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Wolves in the NWT
 Wolves (Canis lupus) are a member of the Canidae
(dog) family and look like a large husky dog. Adult males average about 35 - 40
kg, while females are smaller, at about 30 - 35 kg. Length of males, from nose to
the tip of the tail, varies from 1.5 to 2.0 m, with females from 1.4 to 1.8 m.
The tail is nearly one-quarter of the total length. In Canada, the largest
wolves are from the northwest, while the smallest occur on the arctic islands.
Wolf colour varies from pure white to black, with
accompanying shades of cream and brown. The most common colour is grey. Although
all colours occur throughout the wolf’s range, white is most common on the
arctic islands. Grey and other darker shades predominate on the mainland. The
wolf’s coat is thick; composed of long coarse guard hairs and short soft
underfur. In the NWT the coat is shed only once, in late
spring. By winter the short new pelage grows into a silky coat, with the
underfur appearing in autumn.
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