Hudson Bay Wolf
Encyclopedia
The Hudson Bay Wolf also known as the Hudson Wolf, is a subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...

 of the gray wolf
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...

, Canis lupus, named in 1941 by senior biologist Edward A. Goldman. They are sometimes called Tundra wolves, though they are an entirely different subspecies of the gray wolf. They are primarily found in the areas around Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...

, namely Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...

 and the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...

. They were hunted in the 19th century and early 20th century for their pelts
Fur
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensives body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal...

.

Appearance

The Hudson Bay Wolf averages 3-5 feet long and 28-36 inches high. Their weight varies from 80-125 pounds, though individuals weighing up to 140 pounds have been found. Females are slightly smaller than males.

Their fur ranges from a light gray to a yellowish-white or cream color. Their fur lightens in the winter. They might to be similar to the Mackenzie Valley wolf, only smaller.

Diet

Like other wolves, they hunt in packs. They eat large ungulate
Ungulate
Ungulates are several groups of mammals, most of which use the tips of their toes, usually hoofed, to sustain their whole body weight while moving. They make up several orders of mammals, of which six to eight survive...

s such as caribou, moose and bison. When food is scarce, they will also feed on carrion and smaller animals. It has been said that they require about 10 pounds of meat per day.

Breeding

Hudson Bay wolves, usually only the alpha pair, mate in the spring. Gestation lasts 62 to 65 days. The average litter size is 4 to 6 pups. For their first 10 days of life, they are brown-colored, deaf, and blind. They do not leave their den until they are several weeks old. They are weaned when they are between 2 & 3 months old. All members of the pack participate in raising the young. They are mature at 2 years old. Its lifespan in the wild is approximately 10 years.

Status

The status of the Hudson Bay Wolf has not been evaluated by the IUCN. Though it is considered by many to be endangered.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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