Wolf Awareness Week
October 10th-16th 2010

The wolf is a strong symbol of nature, and yet has been mislabeled and misunderstood for many years. Wolves were systematically exterminated from nearly all states in this country. The need for educating the public about the importance of wolves lent itself to the creation of a National Wolf Awareness Week.

Wolf Awareness Week takes place the 3rd week of October every year and encourages people to take part in education and conservation programs focusing not only on wolves, but nature as a whole.

Name: Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
Location: North America, Greenland, Europe and Asia
Habitat: Northern boreal and coniferous forests; open, brushy areas.
Diet: Pack hunting: moose, caribou, deer, musk oxen, and bison
Hunting alone: beaver, rabbit, and other small mammals.
Size: Up to 5 ft in length and 120 lbs in weight.
Description: Coloration can range from all black to all white, with a range of brown, tan, and gray. Legs are long, with large paws. Their tail is one-third body length; carried straight behind the body. Ears are upright, rounded, and heavily furred.
Minnesota Wolf: Canis lupus nubilus; Great Plains Gray Wolf
Other Facts: Largest wild member of the canid family; ancestor of the domestic dog; once the world's most widely ranging carnivore; can travel distances of up to 125 miles in a day.
Threats: Being poached by people, hit by cars, and habitat loss.
Conservation Status: The gray wolf is still endangered in most of the United States, including Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
What Can I Do To Help?: Come visit the Wildlife Science Center for information on how you can help.