Common Name:
Eastern wolf
Scientific Name:
Canis lupus lycaons
Unique Qualities:
Eastern wolves are light brown to grey with distinctive reddish fur behind their ears. They live in packs, depending on how many pups are born each year. Each pack has a home range that may be as big as 500 km2.
Can be Seen:
Eastern wolves are found in southern Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, away from towns and cities. They’re also found in a few American states that border the Great Lakes.
Likes to Hang Out:
Eastern wolves need a large area of forest to survive. They are shy animals and need to stay away from people.
Likes to Eat:
Eastern wolves eat white-tailed deer, beaver and moose. They kill mainly calves and very old adults weakened by injury and disease, helping to keep the forest ecosystem healthy.
Status:
The eastern wolf is listed as a species of "special concern" by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). This status applies to a species that is very sensitive to human activities or natural events. They are protected in Ontario's Algonquin Park, but they have already lost over 58 per cent of their original range.
