Wolves, as animals, transcend culture like no other animal. Nearly every group of humans who lived alongside wolves had a special symbolism for them. It’s no wonder these canines have this kind of effect on people with their majestic appearance.
The Largest Wolves
With wolves distributed in nearly every corner of the globe, they come in various shapes and sizes. Here are some of the largest wolves that roam our planet and where to find them if you’re brave enough to look. An important note is that we’ll be looking at the weight on average, not the heaviest.
1. Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf
The northern rocky mountain wolf is its beast, standing in some cases at 2.8 feet high when on all fours. They weigh 110 pounds and have a flattened front bone to recognize them. The wolves live in the Rocky Mountains. They were recently taken off the endangered species list but will take years to fully recover.
2. Northwestern Wolf
The northwestern wolf is no slouch either, weighing an astounding 105.5 pounds on average. They can be over six feet long to make them even more intimidating. They can be found in the western U.S., western Canada, and Alaska. They can boost their running speed to 40 miles an hour when they need to catch their prey.
3. Interior Alaskan Wolf
The interior Alaskan Wolf is a behemoth in its own right, weighing 105 pounds on average like the northwestern wolf. However, the biggest examples of their species are still smaller than their northwestern cousins. As their name suggests, they live in remote regions of interior Alaska. In the late 1930s, an individual was reported to have weighed a massive 212 pounds, but it might have had over 20 pounds of moose still digesting in its stomach.
4. Eurasian Wolf
The Eurasian wolf roams eastern Europe and western Asia. They can be found in dense forests and the startlingly cold regions of Siberia. This species is the pinnacle of adaptation. They weigh 90 pounds on average.
5. Himalayan Wolf
The Himalayan wolf lives in the higher regions of the Himalayas and is scarcely seen by people. On average, it weighs 93.5 pounds and is adapted to harsh conditions—living 12,000 feet above sea level, where oxygen is much thinner.
6. Arctic Wolf
The Arctic Wolf is acclimatized to remote Arctic regions and weighs an average of 90 pounds. It can travel huge distances in search of food, with some packs moving more than 1,500 miles.
7. Mongolian Wolf
The Mongolian wolf is on the smaller side of this list. It weighs 70 pounds on average, and this is mostly due to its short legs. They can be found in northern and central China, Mongolia, North Korea, and even parts of Russia.
8. Red Wolf
The red wolf weighs 63 pounds on average and is critically endangered. The animals live in the wilderness of Northern Carolina in very small numbers. The biggest red wolf population is in captivity, with only an estimated 14 in the wild.
Source:
The 11 Largest Wolves in the World
Stay connected with us for more stories like this! Follow us to get the latest updates or hit the Follow button at the top of this article, and let us know what you think by leaving your feedback below. We’d love to hear from you!
