Big Sky Wildlife Spotlight: Wolves
Wolves are one of the many types of wildlife that live in Big Sky, Montana. It’s rare to see a wolf, but we definitely share our backcountry playground with these creatures.
The next time you head out on a ski tour in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, climb a remote peak, or backpack through the Taylor Hilgards, look out for wolf prints and listen for the distinct howling of Montana wolves. They are most certainly out there.
Here are a few fun and interesting facts about wolves to share with your friends:
- The scientific name for a gray wolf is Canis lupus.
- Wolves are the largest members of the Canidae family.
- Males average 5 to 6.5 feet in length from nose to tip of tail. Females average 4.5 to 6 feet.
- Most wolves stand at 26 to 32 inches at the shoulder.
- Females weight 60 to 80 pounds. Males weight 70 to 110 pounds.
- A wolf footprint will measure 4 inches wide by 5 inches long
- Wolves can live up to 13 years in the wild.
- Wolves have 42 teeth.
- They have four toes with claws in an oval shape. They run on their toes, not their pads.
- Wolves mate for life.
- A litter of wolves is usually 4 to 6 pups.
- Pups are born deaf and blind with bright blue eyes.
- A pack of wolves can range from 2 to over 30 wolves. On average they run in packs between 5 and 8 wolves.
- Wolves can run at 36 to 38 MPH.
- Wolves were killed off in Montana in the late 1930’s, but were reintroduced in Yellowstone National Park the 1995 and 1996 and their numbers are currently increasing.
- In 2013, there were at least 625 wolves in western Montana.
- The Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks allows up to 100 wolves to be hunted per year.
- Gray wolves can range in color from gray, black, tan, or white.
- Wolves prey on elk, deer, moose, and other animals.
- Wolves have over 200 million scent cells.
- They can hear up to six miles away in the forest.
- A wolf’s jaw has a crushing power of nearly 1500 pounds per square inch!
- A wolf can eat 20 pounds of meat in one meal.
- Wolves can swim up to 8 miles!
- A wolf howl can be heard up to 10 km away.
- Wolves were the first animals to be place on the US Endangered Species Act list in 1973.
- Only two wolf attacks have led to fatalities in North America (one in Alaska and one in Canada) during the 21st Century.
- Wolves do not hibernate and can potentially be seen all year long.
