Grey+Wolf+Alex+L.

 ** __The Grey Wolf : Canis Lupis Natural Habitat and location - Past and Present__ **  The Grey Wolf was a endangered species that was common throughout all of North America but were killed in most areas of the United States by the mid 1930s but were killed off in North America and today their range have been reduced to Canada and portions of United States such as Wyoming, Idaho, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana. The United states contains about 2,500 wolves in the lower states and 10,000 wolves in Alaska. There are also some Mexican wolves around in Arizona and New Mexico. The Wolves' other geographic locations range up to Europe, Middle East and Asia. The wolves' natural habitat is preferably in the more forested areas.


 * __Grey Wolf Niche Characteristics__ ** [[image:3746_v1224016433.jpg width="283" height="205" align="left" caption="The Wolves range around US, Canada, Asia, Middle East, and Asia" link="http://www.canids.org/species/Canis_lupus.htm"]]The Grey Wolf's is a carnivore; a meat eater, so their diets consist of large Ungulates; large hoofed animals such as elk, deer. moose and caribou. They are also known to eat beavers, rabbits, and other smaller prey. Wolves can also be scavengers and eat animals that have died from other reasons such as starvation and disease. They are 26-32 inches up to the shoulder and can be 4.5-6.5 feet long from tip of the nose to tail. They range in weight from 55 to up to 130 pounds and males are typically heavier and taller than females. The wolves lifespan range to 7-8 years but some have been known to live up to 10 years and more. Gray wolves can survive in many biomes as long as there is enough food and the climate can be relatively cold. The Grey wolf has a interesting competitive relationship with the grizzly bear. The Grizzly bear and the grey wolf usually compete over a carcass; usually an elk killed by grey wolves. Surprisingly, these confrontations between the grizzly and the wolf rarely end in death or even serious injury. The bear usually defends itself and the grey wolves end up leaving thinking that it isn't worth the risk fighting a bear over 1 carcass. Wolves reach sexual maturity at 1 year for females and 2 years for males. The average offspring amounts are usually 5-6 pups, and is born inside a den such as a rock cavity or a hole in the ground. The cubs are born blind and are usually 1 pound in weight. They then stay inside the den with their mother for 8 weeks before introduced into the species. The grey wolves are active day and night. They travel in packs and usually howl at night to communicate to each other and to help relocate grey wolves seperated from their own packs.

** __The Endangerment of Grey Wolves__ ** The grey wolves were endangered species because of killings of wolves from humans due to conflicts over livestock. The grey wolves kill livestock from farmers and people and the wolves are usually killed as a result from human defense for the livestock. Another serious problem is human movement, construction and destruction of and into wolf territory, which leads to habitat loss for wolves and their prey species. But t he largest threat right now is a plan to wipe out almost all the grey wolves. It is called the federal delisting plan. It removes the endangered species protection to the wolves which allows 2/3s of the wolf population to be killed leaving only 450 wolves nationwide. Endangered Species Act of 1973 authorizes the determination and listing of species as endangered and threatened, prohibits unauthorized possession, sale, trade or transporting of endangered species, provides authority for people to acquire land to conserve for the endangered species, using special conservation funds, authorizes people to have an agreement and start and maintain active programs for the endangered species, and will authorize punishments to people who violate the law and give the reporter of the suspect a reward. Under the Endangered Species Act, gray wolves are listed as endangered throughout the United States except for Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Idaho and Montana and parts of Washington, Oregon, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. Wolves in Alaska are not listed under the the endangered species act.

__** The Conservation Efforts **__The defenders are trying to work with livestock owners to use non-lethal ways to reduce the attack of a grey wolf. These methods include fencing the livestock, lighting, alarm systems and removing dead or dying livestock that may attract the grey wolves. There is a large conservation group called the Defenders of Wildlife where they help preserve and protect the endangered species. They also help raise awareness about endangered species and ask for a generous donation to help raise funds for programs and conservation efforts. In May 4, 2009, the grey wolf is finally removed from the endangered list thanks to the conservation efforts which allowed the grey wolf population to rebound up to 1,600 regionally. But even the recovery and removal from the endangered list doesn't set the wolves completely safe yet. The Federal delisting plan will remove the endangered species protection to the wolves which will mean hunting wolves is once again legal...a very big problem since there are many anti-wolf activists out there. Currently, the Defenders of Wildlife and other conservation groups are challenging the decision in court and is looking to restore the grey wolf endangered species protection until a delisting plan can be possible to be adopted.

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