Within the pack, the breeding pair are the dominant animals. A pack, which usually consists of a breeding pair and their offspring, can consist of up to 20 wolves. The pack lives together and uses the strength of the group to help bring down large prey animals. Although numbers have dwindled following the intentional killing of wolves, they are increasing once again amid conservation efforts.Īs well as Alaska, packs of wolves are known to be present in 8 or 9 states, and individual wolves have been sighted in 10 more states. It is estimated that there are fewer than 20,000 wild wolves in America, two-thirds of which are in Alaska. There are more than 250,000 wolves in the wild, and while wild wolf attacks do happen, instances of wolf attacks on people are very rare because the animal tends to live away from people.

It is a carnivore and preys on large hooved animals, livestock, and some smaller animals. An adult wolf usually weighs between 80 and 90 pounds, standing up to 35 inches in height. Native to Eurasia and North America, the wolf is the world’s largest wild dog. So, can you have a wolf as a pet and, even if you can, should you? In short, it is not recommended to keep wolves as pets for a variety of reasons.īelow, we look at the difficulties and the legal requirements, so that you can determine whether keeping a wolf as a pet is a good idea for you and your family.Ībout Wolves Image Credit: David Mark, Pixabay So, wolves are beautiful and intriguing, but they’re also potentially dangerous, require a considerable commitment, and keeping one might be illegal in your area. In other states, it is mandated at a county level. Some states, including Hawaii and Connecticut, have outlawed their ownership. Despite this, no federal laws prohibit the keeping of wolves or wolf dogs. At worst, it will be completely unmanageable and potentially dangerous. In the wild, they roam up to 100 miles per day, which means owners have a lot of daily exercise on their hands.Īt best, a pet wolf will be semi-wild. Wolves hug with their mouths, which can be terrifying for adults, never mind children. It is their similarities, especially as pups, that has led to a lot of people buying young wolves, only to discover that they retain their wild habits and practices when they get older. While they share a lot of physical and some biological similarities with dogs, the two species are quite different. Their image is used to represent free-spirited and instinctive nature.

Are wolves nocturnal