1. Please call/email Montana Legislators today and tell them to vote NO on this murderous bill brought by Shannon Maness. It basically says kill them all down to 450, unlimited kills per person, snares, traps, guns, using bait and thermal imaging at night Here's the bill --- HB 176

Canada:

-        High Arctic

Data 1 is literature (whatever that means):

·        Males (n=2) average weight≈ 36,2kg.

·        Females (n=1) average weight≈30,8kg.

Source: Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Wolf (Canis lupus)

in Relation to Prey Size across North America, by John Dawson Ketchen.

Data 2:

·        Males (n=2) average weight≈ 38,5kg. The weights were 43kg and 34kg.

·        Females (n=2) average weight≈24,2kg. The weights were 24,9kg and 23,5kg.

Source: The High Arctic Wolf in the Jones Sound Region of the Canadian High Arctic

-        Baffin/northeastern Kivalliq Regions

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=18) average weight≈ 31,23kg.

·        Females (n=9) average weight≈27,87kg.

Source: Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Wolf (Canis lupus)

in Relation to Prey Size across North America, by John Dawson Ketchen.

-        East-central Kivalliq Region

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=14) average weight≈ 33,8kg.

·        Females (n=18) average weight≈27,77kg.

Source: Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Wolf (Canis lupus)

in Relation to Prey Size across North America, by John Dawson Ketchen.

-        Southeastern Kivalliq Region

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=6) average weight≈ 36,9kg.

·        Females (n=6) average weight≈28,84kg.

Source: Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Wolf (Canis lupus)

in Relation to Prey Size across North America, by John Dawson Ketchen.

-        Northwest Territories

Data 1 (Kitikmeot & west Kivalliq Regions, Nunavut; North Slave Region, Northwest Territories):

·        Males (n=7) average weight≈ 42,14kg.

·        Females (n=14) average weight≈33,46kg.

Source: Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Wolf (Canis lupus)

in Relation to Prey Size across North America, by John Dawson Ketchen.

Data 2 :

·        Males (n=18) average weight≈ 44,45kg. Heaviest 52,62kg, lightest 40,82kg.

·        Females (n=21) average weight≈38,56kg. Heaviest 49,9kg, lightest 31,75kg.

Data 3 :

·        Males (n=80) average weight≈ 44kg. Heaviest 60,33kg, lightest 28,58kg.

·        Females (n=66) average weight≈37,65kg. Heaviest 53,98kg, lightest 22,68kg.

Source for both: the Wolf, by L David Mech.

-        Inuvik region

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=5) average weight≈ 41,4kg.

·        Females (n=4) average weight≈38,75kg.

Source: Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Wolf (Canis lupus)

in Relation to Prey Size across North America, by John Dawson Ketchen.

-        British Columbia

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=11) average weight≈ 52,62kg. Heaviest 64kg, lightest 30kg.

·        Females (n=12) average weight≈36,9kg. Heaviest 56,8kg, lightest 24kg.

Source: Wolf predation risk to moose in north-central British Columbia, by Morgan Anderson, Matt Scheideman & Shelley Marshall.

Data 2 (Vancouver) :

·        Males (n=4) average weight≈ 36,18kg. Heaviest 38,6kg, lightest 32,7kg.

·        Females (n=3) average weight≈30,47kg. Heaviest 31,8kg, lightest 28,2kg.

Source: The Vancouver Island wolf (canis lupus crassodon) an initial study of food habits and social organization, by Barbara Mary Victoria Scott.

-        Wood Buffalo National Park & Northern Alberta

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=17) average weight≈ 43,83kg.

·        Females (n=10) average weight≈38,73kg.

Data 2 is literature (whatever that means):

·        Males (n=3) average weight≈ 49kg.

·        Females (n=5) average weight≈36,8kg.

Source for both: Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Wolf (Canis lupus)

in Relation to Prey Size across North America, by John Dawson Ketchen.

-        Alberta and Jasper & Banff National Parks

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=7) average weight≈ 46,34kg.

Data 2 is literature (whatever that means):

·        Males (n>70) average weight≈ 50kg.

·        Females (n>60) average weight≈40kg.

Source for both: Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Wolf (Canis lupus) in Relation to Prey Size across North America, by John Dawson Ketchen.

Data 3 are the wolves introduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995 & 1996:

·        Males (n=8) average weight≈ 50,69kg. Heaviest 58,97kg, lightest 34kg.

·        Females (n=7) average weight≈47,50kg. Heaviest 52,16kg, lightest 40,37kg.

Data 4 :

·        Mixed/not specified sexes (n=31) average weight≈ 48kg. Heaviest 68kg, lightest 35kg.

Source: Wolf ecology and caribou-primary prey-wolf spatial relationships in low productivity peatland complexes in northeastern Alberta, by Andrew David MacDuff Latham. 

-        Manitoba & Saskatchewan

Data 1 (Prince Albert National Park, Saskatchewan):

·        Males (n=10) average weight≈ 48,45kg.

·        Females (n=9) average weight≈35,63kg.

Source: Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Wolf (Canis lupus)

in Relation to Prey Size across North America, by John Dawson Ketchen.

Data 2 literature:

·        Males (n=?) average weight≈ 42,18kg.

Source: SUMMARY OF THE LARGE WOLVES OF CANADA, WITH

DESCRIPTION OF THREE NEW ARCTIC RACES, BY RUDOLPH MARTIN ANDERSON.

Data 3 (Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba):

·        Males (n=42) average weight≈ 45,95kg. Heaviest 53kg, lightest 36kg.

·        Females (n=54) average weight≈38,76kg. Heaviest 48kg, lightest 31kg.

Data 4 (Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba):

·        Males (n=8) average weight≈ 39kg. Heaviest 43kg, lightest 34kg.

·        Females (n=12) average weight≈35,62kg. Heaviest 43,1kg, lightest 31,7kg.

Source for both: Wolf body mass, skull morphology, and mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in the Riding Mountain National Park region of Manitoba, Canada, by Astrid V. Stronen, Graham J Forbes, Tim Sallows, Gloria Goulet, Marco Musiani and Paul C. Paquet.

-        Northern Ontario – Kenora, Rainy River, Thunder Bay, Cochrane, Algoma Districts

Data 1 is literature (whatever that means):

·        Males (n>1040?) average weight≈ 35,27kg.

·        Females (n>980?) average weight≈28,98kg.

Note: I put ? for the samples because I found these numbers really weird

Source: Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Wolf (Canis lupus)

in Relation to Prey Size across North America, by John Dawson Ketchen.

-        Ontario (could be Eastern wolves here)

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=40) average weight≈ 27,67kg. Heaviest 36,74kg, lightest 19,5kg.

·        Females (n=33) average weight≈24,49kg. Heaviest 31,75kg, lightest 17,69kg.

Source: the Wolf, by L David Mech.

-        South-Central Ontario – Nipissing and southern Sudbury Districts Algonquin Provincial Park (could be Eastern wolves here)

Data 1 is literature (whatever that means):

·        Males (n=129) average weight≈ 27,50kg.

·        Females (n=112) average weight≈23,50kg.

Source: Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Wolf (Canis lupus)

in Relation to Prey Size across North America, by John Dawson Ketchen.

Alaska & Yukon (Canadian and American part):

-        Alaska

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=60) average weight≈ 38,56kg. Heaviest 50,8kg, lightest 27,22kg.

·        Females (n=50) average weight≈32,2kg. Heaviest 37,19kg, lightest 24,94kg.

Data 2 :

·        Males (n=6) average weight≈ 40,82kg. Heaviest 50,8kg, lightest 29kg.

·        Females (n=9) average weight≈30,39kg. Heaviest 36,29kg, lightest 22,68kg.

Data 3 :

·        Males (n=24) average weight≈ 40,82kg. Heaviest 51,7kg, lightest 32,66kg.

·        Females (n=20) average weight≈32,66kg. Heaviest 42,18kg, lightest 24,95kg.

Source for all: the Wolf, by L David Mech.

-        Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve

Data 1, I don’t know the exact number of males and females but the total sample is 179 wolves:

·        Males (n=?) average weight≈ 50,35 kg.

·        Females (n=?) average weight≈44kg.

Source: Alaska department of Fish and Game: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=503

-        Denali National Park and Preserve

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=?) average weight≈ 47,63kg.

·        Females (n=?) average weight≈39,92kg.

Source: Alaska department of Fish and Game: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=503 & National Park service: https://www.nps.gov/dena/learn/nature/wolf-faqs.htm#:\~:text=How%20big%20are%20wolves%20in,weigh%20up%20to%20130%20pounds!

-        Yukon including the Canadian part

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=10) average weight≈ 42,35kg.

·        Females (n=5) average weight≈33,92kg.

Data 2 is literature (whatever that means):

·        Males (n=57) average weight≈ 45,45kg.

·        Females (n=73) average weight≈37,50kg.

Source for both: Geographic Variation in Skull Morphology of the Wolf (Canis lupus)

in Relation to Prey Size across North America, by John Dawson Ketchen.

-        Northwestern Alaska

Data 1:

·        Males (n=23 adults & n=8 yearlings) average weight≈ 47,3 kg for adults and 46,2kg for yearlings.

·        Females (n=17 adults & n=9 yearlings) average weight≈42,2kg for adults and 41,9kg for yearlings.

Source: Ecology of Wolves in Relation to a Migratory Caribou Herd in Northwest Alaska, Authors: Warren B. Ballard, Lee Anne Ayres, Paul R. Krausman, Daniel J. Reed andSteven G. Fancy.

United States:

-        Yellowstone National Park

Data 1:

·        Males average weight≈ 50kg.

·        Females average weight≈41kg.

Source: National Park service: https://www.nps.gov/articles/yellowstone-wolf-facts.htm

-        Minnesota

Data 1:

·        Males (n=3) average weight≈ 32,53kg.

·        Females (n=4) average weight≈26,55kg.

Source: Ecology of the Timber Wolf in Northeastern Minnesota, Authors: Victor Van Ballenberghe, Albert W. Erickson and David Byman.

Data 2:

·        Males (n=?) average weight≈ 40,8kg.

·        Females (n=?) average weight≈31,2kg.

Source: Reproduktionspotential hos hanvarg i Sverige Reproductive potential of male wolves in Sweden

Data 3:

·        Males (n=84) average weight≈ 35,38kg. Heaviest 51,7kg, lightest 22,68kg.

·        Females (n=60) average weight≈27,67kg. Heaviest 38,1kg, lightest 20,41kg.

Source: the Wolf, by L David Mech.

Finland:

Data 1:

·        Males (n=17) average weight≈ 38,53kg. Heaviest 45kg, lightest 25kg

·        Females (n=18) average weight≈31,22kg. Heaviest 42kg, lightest 9kg

Data 2:

·        Males (n=52) average weight≈ 40,56kg. Heaviest 55kg, lightest 26kg

·        Females (n=33) average weight≈31,96 kg. Heaviest 45kg, lightest 24kg

Source: Studies on the wolf (Canis lupus l.) in Finland, Erkki Pülliainen.

Scandinavia:

Data 1 (Sand et al., 2014):

·        Males average weight between 45kg and 55kg

·        Females average weight between 35kg and 45kg

Data 2 (Wabakken et al., 2001):

·        Males average weight 44,7kg ± 3kg

Source for both: Reproduktionspotential hos hanvarg i Sverige Reproductive potential of male wolves in Sweden

Data 3:

·        Males (n=51) average weight≈ 46,8 kg ± 1,1kg

·        Females (n=38) average weight≈38,3 kg ± 1,1kg

Source: Journal of animal ecology 2015, Predator-dependent functional response in wolves:

from food limitation to surplus killing

Data 4:

·        Males (n=23) average weight of fully adults (number is not given) ≈ 50kg.

·        Females (n=22) average weight of fully adults (number is not given) ≈39,3kg.

Data 5:

·        Males (n=38) average weight ≈ 41kg.

·        Females (n=25) average weight ≈31kg.

Source for both: Utredninger i forbindelse med ny rovviltmelding Ulv - Bestandsdynamikk, levedyktighet og effekter av uttak Hans C. Pedersen

Poland/Belarus:

-        Białowieża Forest :

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=62) average weight≈ 34,8kg. Heaviest 44,8kg, lightest 23,3kg

·        Females (n=58) average weight≈29,2kg. Heaviest 36kg, lightest 21kg

Source: mammals of the Soviet Union volume II, Geptner, V. G.

-        Carpathian mountains :

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=?) average weight≈ 46,4kg. Heaviest 67kg, lightest 35kg

·        Females (n=?) average weight≈39,3kg. Heaviest 50kg, lightest 27kg

Source: Prey choice and diet of wolves related to ungulate communities and wolf

subpopulations in Poland

-        Belarus :

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=22) average weight≈ 42kg.

·        Females (n=7) average weight≈36kg.

Source: Волк, Д.И. Бибиков

Slovakia:

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=66) average weight≈ 39,9kg. Heaviest 60kg, lightest 23kg.

·        Females (n=55) average weight≈34,9kg. Heaviest 50kg, lightest 21,3kg.

Source: Notes on somatic proportions of Canis lupus from eastern Slovakia (Carnivora: Canidae), Poznámky k biometrickým údajom populácie vlka eurázijského (Canis lupus) z východného Slovenska (Carnivora: Canidae)

Latvia:

Data 1:

·        Males (n=?) average weight≈ 45-50kg. Heaviest 60-65kg

·        Females (n=?) average weight≈35-40kg.

Source: Волк, Д.И. Бибиков

Lithuania:

Data 1:

·        Males (n=62) average weight≈ 44,5kg. Heaviest 65kg, lightest 31kg

Source: КРУПНЫЕ ХИЩНИКИ и КОПЫТНЫЕ: З В Е РИ, А в т о р ы : В. П. Макридин, Н. К. Верещагин, В. И. Тарян-ников, А. А. Калецкий, Н. С. Свиридов, Л. М. Баскин, М. А. Лавов, В. Е. Размахнин, С. К. Устинов, Е. В. Фадеев.

Yugoslavia:

Data 1:

·        Mixed/not specified sexes (n=?) average weight≈ 33,11kg. Heaviest 63,05kg.

Source: the Wolf, by L David Mech.

Russia:

-        Taimyr

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=29) average weight≈ 44,1kg ± 0,7kg

·        Females (n=29) average weight≈35,5kg ± 0,6kg

Source: ВНУТРИВИДОВОЙ ПОЛИМОРФИЗМ ВОЛКА (Canis Lupus) ПРИЕНИСЕИСКОИ СИБИРИ, Суворов Анаголий Прохорович.

Data 2 :

·        Males (n=11) average weight≈ 46,8kg. Heaviest 52kg, lightest 41kg

Source: КРУПНЫЕ ХИЩНИКИ и КОПЫТНЫЕ: З В Е РИ, А в т о р ы : В. П. Макридин, Н. К. Верещагин, В. И. Тарян-ников, А. А. Калецкий, Н. С. Свиридов, Л. М. Баскин, М. А. Лавов, В. Е. Размахнин, С. К. Устинов, Е. В. Фадеев.

-        Putorana

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=29) average weight≈ 44kg ± 0,9kg

·        Females (n=29) average weight≈34,8kg ± 0,7kg

Source: ВНУТРИВИДОВОЙ ПОЛИМОРФИЗМ ВОЛКА (Canis Lupus) ПРИЕНИСЕИСКОИ СИБИРИ, Суворов Анаголий Прохорович.

-        Chukotka

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=15) average weight≈ 45,4kg ± 1,9kg

·        Females (n=11) average weight≈38,2kg ± 1,5kg

Source: ВНУТРИВИДОВОЙ ПОЛИМОРФИЗМ ВОЛКА (Canis Lupus) ПРИЕНИСЕИСКОИ СИБИРИ, Суворов Анаголий Прохорович.

Data 2 :

·        Males (n=9) average weight≈ 43,5kg. Heaviest 57,5kg, lightest 31kg

·        Females (n=5) average weight≈37,8kg. Heaviest 41,4kg, lightest 30kg

Source: Волк, Д.И. Бибиков

-        Gyda Peninsula

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=28) average weight≈ 44,5kg. Heaviest 66kg, lightest 37,5kg

·        Females (n=16) average weight≈36,1kg. Heaviest 46kg, lightest 27,1kg

Source: Волк, Д.И. Бибиков

-        Nenets National Okrug

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=23) average weight≈ 40kg. Heaviest 49kg.

·        Females (n=23) average weight≈36,6kg. Heaviest 41kg.

Source: Волк, Д.И. Бибиков

-        Yamal

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=12) average weight≈ 42kg. Heaviest 49,5kg, lightest 37,5kg

Source: КРУПНЫЕ ХИЩНИКИ и КОПЫТНЫЕ: З В Е РИ, А в т о р ы : В. П. Макридин, Н. К. Верещагин, В. И. Тарян-ников, А. А. Калецкий, Н. С. Свиридов, Л. М. Баскин, М. А. Лавов, В. Е. Размахнин, С. К. Устинов, Е. В. Фадеев.

-        Yakutia

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=10) average weight≈ 40,7kg.

·        Females (n=10) average weight≈30kg.

Source: ВНУТРИВИДОВОЙ ПОЛИМОРФИЗМ ВОЛКА (Canis Lupus) ПРИЕНИСЕИСКОИ СИБИРИ, Суворов Анаголий Прохорович.

Data 2 (from tundra) :

·        Males (n=4) average weight≈ 39,5kg. Heaviest 41kg, lightest 38kg.

·        Females (n=3) average weight≈34kg. Heaviest 40kg, lightest 31kg.

Source: Волк, Д.И. Бибиков

-        Evenkia

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=25) average weight≈ 44,8kg ± 0,9kg

·        Females (n=25) average weight≈35,7kg ± 0,7kg

Source: ВНУТРИВИДОВОЙ ПОЛИМОРФИЗМ ВОЛКА (Canis Lupus) ПРИЕНИСЕИСКОИ СИБИРИ, Суворов Анаголий Прохорович.

-        Northeastern European Russia

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=33) average weight≈ 44,1 kg ± 2,1kg. Heaviest 78kg, lightest 30kg.

·        Females (n=26) average weight≈37,5 kg ± 1,7kg. Heaviest 56kg, lightest 28kg.

Source: МАССА ТЕЛА И РАЗМЕРЫ ВОЛКА (CANIS LUPUS L., 1758) НА ЕВРО-СЕВЕРО-

ВОСТОКЕ РОССИИ, И.С. Козловский.

-        Perm region

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=5) average weight≈ 49kg.

Source: Волки Справочник охотника и натуралист, Анатолий Матвеев.

-        Kirov region

Data 1 :

·        Mixed sexes (n=9) average weight≈ 46,6-59,2kg (big range since I only have the lightest and heaviest, although the average is probably closer to 46,6kg). Heaviest 61kg (female), lightest 44,8kg

Source: Волки Справочник охотника и натуралист, Анатолий Матвеев.

-        Baikal region

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=16) average weight≈ 44,5kg ± 1,33kg

·        Females (n=?) average weight≈34,8kg ± 1,4kg

Source: ВНУТРИВИДОВОЙ ПОЛИМОРФИЗМ ВОЛКА (Canis Lupus) ПРИЕНИСЕИСКОИ СИБИРИ, Суворов Анаголий Прохорович.

-        Altai/Sayan

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=32) average weight≈ 37,9kg ± 1kg. Heaviest 53kg, lightest 26,2kg.

·        Females (n=31) average weight≈32,7kg ± 0,9kg. Heaviest 43,3kg, lightest 23,5kg.

Source: МОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ВОЛКА (Canis lupus) ЗАПАДНОЙ И СРЕДНЕЙ СИБИРИ. And ВНУТРИВИДОВОЙ ПОЛИМОРФИЗМ ВОЛКА (Canis Lupus) ПРИЕНИСЕИСКОИ СИБИРИ, Суворов Анаголий Прохорович.

Data 2 :

·        Males (n=?) average weight≈ 39,87kg ± 0,81kg.

·        Females (n=?) average weight≈33,98kg ± 1,03kg.

Source: МОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ВОЛКА (Canis lupus) ЗАПАДНОЙ И СРЕДНЕЙ СИБИРИ.

-        Khakassia

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=5) average weight≈ 33,8kg

·        Females (n=2) average weight≈31,5kg

Source: ВНУТРИВИДОВОЙ ПОЛИМОРФИЗМ ВОЛКА (Canis Lupus) ПРИЕНИСЕИСКОИ СИБИРИ, Суворов Анаголий Прохорович.

-        Southeastern Urals

Data 1 :

·        Males (n=?) average weight≈ 48-50kg

Source: Волки Справочник охотника и натуралист, Анатолий Матвеев.

Few notes/things I've found interesting (feel free to comment on it or add few of your own):

1- In case there ever any doubt, Canadian wolves (and especially those from British Columbia, Alberta and some parts of Yukon) are the largest in the world. However, some samples from Scandinavia and some parts of Russia are quite close to their Canadian counterparts in terms of weight.

2- Northwest Territories are geographically pretty close to East-central and southeastern Kivalliq regions but the wolves of the former are on average 7kg to 9kg heavier for males and 5kg to 6kg heavier for females. Perhaps the reason is that Northwest Territories' wolves are Northwestern wolves (canis lupus occidentalis) while those of the Kivalliq regions are Arctic wolves (canis lupus arctos).

3-Although the sample is very small, but Vancouver wolves, which I think are known as (canis lupus crassodon) are much smaller than inland British Columbia wolves (6kg difference for females and 16kg for males). I guess this is due to Vancouver having a much milder climate and being lower on altitude as well as the types of prey available.

4- Białowieża Forest wolves seem to be much smaller than Latvian, Lithuanian, Belarussian and Carpathians wolves by 8kg to 12kg for males and 6kg to 10kg for females and this despite all these wolves belonging to the same subspecies and the population being essentially continuous between the Baltics and Białowieża Forest. Perhaps the reason is due to the difference in ecoregion since Białowieża Forest belongs to the Central European Mixed Forest while the Baltics belong to the Sarmatic mixed forests and the Carpathians are yet another ecoregion.

5- Scandinavian wolves seem to be on average quite bigger than the Finnish wolves. Depending on the samples, the differences were between 4kg to 12kg for males and 1kg to 8kg for females. I find this quite remarquable because wolves were extinct in Scandinavia during the 70s or 80s and their current population descends from the Finnish one, but there shouldn't be enough generational differences for such differences to develop I think ? (I'm not an expert anyways so I don't know).

6-A while ago I posted that Altai/Sayan wolves look bigger and bulkier than their Scandinavian/Finnish counterparts, but actually if we look at the average weights, the formers are actually smaller. I guess some smaller wolves can look stockier/ more robust despite being smaller due to the altitude or prey availability I think. Baikal wolves however are quite bigger than the Altai/Sayan ones and are on par with the scandinavian wolves. According to some other, this is due to them mixing with taiga wolves.

7-It was often reported that contrary to the geneal mythes, Arctic and Tundra wolves are actually smaller than the Northwestern wolves and Eurasian wolves respectively. And while this seem to be the case for the arctic wolf which average weight don't exceed 37kg for males and 30kg for females on average, Tundra wolves (canis lupus albus), especially those from Taimyr, Putorana, Chukotka and Gyda peninsula are on par with the biggest wolves of the old world with average weights for males between 43kg and 47kg. I do however note that the biggest individuals of these wolves rarely exceed 50kg and the smallest ones don't go below 40kg, so the variation is quite small. Tundra wolves were often persecuted and were easier to hunt since they live in open air, so perhaps the current population is actually the same as the Taiga wolves who migrated north to occupy the tundra. Or perhaps the tundra wolf isn't a real subspecies, since I don't know if genetic tests were actually done.

Call and write your senators and congressman every day

Two Republican house members introduced bill Friday that would take grey wolves off the endangered species list, citing a significant population rebound that puts livestock, pets and humans alike in danger.

Republican Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert and Republican Wisconsin Rep. Tom Tiffany introduced the Pet and Livestock Protection Act, which would direct the secretary of the interior to reinstate a 2020 final rule that removed the predator from the list in the lower 48 states, sending population management back to the state governments. At the time of the original rule’s implementation in 2020, the grey wolf population was over 6,000, which exceeded recovery goals, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services.

I want to donate to a charity that benefits the conservation of wolves and their habitats. Can anyone recommend a few? When I search for wolf charities, there are so many; I wanna make sure that I'm donating to a legitimate one. Thank you!

Will a wolf ever kill their mate in any circumstance? Like even if it’s bc of a genetic mutation

On Tuesday, 1/28, HB0275 "Treatment of animals" moved out of the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Committee to be placed on the General File with a 9-0 vote recommending that it Do Pass. I will keep my eye on this bill and report again on what happens with this bill when it goes to the floor.

Last week I made a discussion post about HB0275 where I summarized the important aspects of the bill. I will once again leave a link to the bill's text on the State of Wyoming's website for anyone who might be interested to read the bill for themselves.

https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0275

As I said in my last post, I think this is a very good bill and it's personally my favorite of the bills addressing this issue that I've read so far. I look forward to hearing what others have to say about it. I hope we can be kind about it.

A cutie from the Madrid Zoo

Legislative Update

As state legislatures kick off their sessions, several bills have been introduced that could have major implications for gray wolves across the country. Here’s what’s on our radar:

Wyoming

LIVE IN WYOMING? Click here to submit a comment in support of HB 3, which bans the use of vehicles to injure or kill animals and increases the penalties for violation.

Washington

HB 1311 – This would downgrade wolves from “endangered” to “sensitive” under state law before wolves in the state have fully recovered.

SB 5354 / HB 1442 – Proposes to downlist wolves from the state Endangered Species Act across the state and delist them entirely in the Eastern third of Washington, where illegal killings are already rampant. The bill would also create regional workgroups to give counties more control over wolf management. We strongly oppose downlisting and/or delisting wolves in Washington and call for their continued protection under both the state and federal Endangered Species Act.

SB 5171 – Expands compensation for livestock producers to include claims for indirect damages caused by wolves, which could bankrupt Washington’s already limited compensation fund for wolf-livestock conflicts.

SB 5343 – Establishes a permanent funding source for Northeast Washington's wolf-livestock management program. Previously funded biannually, this bill would secure resources for wildlife conflict specialists through the local sheriff’s office. We're happy to see permanent funding allocated for wolf-livestock management and encourage these resources to be used for nonlethal measures.

Montana

HB 2022 – Sets wolf population targets at 850–1,100 based on the flawed I-PALM model, allowing for an open hunting season statewide.

HB 176 – Eliminates quotas on wolf harvests until the population drops to 450, far below sustainable levels.

HB 258 – Proposes to extend the wolf hunting season to align with bear season, significantly increasing the window for legal hunting.

HB 96 – Lowers the minimum age for hunting and trapping furbearers (including wolves) to 10 years old under an apprenticeship program, raising serious concerns about ethical and safe hunting practices.

We’ll be monitoring these legislative developments closely and will provide updates, along with action items, in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

This Week in Wolf News

🚨Good news for Colorado! 🚨Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has released 15 gray wolves – including the 5 members of the Copper Creek Pack that were captured last summer – into various counties across the state. The total number of known wolves in the state is now 29.

We applaud CPW for staying true to the will of the people. Despite attacks from the livestock industry and Republican members, CPW has done the right thing by continuing to bring wolves back to the landscape. We are excited to follow the journey of these wolves further!

On Tuesday, SEEC leadership and House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman sent a letter to President Trump, condemning his day-one executive actions and making it clear that they stand firmly against his attempts to prioritize polluters over people. Some of President Trump’s actions included rolling back pollution regulations, gutting federal climate change programs, and blocking clean energy development while promoting harmful fossil fuels.

The letter highlights that Americans overwhelmingly support clean energy and want the government to protect our environment and communities. Instead, these executive actions threaten to undo decades of progress that have improved air and water quality, reduced pollution, and helped combat climate change. We applaud the SEEC leadership for their stance. If you’d like to learn more, the full letter is here.

A pro-hunting advocacy group is pushing for the passage of the “Clean Kill Bill,” which would introduce felony-level charges for the torture of wildlife in Wyoming. This comes in response to the incident in which Cody Roberts ran down a wolf with a snowmobile, dragged her to a bar, and tortured her for hours before eventually shooting and killing her.

This proposed legislation has sparked controversy. Supporters argue that, at the very least, it upholds a commitment to responsible wildlife stewardship that didn’t exist before. However, others – who don’t support killing as predator management – raise concerns about unintended consequences, fearing it may give cover to those who kill wildlife and then justify their actions by saying, “Well, at least I didn’t torture them.”

We’d love to hear your thoughts: What do you think about this proposed legislation? Should we be supportive that there’s at least an attempt to introduce ethical considerations into hunting in Wyoming, or does this fall too short of addressing the real issue? Let us know! The full text of the bill is here.

Here is the link to sign up to speak at tomorrow's hearing. MONTANA FWP ZOOM MEETING Please oppose bill 219 from SCHUBERT. He is a 19 year old child waging war on all wolves. HB BILL 219 SCHUBERT

Follow the prompts, oppose HB 219 and log into the zoom meeting tomorrow. You can also submit a short comment that will go into their records. WOLVES NEED YOUR VOICE!

53 dead wolves means Montana closes this unit. Yellowstone wolves will be a little safer Tuesday. Ps- Montana allows an additional 24 hours so there may still be more wolves killed today and tomorrow.

This post continues the discussion of proposed legislation but focusing on the second of the two bills so far read and assigned a number.

Yesterday I asked if anyone would be interested in reading posts tracking the progress of a handful of Wolf Related bills/files proposed by this year's Wyoming state legislature as a response to the incident from last year. It seemed like a good number of people were interested to follow the developing story, and this post is for them. Everyone else, welcome! Obviously this is an important issue for all of us and for a wide range reasons. I will be posting updates to this legislation as it unfolds so that we can follow the conversation together. I am also aware that many of you are not from my home state of Wyoming, so I will also try to provide some context to our legislative process or historic context of some of the arguments which may come up as the bills/files are debated. My sincere hope is that we can follow this together, ask questions, voice opinions, and be nice to each other all at the same time.

All bills/files can be found and read on your own at this link: https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025

The bills I am following right now are: HB0003 and HB0275

Now for HB0275:

"AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; amending the offense of felony animal cruelty to address actions where wildlife is reduced to possession; prohibiting the torture of wildlife as specified; specifying penalties; providing for license revocation and suspension and forfeiture of devices and equipment for specified felony animal cruelty convictions; clarifying trapping requirements; removing a reporting requirement; providing definitions; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date."

HB0275 is similar to HB0003 in that they both aim to extend existing animal cruelty laws to predatory animals, which includes wolves, within specific contexts. HB0275 appears to go further than HB0003 in providing a more explicit context for the definition of animal cruelty to be met and clarifies that these changes cannot be used to challenge existing laws related to hunting/trapping. HB0275 is also more aggressive in proposed changes to punishments for offenders including: increasing fines, increasing the amount of time licenses can be revoked, jail time, as well as asset forfeiture.

HB0275 would define Felony cruelty to animals as:

6‑3‑1005.  Felony cruelty to animals; penalty.

(a)  A person commits felony cruelty to animals if the person:

(i)  Commits cruelty to animals as defined in W.S. 6‑3‑1002(a)(v) through (ix), that results in the death or required euthanasia of the animal; or

(ii)  Knowingly, and with intent to cause death or undue suffering, beats with cruelty, tortures, torments or mutilates an animal*; or*

(iii)  Knowingly, and with intent to cause undue suffering, tortures, torments or mutilates any living wildlife, including predatory animals and predacious birds, after reducing the living wildlife to possession. For purposes of this paragraph:

(A)  The immediate killing of living wildlife reduced to possession shall not be a violation of this paragraph; 

(B)  Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require an owner of a trap or snare to check the trap or snare before the time required in title 23 of the Wyoming statutes and rules promulgated by the game and fish commission. Wildlife discovered in a snare or trap shall be considered within the possession of the owner of the snare or trap upon discovery by the owner*.*

(c)  Upon a conviction of this section and in addition to any penalty specified in subsection (b) of this section, the court may revoke any license available under title 23 of the Wyoming statutes and suspend a person's privilege to purchase or receive any other license under title 23 of the Wyoming statutes or to take any wildlife under W.S. 23‑6‑206.

Additionally, HB0275 contains language specific to snowmobiles and other motorized vehicles:

23‑3‑306.  Use of aircraft, automobiles, motorized and snow vehicles and artificial light for hunting or fishing prohibited; exceptions; penalties. 

(j)  Any person who pursues a predatory animal or predacious bird by use of any vehicle or other conveyance specified in subsection (a) of this section and injures or incapacitates the predatory animal or predacious bird shall make a reasonable effort to immediately kill the injured or incapacitated animal. As used in this subsection, "incapacitate" means injury or a state of physical exhaustion to the point the animal has ceased to attempt to elude the vehicle or other conveyance.

For more details, please feel free to read the bill for yourself at the link I've provided above.

Personally, I like this bill a lot. I feel like it directly targets the issues we were all disgusted to discover with our existing law. I think this bill addresses that issue while also protecting the state from allowing the new language to be construed to attack the state on unrelated issues. I also think increasing the penalties are also welcomed and important for us to raise.

Thank you for reading, I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Edit: Clarification of the term "reduced to possession"

It occurs to me that not everyone is going to be familiar with this. When hunting, game animals are considered by law to be not possessed until lawfully taken (to kill) by a hunter. At that point the game animal is reduced to possession. Going from not possessed to possessed by the lawful hunter.

Currently, it is illegal to be in possession of living wildlife. This is what the man who tortured a wolf was charged with. This language in the proposed law effectively opens the door to charging anyone who can be charged with unlawful possession of wildlife could also be charged with felony cruelty to animals.

Yesterday I asked if anyone would be interested in reading posts tracking the progress of a handful of Wolf Related bills/files proposed by this year's Wyoming state legislature as a response to the incident from last year. It seemed like a good number of people were interested to follow the developing story, and this post is for them. Everyone else, welcome! Obviously this is an important issue for all of us and for a wide range reasons. I will be posting updates to this legislation as it unfolds so that we can follow the conversation together. I am also aware that many of you are not from my home state of Wyoming, so I will also try to provide some context to our legislative process or historic context of some of the arguments which may come up as the bills/files are debated. My sincere hope is that we can follow this together, ask questions, voice opinions, and be nice to each other all at the same time.

All bills/files can be found and read on your own at this link: https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025

The bills I am following right now are: HB0003 and HB0275

Starting with HB0003:

"AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; providing for a new criminal offense of cruelty to animals; increasing the maximum fine for a misdemeanor first offense cruelty to animals conviction; providing for the suspension of hunting privileges for a cruelty to animals conviction as specified; authorizing game and fish law enforcement to enforce the criminal provisions of cruelty to animals as specified; specifying applicability; and providing for an effective date."

HB0003 appears to be widening the state's animal cruelty laws to include predatory animals within a specified context. This was the problem the state ran into with the wolf incident from last year and allowed the man responsible to walk away with a slap on the wrist. The issue is that currently, animal cruelty laws do not protect animals labeled by the state as predatory. This bill proposes an amendment to allow animal cruelty charges to be brought for predatory animals within a specific context. You can read the proposed language of the amendment below:

"(b)  Any person who intentionally injures or disables a predatory animal as defined by W.S. 23‑1‑101(a)(viii) by use of an automotive vehicle, motor‑propelled wheeled vehicle, or vehicle designed for travel over snow shall upon inflicting the injury or disability immediately use all reasonable efforts to kill the injured or disabled predatory animal. Any person who fails to immediately use all reasonable efforts to kill an injured or disabled predatory animal as required by this subsection commits cruelty to animals."

I think this bill does a good job of extending our existing animal cruelty laws to predatory animals, wolves obviously included. The amendment also raises the existing penalties currently on the books in terms of raising fines and lengthening the amount of time licenses can be suspended. If you're interested in those details, I will ask you to read them for yourself because this post is already long.

Thanks for reading, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this first bill/file. I will post an overview of HB0275 shortly.

Two Montana freshman legislators, Shannon Maness and Lukas Schubert are trying to pass 2 bills allowing year round, unlimited wolf hunting and trapping until there are only 450 wolves left....just enough to keep them under state control. Please call/email the FWP Committee and ask them to vote against these two bills before there are no wolves left in the lower 48.HB 176 HB 222 Here is Montana FWP Legslator Roster and Committe email - FWP COMMITTEE EMAIL