# Eastern Wolf (*Canis lycaon*) The Eastern Wolf is a clever and social animal that lives in packs. They have beautiful, thick fur and are known for their howling, which helps them communicate with each other. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Algonquin Wolf, Eastern Timber Wolf ![Eastern Wolf](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Eastern_wolf_in_Algonquin_Provincial_Park_01.jpg&width=800) Photo: Henrique Pacheco, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eastern_wolf_in_Algonquin_Provincial_Park_01.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Wolf is a medium-sized canine, typically displaying reddish-brown to cinnamon fur, often mixed with grey and black guard hairs. It has a leaner build and is generally smaller than the Grey Wolf, with a sleek, agile appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Canidae - **Genus:** Canis ## Interesting facts - Eastern wolf pups are born blind and deaf, relying completely on their mother. - Their powerful howls can travel up to 10 kilometers through the dense forest! - They share a unique ancestry with both coyotes and gray wolves! - Wolves mark their territory by leaving scent from special glands in their paws! ## Special abilities - **Super Sniffer:** Eastern Wolves can smell prey from miles away because their powerful noses have millions more scent receptors than humans. - **Pack Power:** Eastern Wolves hunt in well-coordinated packs that allows them to take down large prey much bigger than themselves. - **Silent Stalker:** The Eastern Wolf has soft, padded paws that help them move quietly through forests, making them excellent, silent hunters. - **Forest Camouflage:** Their unique reddish-brown and grey fur helps them blend perfectly into the forest environment, making them hard to spot. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 90-160 cm - **Weight:** 25-40 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-8 years - **Speed:** 55 km/h - **Litter Size:** 4-7 - **Gestation:** 60-63 days ## Diet & Feeding These skilled hunters mostly eat large hoofed animals, keeping forest ecosystems healthy. - **Primary Foods:** White-tailed Deer, Moose, Beaver, Snowshoe Hare, Small Rodents - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Primary prey source, essential for wolf survival. - **Hunts:** Beaver (*Castor canadensis*) — Important food source, especially near water habitats. - **Hunts:** [Moose](https://www.snappit.app/explore/moose) (*Alces alces*) — Larger prey, targeted by experienced, larger wolf packs. - **Hunts:** [Snowshoe Hare](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snowshoe-hare) (*Lepus americanus*) — Provides a smaller, supplementary food source, especially for pups. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate If you see a wolf in the wild, it's best to stay at a safe distance and not approach it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Wolf? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eastern Wolf? 90-160 cm ### How much does Eastern Wolf weigh? 25-40 kg ### How long does Eastern Wolf live? 6-8 years ### How fast can Eastern Wolf move? 55 km/h ### What does Eastern Wolf eat? These skilled hunters mostly eat large hoofed animals, keeping forest ecosystems healthy. ### Where is Eastern Wolf usually found? Forests ### How does Eastern Wolf hunt? Pursuit ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Eastern Wolf: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-wolf)