottish scientist named Sir John Richardson first wrote about this wolf in 1829. He named it occidentalis because it lived in the western parts of North America. He didn't name it after its fur color because its fur can be many different colors.
Scientists have studied the family tree of North American gray wolves. They believe that the northwestern wolf came to North America from Asia. It likely crossed a land bridge called Bering land bridge after the last ice age. As these wolves moved across the land, they spread out and became very common. The northwestern wolf is one of the most widespread types of gray wolves in North America.
Size and Appearance
Northwestern wolves are known for being very large. In British Columbia, Canada, adult female wolves usually weigh about 42.5 kilograms (94 pounds). Adult males are even bigger, often weighing around 51.7 kilograms (114 pounds). The heaviest males can weigh up to 61.2 kilograms (135 pounds)!
In Yellowstone National Park, adult females weigh about 40 kilograms (90 pounds). Adult males there average about 50 kilograms (110 pounds). Both male and female northwestern wolves can stand between 68 and 91.5 centimeters (27 to 36 inches) tall at the shoulder.
These wolves are also very long. They usually measure between 1.5 to 1.8 meters (5 to 6 feet) from nose to tail. Some can even reach up to 2.1 meters (7 feet) long!
Compared to the Eurasian wolf or the Interior Alaskan wolf, the northwestern wolf has a stronger build. Sir John Richardson said it has a larger, rounder head and a thicker nose. Its ears are also shorter, and its fur is very bushy.
Reintroduction and Diet
In Yellowstone National Park, northwestern wolves were brought back to the area. Scientists have watched them closely to see what they eat. They often hunt elk. The wolves work together as a pack to make the elk herd run. This helps them separate the younger or weaker elk from the adults. They also sometimes chase young elk calves that are separated from their parents.
Elk that are sick or weak from winter are also an important food source for Yellowstone wolves. It's thought that wolves kill more than half of these weaker elk. After the wolves finish eating, other animals like ravens, bald eagles, black bears, grizzly bears, and coyotes often come to eat the leftovers.
Wolves in Yellowstone also hunt bison. However, they usually only attack sick bison or calves. Healthy adult bison are very strong and can easily hurt or kill wolves with their hooves.
You can also see northwestern wolves in some safari parks in Canada and Britain. These include Longleat, Woburn, and Parc Omega.
Images for kids
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A northwestern wolf in Hanover Zoo.
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Four stages of growth of the Canadian gray wolf: newborn, three weeks of life, two months and a one year old adult wolf.
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Canis lupus standing in snow.
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Distribution of Canis lupus occidentalis — the Northwestern wolf, Mackenzie Valley Wolf, or Canadian Timber Wolf.
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Comparative image of a Mackenzie Valley wolf (C. lupus occidentalis), red wolf (C. lupus rufus) and western coyote (C. latrans incolatus)
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See also
In Spanish: Lobo del Mackenzie para niños
