Wolf Handpuppet 25cm

Physical Characteristics
Grey wolf weight and size can vary greatly worldwide, tending to increase proportionally with latitude as predicted by Bergmann's Rule. In general, height varies from 0.6 to 0.95 meters and (26-38 inches) at the shoulder. Grey wolves are built for stamina, possessing features ideal for long-distance travel. Their narrow chests and powerful backs and legs facilitate efficient locomotion. They are capable of covering several miles trotting at about a pace of 10 km/h (6 mph), and have been known to reach speeds approaching 65 km/h (40 mph) during a chase. One female grey wolf was recorded to have made 7 metre bounds when chasing prey. There is a slight webbing between each toe, which allows them to move over snow more easily than comparatively hampered prey.

Habitat
Few grey wolves survive in Europe, though many live in Alaska, Canada, and Asia. Wolves live and hunt in packs of around six to ten animals.

Behaviour
Wolfpacks are established according to a strict hierarchy, with a dominant male at the top and his mate not far behind. Usually this male and female are the only animals of the pack to breed. All of a pack's adults help to care for young pups by bringing them food and watching them while others hunt. They are known to roam large distances, perhaps 12 miles (20 kilometers) in a single day.

Breeding
Generally, wolves mate between January and April. A pack usually produces a single litter unless the breeding male mates with one or more subordinate females. The pack tension rises as each mature wolf feels urged to mate. During this time, the breeding pair may be forced to prevent other wolves from mating with one another. The gestation period lasts between 60 and 63 days. The pups, which weigh 0.5 kg at birth, are born blind, deaf, and completely dependent on their mother. The average litter size is 5-6 pups. The pups reside in the den and stay there for two months. The den is usually on high ground near an open water source, and has an open chamber at the end of an underground or hillside tunnel that can be up to a few meters long.

Diet
Wolves are social animals which cooperate on their preferred prey - large animals such as deer, elk, and moose. Wolves also eat smaller mammals, birds, fish, lizards, snakes, and fruit.

Strange and Interesting Facts
Though they almost never attack humans, wolves are considered one of the animal world's most fearsome natural villains.