/r/wolves

Photograph via snooOG

Discussions of Wolves

 

Welcome to /r/wolves - Reddit's wolf-lover community!

We are a pro-wolf discussion forum which encourages a discussion of all things Canis Lupus.

Feel free to post wolf art, pictures, videos, news, information, questions, and discussions.


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/r/wolves

64,738 Subscribers

330

Picture of me feeding a wolf

16 Comments
2024/12/01
16:34 UTC

61

Got to feed wolves for my 18th birthday

I got to feed some wolves for my 18th birthday today, it was such a great day

8 Comments
2024/11/30
19:36 UTC

125

I don’t understand how some dog lovers hate wolves so much

I’m not really a dog lover myself but I pretty much like dogs in general. I absolutely love wolves though and it’s no secret that dogs came from wolves or in other words, they’re domesticated wolves. But yet I see a lot of dog lovers supporting the culling of wolves and coyotes because they consider them a threat to humans and their pets. It’s funny because big dogs actually kill much more smaller pet dogs compared to wild canines like wolves. Pit bulls alone kill over 20k dogs in the US each year. And dog attacks are actually much more common than wolf attacks especially in countries with large numbers of stray dogs. Again, I’m not trying to demonise dogs I’m just trying to point out the hypocrisy of these people. They literally hate the living ancestors of their beloved pets so I don’t think they truly love dogs. They’re just narcissists that love dogs because of the affection/approval they get from them and they don’t respect them for what they really are without humans. What do you guys think?

Sorry if this post was more of a rant but I just wanted to share my opinion about this topic.

33 Comments
2024/11/29
06:36 UTC

15

Any Documentary References?

I've really been wanting to watch a wolf documentary for ages now but all the ones I find spout absolute lies. Every single one talks about pack hierarchy as the whole "Alpha" thing when that's entirely incorrect. If anyone has some decent recommendations as well as where to find them, I'd greatly appreciate it.

1 Comment
2024/11/28
09:54 UTC

209

Silas the Gray Wolf Eats Pumpkin Pie

7 Comments
2024/11/27
20:36 UTC

264

I love drawing cute wolves!! Here’s a small pin I made

5 Comments
2024/11/27
11:17 UTC

924

A Pair Of Howling Wolves (Credit: Philipp Steiger)

9 Comments
2024/11/26
14:40 UTC

387

wolf appreciation post, art by me (2018-2024)

18 Comments
2024/11/26
01:19 UTC

31

The Pack Press -- November 25, 2024

Over $100,000 reward offered after protected Mexican gray wolf “Hope” is found dead in Arizona

A reward of $103,500 is being offered for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for the death of a protected Mexican gray wolf in Arizona. The wolf, nicknamed by local students "Hope," was found dead on November 7th.

Mexican gray wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act, and Hope had been fitted with a GPS tracking collar in July after entering the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area. Efforts were underway to return her to the conservation region when her death occurred. Authorities have ruled out agency management actions as the cause.

We, along with many of our supporters and partners, have followed Hope’s journey closely. She was a symbol of resilience, and we are deeply saddened to hear of her death. We’re grateful that an investigation is underway, and if it reveals that Hope was wrongly killed, we urge authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

This Week in Wolf News

For the first time, a gray wolf pack has been confirmed in Lassen Volcanic National Park! According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, this new pack likely consists of a breeding pair and one or two pups. The unnamed pack likely came from the Lassen Pack—the state’s most established wolf population.

Gray wolves are a protected species in California, and their continued recovery is a testament to the success of California’s conservation efforts. We are excited to see these packs continue to thrive as they explore their new home!

Colorado ranchers are renewing their request for state wildlife officials to delay the release of more gray wolves currently planned for January 2025. The petition is calling for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to address conflicts between wolves and livestock producers by implementing more conflict mitigation strategies before any new wolves are released.

According to the article, the petition included asking for clearer definitions of "chronic depredation" on livestock. While we are sympathetic to livestock owners and ranchers, we believe they should focus on working with the state and utilizing the many resources that CPW has already made available to them.

Chase Melton, the Wisconsin hunter who shot and killed a gray wolf on September 21, 2024, in Oneida County, Wisconsin, will not face charges.

While investigators determined that the wolf’s behavior was unusual but not explicitly aggressive, the Oneida County District Attorney determined the hunter acted out of genuine fear for the safety of himself and his hunting companions.

This incident is not classified as a wolf attack, as no wolf attack on humans has been documented in Wisconsin in the modern era. Despite the case results, this wolf would likely still be alive if Chase and others were not out hunting.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced they have reopened applications for the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program. This program, funded with $600,000 from the 2024-25 State Budget, compensates ranchers for confirmed or probable livestock losses caused by gray wolves.

Due to limited funding, CDFW will prioritize direct loss compensation and is not accepting applications for non-lethal deterrents or pay-for-presence compensation at this time. To view the application or apply, click here.

0 Comments
2024/11/26
00:24 UTC

22

Yellowstone

I'm heading to Yellowstone to see wolves sometime between Dec & Feb.

Does anyone have a recommendation on which tour guide to use? Or any other tips?

Thx

2 Comments
2024/11/23
09:35 UTC

709

So handsome

6 Comments
2024/11/23
00:28 UTC

46

Wolf pups attack trail camera in northern Minnesota

1 Comment
2024/11/22
11:45 UTC

369

New pack near my residence!

5 Comments
2024/11/22
01:44 UTC

285

Just a wolf doodle

17 Comments
2024/11/21
21:46 UTC

87

Gray Wolf's Howl Echoes Through Woods on Gloomy Day

0 Comments
2024/11/20
23:04 UTC

16

The Pack Press -- November 19

Colorado Announces Potential Release Areas for the Next Wave of Wolf Reintroductions

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has identified four counties as potential release sites for 10-15 wolves coming from British Columbia. This marks a shift from last year’s secretive releases, with CPW now engaging directly with county officials ahead of the introductions.

The wolves will be released on state-owned or privately permitted lands that meet CPW’s criteria of having adequate habitat, natural prey availability, and minimal proximity to human activity. The final site selections will depend on conditions at the time of release.

To address livestock concerns, the state legislature has allocated $350,000 annually for ranchers. We commend CPW for their efforts to learn from past mistakes and set these wolves up for success. We will continue to provide updates as the program progresses and are excited to see these wolves thrive in their new home.

This Week in Wolf News

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced that they have reopened applications for the Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program. This program, funded with $600,000 from the 2024-25 State Budget, compensates ranchers for confirmed or probable livestock losses caused by gray wolves.

Due to limited funding, CDFW will prioritize direct loss compensation and is not accepting applications for non-lethal deterrents or pay-for-presence compensation at this time. To view the application or apply, click here.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating the tragic shooting of a suspected gray wolf in North Dakota. Stephanie Tucker, a biologist with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, said the animal, a 2-year-old female, appeared to be a wolf, though DNA testing will confirm whether it is a gray wolf or a wolf-dog hybrid.

According to the article, the shooter claimed to have mistaken the wolf for a coyote. Gray wolves are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act in the state, and the investigation is ongoing. Potential charges will depend on the genetic test results. We hope that this animal gets the justice it deserves.

The Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission met on Tuesday, November 12th, to discuss proposed changes to wolf and coyote trapping regulations. The agenda included shortening the wolf trapping season to comply with a federal court order aimed at protecting grizzly bears.

These proposals follow a 2023 court ruling that restricted wolf trapping to January 1 through February 15 in grizzly bear-occupied regions to prevent accidental bycatch. We will provide more details on the meeting’s outcomes as they are released.

A new NPR article highlights how wildlife managers in Alaska are exploring new methods to count wolves as the island’s wolf trapping season begins amid concerns about declining population numbers. Traditionally, managers used hair boards to collect DNA samples, but these methods are often inaccurate. Now, trained detection dogs are being employed to locate wolf scat, providing more comprehensive DNA data.

According to the article, record numbers of wolves were hunted in 2019. Each year, approximately 1,300 wolves are killed through inhumane hunting and trapping methods, with an additional 200 or so taken through predator control programs. The situation in Alaska is very concerning and the decreased population could have detrimental effects, including extinction.

1 Comment
2024/11/19
21:58 UTC

301

I drew some friendly puppies!

3 Comments
2024/11/19
16:31 UTC

41

Biggest wolves ever recorded ?

A quick google research generally leads to a Northwestern wolf (canis lupus occidentalis) which weighted 79kg (or 175lbs) when it was caught in Alaska in 1939. Most of the sources mention this wolf when asked about which wolf is the biggest ever. Although this page https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=503 from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game mentions it's the largest wolf ever recorded in Alaska, not specifically elsewhere.
However, there seem to be heavier wolves caught here and there but don't seem to be acknowledged, perhaps because of dubious measurments.

For example, the guiness book of world records mention a wolf in Yukon which weighted 103kg. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/wo ... gest-canid although nothing more is said about it.

In Wikipedia, there is also mention of wolves in Ukraine which weighted between 86kg and 96kg.

https://preview.redd.it/k8246abrov1e1.png?width=1461&format=png&auto=webp&s=41bc0770435536e0b14cd0a8eab8966bcc04ba2b

In mammals of the Soviet Union, by V.Geptner, the same 96kg wolf is mentioned again, alongside some cases of wolves around 76-80kg.

https://preview.redd.it/l1ki6sfyov1e1.png?width=526&format=png&auto=webp&s=a278114daf391f5573878e3db3359ade21498b4c

The russian literrature mentions even heavier wolves.

Внутривидовой полиморфизм волка (Canis lupus) Приенисейской Сибири by Суворов, Анатолий Прохорович in 2009

which translates to: "Record-breakingly heavy middle-taiga wolves from this zone (80-90 and even 118
kg) were obtained in the 1980-1990s in Evenkia. Large specimens
of Evenk forest wolves were often shot from helicopters, but they usually "did not reach"
the researchers for commercial reasons.
The largest middle-taiga wolf of the 72 predators we examined
weighed 56 kg. At the same time, we knew that in the Baikitsky district, the crew of A.A.
Kogut killed a wolf weighing 71 kg. The wolf was weighed in Baikit in the presence of a game warden
and hunters, but this specimen was not officially registered. According to
the materials of wolf shooting in Evenkia, presented by the district inspection,
in the area of the village. In the spring of 1992, a wolf weighing 97 kg was killed in Ekonda, and in the spring of 1999, a predator weighing 118 kg was killed in the Taimura River basin (weighing was carried out in the presence of game wardens and helicopter crew members by the head of the Evenki District State Hunting Inspectorate R.V. Gordeeva)."

These same wolves are mentioned again here:

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

"According to A.P. Suvorov (2010), forest (middle taiga) wolves of Eastern Siberia are larger than the Central Russian forest wolf. The mass of two wolves killed in Evenkia was 97 and 118 kg. The average mass of adult males of this subspecies ranged from 38.5 to 44.8 ± 0.91, and the average body length was from 123.2 to 130 ± 1.04 cm. Unfortunately, large specimens were also not measured and were not included in the sample when calculating the average indicators."

This same document also mentions an 80kg wolf in central Russia and an 81kg wolf in Minsk, Belarus.

https://preview.redd.it/nfsscws2qv1e1.png?width=380&format=png&auto=webp&s=4b79d2bc35c08f3b95c39cef4a312aab2284a4e0

"Literary data on the weight of wolves are highly contradictory, and some are questionable. Nevertheless, even in reliable literary sources, there are reports of large wolves. Wolves weighing 79 kg (Ognev, 1931) and even 80 kg (Zvorykin, 1939) are known for central Russia; a male weighing 76 kg was killed in the Moscow region (Geptner, Morozova-Turova, 1951). Very large specimens were also found in later decades. For example, in 1971, a wolf weighing 81 kg was killed in the Minsk region (Pavlov, 1990)."

And these record breaking wolves are mentioned again here alongside a 72kg wolf caught in the Altai :

ON THE SUBSPECIES STATUS OF ALTAY MOUNTAIN-TAIGA WOLF (CANIS LUPUS ALTAICUS)

which translates to: "The taxonomy of Siberian wolves has not been developed. It is unlikely that these predators are identical across the vast territory with different landscapes and vegetation from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean, from the Arctic tundra to the southern mountain taiga of Altai, Sayan and Transbaikalia (Geptner et al. 1967). The subspecies system of the wolf is based on such features as variability of the coat color, body and skull size. It is believed that the latter parameters within the wolf's range in Russia are clinal in nature. However, the results of studies by Russian scientists (Makridin, 1959; Kozlov, 1966; Geptner et al. 1967; Pavlov, 1982, 1990; Smirnov, 2002; Suvorov, Petrenko, 2003) did not always coincide with this theory. The polar wolves (Canis lupus albus), which are considered to be the largest, turned out to be smaller than the forest (C. 1. lupus) central Russian and Siberian forest wolves of the middle forest belt (C. 1. var. Orientalis), but larger than the southern mountain-taiga (C. 1. altaicus) and steppe wolves (C. 1. campestris). M.P. Pavlov (1990) believed that in Europe the largest forest wolves are found in the forests of the upper Volga and the Volga-Kama interfluve of Russia, Latvia, Minsk, Vitebsk and Mogilev regions of Belarus, where individual specimens of predators obtained by hunting weighed up to 70 and even 80 kg. In Siberia in 1942, a wolf weighing 72 kg was caught in a trap in Altai. Record-heavy northern taiga wolves (80-90 and even 118 kg) were caught in the 1980-1990s in Evenkia (Suvorov, 2003). Large polar and forest wolves inhabit northeastern Siberia. V.E. Sokolov and O.L. Rossolimo (1985) recommended limiting the number of diagnostic features to determine the subspecies differentiation of wolves and using the condylobasal length of the skull, body weight and length as universal indicators of the overall size of the animals. This makes the subspecies differences in the studied wolf forms more comparable (Table 1)."

Now I'm not an expert about wolves or animals in particular, and I understand some measurments can be dubious. Also we have to consider the fact that some individuals might have full stomachs (although I don't think food will add up to more than 10-15kg), but I find that there are too many instances of wolves being heavier than 79kg (175lbs) for all of them to be wrong.

Now keep in mind that these are record breaking individuals, and are far heavier than the average wolves. The average Eurasian wolf (canis lupus lupus) probably weights between 35kg and 50kg depending on the region, and the Northwestern wolf (canis lupus occidentalis) is a bit heavier than that (around 50-60kg on average I think). Arctic wolves and tundra wolves are a bit lighter than the Northwestern wolf and the biggest Eurasian wolves.

2 Comments
2024/11/19
15:52 UTC

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