Gray Wolf - 'Tala'

This is TALA, a Gray Wolf, born approximately March 2006. Fish and Game brought her to us after she was found running loose locally, attacking family pets. She may have been illegally housed and got away from her caretakers. She is a valuable a welcome addition to our family and will be an ambassador for her species. She currently weighs about 40 lbs.

Gray wolves were once abundant over much of North America, Eurasia, and the Middle East. Today, wolves inhabit a very limited portion of their former range.

Wolves are the largest among all wild canids. Although rare, specimens over 170 lbs. have been recorded in Alaska and Canada. Wolves are built for stamina, and are tailored for long-distance travel. Narrow chests and powerful backs and legs contribute to the wolf's efficient locomotion. They are capable of covering several miles at about 6 mph, though they have been known to reach speeds approaching 40 mph during a chase. While sprinting thus, wolves can cover up to 16 ft per bound.

Wolf paws are able to traverse easily through a wide variety of terrains, especially snow. There is slight webbing between each toe, which allows wolves to move over snow easily. The front paws are larger than the hind paws. Bristled hairs and blunt claws enhance grip on slippery surfaces, and special blood vessels keep paw pads from freezing.

A wolf sometimes seems more massive than it actually is due to its bulky coat, which is made of two layers. The first layer consists of tough guard hairs designed to repel water and dirt. The second is a dense, water-resistant undercoat that insulates. Coloration varies greatly, and runs from gray to gray-brown, all the way through the canine spectrum of white, red, brown, and black. These colors tend to mix in many populations, though it is certainly not uncommon for an individual or an entire population to be entirely one color (usually all black or all white). A multicolor coat characteristically lacks any clear pattern other than it tends to be lighter on the animal's underside. Fur color sometimes corresponds with a given wolf population's environment; for example, all-white wolves are much more common in areas with perennial snow cover. Aging wolves acquire a grayish tint in their coats.

Significant mortality factors for wolves are hunting and poaching, car accidents, and wounds suffered while hunting prey. Wolves can contract the same infections that affect domestic dogs, such as mange, heartworm, rabies and canine distemper.