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Appearance of Mount McKinley Wolves
The gray wolf is aptly named for its gray coat. Most gray wolves around Mount McKinley weigh between 85 and 115 pounds. The highest recorded weight of a gray wolf is 145 pounds, but weights in this range are rare. Female wolves generally weigh ten or fifteen pounds less than their male counterparts. Despite their name, gray wolves can have many different colors of coat ranging from white to black. Some can even take on a reddish hue. Genetics determine the color of the coat, but the coats get lighter as the wolf ages.
Appeal of Mount McKinley
The mountain is an attractive location for gray wolves to establish their territory. They live in packs, usually between ten and twenty wolves, although larger packs have been observed. The mountain is surrounded by forests, which is where gray wolves like to hunt for food. It is also located along McKinley River which provides a constant water source.
Diet of Mount McKinley Wolves
The gray wolf is a carnivore, meaning its diet consists mostly of meat. Moose and caribou are plentiful around the forests of Mount McKinley, making them the wolf's primary food source. In the summer when food is sparse, they will pursue birds or catch fish from the nearby McKinley River. These wolves pursue their prey as a pack and then share the food.
Management of Mount McKinley Wolves
In Alaska, and especially around Mount McKinley, the gray wolf population is so high that measures have to be taken to control the population. Hunting gray wolves is encouraged, and the laws regulating it are very hunter-friendly. Hunters are even allowed to shoot gray wolves from helicopters or airplanes. The wolf management program is highly controversial amongst environmentalists from other areas of the world. They argue that the gray wolf as predator is not the sole problem with the population, but the Alaskan government, as of 2011, sees otherwise.