A pack-living canid of Eurasia and North America. It uses habitats ranging from forests and tundra to grasslands.
Despite the name grey wolf, its fur is not always grey: white, brown and black also occur.
Some wolves in northern Minnesota catch fish in shallow streams. They wait on the bank or wade, then plunge their snouts into the water to seize a fish. Spring streams can become hunting grounds.
From 2017 to 2021, researchers used tracking collars and cameras in and around Voyageurs National Park. Ten collared wolves were documented fishing. Where fish were identified in successful captures, they were white suckers. Much of the fishing occurred during the spring spawning season.
Three camera events showed wolves leaving fish on the bank; in two, they returned to the creek. Wolves also returned in response to splashing. Alongside pursuit hunting, their streamside behaviour combined waiting, catching and carrying fish ashore.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Minnesota manages wolves with the goals of long-term survival and reducing conflicts with people. Its 2022 plan includes population monitoring and responses to livestock depredation. The state’s published 2024 mortality records include vehicle collisions and illegal snares, illustrating regional problems associated with human activities.