INTRODUCTION MEET THE GRAY WOLF Gray wolves roam through a snowy forest in search of prey Their howls echo through the trees Gray wolves are mammals a kind of animal Other kinds of animals you may know are insects fish amphibians reptiles and birds Gray wolves stay alert in case prey is nearby
All mammals share certain features They are vertebrates animals with backbones that have fur or hair All mammals are warm blooded and all mammal mothers make milk to feed their babies Most mammals give birth to live young although a few lay eggs Gray wolves share these traits with other mammals They also have traits that set them apart
CHAPTER 1 WHAT DO GRAY WOLVES LOOK LIKE Gray wolves are the largest member of the wild dog family This family also includes dogs coyotes and jackals Grown wolves are about the size of a German Shepherd dog Male wolves are larger than females Gray wolves cross forests grasslands and tundra The powerful bodies of gray wolves are built for traveling Long legs carry the wolves through heavy snow Large feet help them walk on crusted snow without breaking through Two layers of thick fur keep them warm DID YOU KNOW A large male gray wolf can eat 20 POUNDS 9 kilograms of meat fat and bones in a single meal
Despite the gray wolf's name its fur can be a range of colors Gray wolves have long bushy tails and coats that come in a mix of colors These furry hunters may be gray brown white or black They have long muzzles and sensitive noses for sniffing out prey They grab prey such as moose and deer with their strong jaws and tear meat apart with their sharp teeth
