Gray Wolves Make a Comeback

by Iron Lee, age 10

     The gray wolf is an interesting animal that was recently saved from extinction by over-hunting. The population is starting to increase again because of laws that restrict people from hurting them.  
     A gray wolf’s coat color is usually a mix of gray and brown. It has a long bushy tail with a black tip, and actually looks a lot like a German shepherd. Gray wolves are very big, usually between 3 to 5 feet long. Male gray wolves are typically heavier, weighing 70 to 145 pounds, while females only weigh 60 to 100 pounds.   
     Gray wolves are carnivores, meaning they mostly eat meat, such as deer, elk, bison, and moose. They also eat smaller animals like beavers, rodents and hares. Howling, barking, growling, and scent marking are some of the ways the wolves communicate.
    Gray wolves can live in various habitats, like tundra, woodlands, forests, grasslands, or even the deserts. They live in two thirds of the United States, including northern Wisconsin.

 [Source: National Wildlife Foundation]