If a member of the opposite sex is encountered and suitable range exists, the pair may start a pack of their own. Offspring remain within the pack or move out to become "lone wolves." These individuals are nomadic, some living in areas over 1,000 square miles in size. Pups are born from early April to early May. Generally, only the dominant male and female breed, though exceptions exist. A dominance hierarchy exists within each pack. Packs are territorial, frequenting areas of 20-200+ square miles (51-555+ sq km). Wolves usually live in family groups or packs of 2-8 individuals, though some packs contain 20 or more members. The Great Lakes wolves found in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin are generally believed to be hybrids of Algonquin wolves and the gray wolves of western North America, although research on this matter is continually evolving. Both red wolves and Algonquin wolves are intermediate in size between the coyote and gray wolf, with females averaging around 55 pounds and males averaging around 65 pounds. However others have found that both eastern wolves and red wolves are not distinct species at all, but rather admixtures (have a hybrid ancestry) of gray wolf and coyote (vonHoldt 2016). Some scientists believe that the eastern wolf (now principally called the Algonquin wolf) found primarily in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario should be considered a distinct species (Canis lycaon Rutledge 2015). However, recent genetic studies have challenged this conclusion. Either or both of these species may have resided in New York in the past. It has previously been widely accepted based on morphology that the 'eastern wolf' is a subspecies of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and the 'red wolf' is a separate species (Canis rufus). ![]() Wolf taxonomy in North America, particularly eastern North America, is debated. The ears are proportionally small and rounded, and they have a short, blocky snout. The fur is usually a mix of gray and brown with a buffy underside, though their coat color can vary from white to gray or brown to black. Wolves generally measure 5-6 feet from nose to tip of tail and stand 27-33 inches at the shoulder. Males are larger than females, with females typically weighing 50-100 pounds and males weighing 70-145 pounds, depending on geographic locations. Gray wolves, also called timber wolves, are the largest wild member of the dog family.
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