| Northwestern wolf Canis lupus occidentalis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| C. l. occidentalis at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center at West Yellowstone, Montana. | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Canis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | C. l. occidentalis |
| Trinomial name | |
| Canis lupus occidentalis Richardson, 1829[2] | |
| Synonyms[4] | |
Thenorthwestern wolf (Canis lupus occidentalis), also known as theMackenzie Valley wolf,[5]Alaskan timber wolf,[6] orCanadian timber wolf,[7] is asubspecies of gray wolf in westernNorth America. Arguably the largest gray wolf subspecies in the world, it ranges fromAlaska, the upperMackenzie River Valley; southward throughout thewestern Canadian provinces, aside from prairie landscapes in its southern portions, as well as theNorthwestern United States.[6]
This wolf is recognized as a subspecies ofCanis lupus in the taxonomic authorityMammal Species of the World (2005).[8] The subspecies was first written of by Scottish naturalistSir John Richardson in 1829. He chose to give it the nameoccidentalis in reference to its geographic location rather than label it by its color, as it was too variable to warrant such.[2]
According to one source,phylogenetic analyses of North American gray wolves show that there are threeclades corresponding toC. l. occidentalis,C. l. nubilus andC. l. baileyi, each one representing a separate invasion into North America from distinct Eurasian ancestors.C. l. occidentalis, the most northwestern subspecies, is descended from the last gray wolves to colonize North America. It likely crossed into North America through theBering land bridge after thelast ice age, displacingC. l. nubilus populations as it advanced, a process which has continued until present times. Along withC. l. nubilus,C. l. occidentalis is the most widespread member of the four gray wolf subspecies in North America, with at least six differentsynonyms.[7]
Northwestern wolves are one of the largest subspecies of wolves. InBritish Columbia, Canada, five adult females averaged 42.5 kg or 93.6 lbs with a range of 85 lbs to 100 lbs (38.6 - 45.4 kg) and ten adult males averaged 112.2 lbs or 51.7 kg with a range of 105 lbs to 135 lbs (47.6 - 61.2 kg), with a weight range for all adults of 38.6 kg to 61.2 kg (85 – 135 lbs).[9] InYellowstone National Park, adult females were average about 40 kg (90 lbs) and adult males average about 50 kg (110 lbs), with a mean adult body mass in winter of 46.4 kg (102 lb).[10][11] More recent studies have reported the average range of height and weight in the north-west of the United States, both sexes were between 68 and 91.5 cm (26.8 and 36.0 in) tall at the shoulder. Here the weight of males was reported at between 45 and 72 kg (99 and 159 lb), while the females were reported at 36 to 60 kg (79 to 132 lb).[12]
The Northwestern wolf is also one of the longest wolf subspecies, as its length usually ranges from 5 to 6 ft (152–183 cm) and can reach as long as 7 ft (213 cm).[13][14]
In comparison, the mean adult weights of its nearest rivals in size, theEurasian wolf (C. l. lupus) and theInterior Alaskan wolf (C. l. pambasileus), was reported as 39 kg (86 lb) and 40 kg (88 lb), respectively.[15][16] Sir John Richardson described the northwestern wolf as having a more robust build than the Eurasian wolf, with a larger, rounder head and a thicker, more obtuse muzzle. Its ears are also shorter, and its fur bushier.[2]
InYellowstone National Park, artificially relocated northwestern wolves have been well-documented feeding onelk. They usually stampede the herd using pack teamwork to separate the younger elk from the adults. They also will charge young calves separated from their parents. Winter-weakened or sick elk also play an important part of Yellowstone wolf diets, and it is estimated that over 50 percent of winter-weakened or sick elk in Yellowstone are killed by wolves. Of these, about 12 percent of carcasses were scavenged by other predators, includingravens,bald eagles,black bears,grizzly bears, andcoyotes.[17] In the same national park, wolves also prey onbison, though such attacks usually involve sick animals or calves because healthy, adult bison can easily kill wolves with their hooves.[18]
Wolves are present in Canadian and British safari parks includingLongleat,[19]Woburn,[20] andParc Omega.[21]
The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
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