Wolf Facts: Gray Wolves, Timber Wolves & Red Wolves	Wolves are large carnivores  the largest member of the dog or Canid family. Wolves are common to all parts of the Northern Hemisphere. They are usually shy and cautious around humans but unlike the dog have not been domesticated at all.	The most common type of wolf is the gray wolf or timber wolf. Adult grey wolves are 4 to 6.56 feet (120 to 200centimeters) long and weigh about 40 to 175 pounds (18 to 79 kilograms). Just like its name the gray wolf typically has thick gray fur although pure white or all black variations exist. Another common species the red wolf is a bit smaller. They grow to around 4.5 to 5.5 feet long (137.16 to 167.64 cm) and weight 50 to 80 pounds (23 to 36 kg) according to the Defenders of Wildlife organization. The Eastern wolf also known as Great Lakes wolf Eastern timber wolf Algonquin wolf or deer wolf has been deemed a distinct species from their western cousins according to a review by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service scientists. Eastern wolves used to live in the northeastern United States but now remain only in southeastern Canada.	Wolves are found in North America Europe Asia and North Africa. They tend to live in the remote wilderness though red wolves prefer to live in swamps coastal prairies and forests. Many people think wolves only live in colder climates but wolves can live in temperatures that range from minus 70 to 120 degrees F (minus 50 to 48.8 degrees C) according to the San Diego Zoo.    	Wolves hunt and travel in packs. Packs don't consist of many members though. Usually a pack will have only one male and female and their young. This usually means about 10 wolves per pack though packs as large as 30 have been recorded.	Packs have a leader known as the alpha male. Each pack guards its territory against intruders and may even kill other wolves that are not part of their pack. Wolves are nocturnal and will hunt for food at night and sleep during the day.	Young wolves are called pups. The leader of the pack and his female mate are usually the only ones in a pack that will have offspring. They mate in late winter. The female has a gestation period of nine weeks and gives birth to a litter consisting of one to 11 pups.	When the pups are born they are cared for by all of the adult wolves in the pack. Young pups start off drinking milk from their mother but around five to 10 weeks they will start eating food regurgitated from adult pack members.	At six months wolf pups become hunters and at 2 years old they are considered adults. On average a wolf will live four to eight years in the wild.	Wolves are voracious eaters. They can eat up to 20 pounds (9 kg) of food during one meal. Since they are carnivores their meals consist of meat that they hunted.	Gray wolves usually eat large prey such as moose goats sheep and deer. Normally the pack of wolves will find the weakest or sickest animal in a herd circle it and kill it together. Wolves are known to attack and kill domestic animals as well as animals they find in the wild.	Red wolves eat smaller prey such as rodents insects and rabbits. They aren't afraid of going outside their carnivorous diet and will eat berries on occasion too.	Class: Mammalia (Mammals)	Order: Carnivora	Family: Canidae	Genus: Canis	Species: C. lupus (gray wolf) C. rufus (red wolf) C. lycaon (Eastern wolf)	Though wolves once roamed far and wide they are very scarce today. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources lists red wolves as critically endangered. According to the National Parks Conservation Association there are 20 to 80 red wolves currently living in the wild. The Eastern wolf is listed as a Species of Special Concern under Canada  s Species At Risk Act (SARA) and is protected. Gray wolves are not considered endangered.	Packs of wolves don't like to stay in one place. They are known to travel as far as 12 miles (20 kilometers) per day.	Wolves have friends. Wolves howl to communicate with other members of the pack. Researchers have found that they howl more to pack members that they spend the more time with.	There are many names for gray wolves. Besides timber wolf they are also called common wolf tundra wolf Mexican wolf and plains wolf.	To help with the red wolf population wild wolves are given pups that are born in captivity. This is called fostering.	Wolves also communicate by leaving scent marking such as urine or feces on a trail.	Wolves are very similar to dogs in behavior. They love to play chew on bones but will growl or snarl when threatened.