![]() Centuries of industrialization and urbanization have led to very fragmented, isolated habitat for wolves, and despite gains in general societal acceptance of wolves, there are still those who would like to see gray wolves disappear from the landscape once again. Though things have changed since the days of government sanctioned wolf hunts and bounties, wolves are still facing very real threats in the western states they now inhabit, such as Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. It’s been more than half a century and gray wolves are finally starting to make a comeback in Eastern Oregon. ![]() The last gray wolf in Oregon was shot and killed in 1946. By the 19th and 20th centuries, intensive predator control programs were underway, and wolves were extirpated from most states by the early 1900’s. European settlers found wolves difficult to live with, as they occasionally preyed on livestock. ![]() Why does it need our help?įor as long as there has been Western civilization present in North America, the gray wolf has been in trouble. Lea nuestra hoja informativa de lobo en espa ñol. Although they’re called gray wolves, they can range in color from arctic white to tan and gray to jet black-a whole pack together can be quite a colorful collective.įor more information, check out our fact sheet about wolves. Each pack consists of two breeding wolves, the alpha male and female, their pups, and subordinate wolves of various ages. Gray wolves are highly social animals- they rely on a tight pack structure for hunting and protection, and are known to form very strong family bonds within the pack. The majority of gray wolves’ prey consists of large ungulates, or hoofed mammals, such as elk, deer, moose and bison, but occasionally they will hunt smaller mammals and rodents or feed on carrion if prey is scarce. ![]() Assuming there is an adequate supply of prey, gray wolves can flourish in any of these environments, and once inhabited more than 2/3 of the United States. The gray wolf is a generalist by nature, meaning that it can survive in a variety of habitats, including frozen tundra, dry grasslands and deserts, and wooded forest habitats. ![]()
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