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Animal taxa named by Carl LinnaeusExtant Middle Pleistocene first appearancesFauna listed on CITES Appendix IIFauna of the Holarctic realm

Wolf

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A Eurasian wolf standing in the snow at Polar Zoo in Bardu, Norway.

Meet the Wolf!

Wolves are big, friendly animals that live in groups called packs. They are part of the Canis family, just like dogs! Wolves live in Eurasia and North America. They are the largest wild member of the Canidae family.

Wolves have thick fur that can be white, brown, grey, or black. This fur keeps them warm in cold places. They are strong and can run fast through forests and snow. Wolves love to stay together as a family. Usually, it is a mom, dad, and their babies.

Wolves talk to each other in many fun ways. They howl to say “hello” or “where are you?” They also use body moves and smells to share messages. Howling helps the pack stay connected, even when they are far apart.

People have thought about wolves in many interesting ways. In Ancient Rome, there is a story about twins raised by a she-wolf. Wolves also appear in fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood. Even though some stories show wolves as tricky, they are really smart and kind to their families.

Wolves are not usually dangerous to people. They mostly eat animals like moose, elk, and deer. In places where people take care of animals, wolves might sometimes eat a sheep, but this does not happen often. Today, many places work to protect wolves so they can live safely in nature.

Images

Scientific illustration of Canis mosbachensis, an ancient relative of modern wolves.
Wolf-dog hybrids from Wildlife Park Kadzidlowo, Poland: a mix of wolf and different dog breeds.
A gray wolf resting, showcasing its natural appearance in the wild.
Skeleton of an Italian wolf, showing the bones of this wild animal from Abruzzo National Park.
Illustration of a grey wolf from a 19th-century scientific book about canids.
An African golden wolf, a member of the canine family, shown in a scientific illustration from a historical monograph on dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes.
Illustration of the Abyssinian Wolf from a historical zoology book.
A detailed scientific illustration of the Indian Jackal from an 1890 zoology book.
Historical scientific illustration of a Southern Dhole, a type of wild dog, from an 1890 animal study book.
Illustration of African wild dogs from an old scientific book about canids.
Illustration of a side-striped jackal from a historical zoology book.
Illustration of a black-backed jackal from a historical zoology book.

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Wolf, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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