Wolves once had the largest natural range of any terrestrial mammal except man. Their original range in North America extended from Central Mexico north to Ellesmere Island. Currently, the only significant populations in North America are in Canada, Alaska, and northern Minnesota.
Wolves are nocturnal or crepuscular (meaning that they come out at twilight);
diurnal activity is not uncommon, especially during cool weather and in winter.
Almost entirely carnivorous, wolves prey primarily on large mammals. These
include moose, caribou, wapiti (North American elk), deer, bison, mountain
sheep, and mountain goats. A group of wolves can even kill an adult black
bear. Wolves also prey on cattle and other domestic species, which has led to
their wholesale slaughter in the Western Hemisphere. However, wolf predation
of livestock is very small with perhaps only 30-35 wolves a year attacking
domestic animals. An adult wolf can consume 20 lbs or more meat at a single
feeding, though average intake is around 6-13 lbs per day. As a general rule,
wolves can consume up to 1/5 of their body weight. Wolves also consume beaver,
hares, small rodents, birds, frogs, lizards, fruit and carrion.
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