Wolves & Their Prey in the Grasslands

Wolves of the Grasslands

• Grassland wolves are typically species of gray wolf (Canis lupus) which inhabit North America, parts of Northern Asia and Europe. They can weigh up to 120 pounds and can be as tall as 34 inches from shoulder to paw (wolves only raise their heads above their shoulders when they are alert). They can run up to 34 miles per hour for as long as 20 minutes. Wolves have strong senses of hearing and night vision, which compensate for a sense of smell which is weak compared to that of hunting dogs and other canines.

Grasslands

• Grasslands are known by several different names, depending on where they are located. In the United States they're called "prairies," in South America they're called "pampas" and in Africa they are known as "savannas." They all refer to grassy areas in temperate or tropical climates that receive too much rainfall to be described as a desert, but not enough to produce forests or lush vegetation. Wolves and their prey live in temperate grasslands.

Prey

• Wolves are mainly carnivorous; they consume an average of 3-10 pounds of meat per day, though they can last up to 14 days without meat. As such, most of their diet consists of other animals. Wolves especially like hoofed animals such as moose, deer and elk. When such animals are scarce, wolves will eat smaller animals such as beavers and rodents. They will also eat grass and wild berries to cleanse their digestive systems and to supplement their meals if larger animals are difficult to find and kill.

Wolves' Hunting Habits

• Wolves hunt in packs. A pack will usually consist of 5-11 wolves, though packs of 42 wolves have also been witnessed in the wild. The adults and juveniles will work together to bring down large prey like a bison or a moose, focusing on the smallest and weakest members in order to make the kill easier. Wolf pups, being too small and weak to help the older pack members hunt, often practice their hunting skills on small rodents, though they will only eat them if food is scarce. Wolves eat their prey quickly before other predators, like the grizzly bear, come to steal it.