Wolf Biology...page under construction......

 

Reproduction & Development

In most situations, it is only the dominant male and dominant female in a pack that breed, with subdominant females under a behaviourally induced reproductive supression.  In simpler terms, others are prevented from breeding through agressive behaviour and direct interference of mating.  However, no rules are set in stone for wolves and occassionally subordinate females will reproduce successfully.  This is more likely to occur when food resources are abundant.

 

Breeding occurs in late winter for wolves.  In BC, wolves mate around mid-February, with a gestation period of 62-63 days.  Some researchers have observed wolves visiting a den site after mating, long before the female gives birth, and have questioned if this is indicitive that wolves are aware of the consequences of their mating rituals?

 

Pups are born in a sheltered den sometime between early April and early June.  Lactation lasts 8 - 10 weeks.  An average litter has 6 pups, but can range from 1 - 11.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference: Paquet, Paul C., and Ludwig N. Carbyn. 2003. Gray Wolf. IN Feldhammer, North American Wolves. Pages 482-510.