Minnesota State Mammal
Eastern Timber Wolf (common name) Canis lupus lycaon (scientific name) Overview Minnesota has no official state animal, but the eastern timber wolf won the state schoolchildren’s vote in 2000, and its official adoption as state animal was the subject of legislation that year. Though these wolves were once common in Minnesota and across the northern U.S., there are very few live, wild wolves in the state at the moment. The animals were hunted to near-extinction in the U.S. by the beginning of the 20th century, and most of the surviving eastern timber wolves live in western Canada. Doglike wolves need a lot of space, often up to 120 square miles (310 sq km), and have trouble finding it due to increasing urbanization. Different packs may peaceably have bordering territories or even share up to a mile of space, but more than that is uncommon. Close-up STATUS Unofficial PHYSICAL DETAILS The eastern timber wolf resembles a large, thin dog, about twice as big as a coyote but smaller than its relative, the gray wolf. Wolves have narrower chests, longer legs, and bigger feet than most dogs, with bigger heads and cheek hair tufts. A wolf may hold its black-tipped tail down or straight up, but never curls it. Wolves have brown-gray fur, though their bellies are often much lighter, usually tan to cream. These wolves have dark hair on their sides and back, which is darker in winter than in summer. Their ears are upright with light-colored hair inside, their eyes are gold, and their noses black or very dark brown.    Males Females Size Height at shoulder 28–32 in (71–81 cm) Height at shoulder 26–30 in (66–76 cm) Weight 70–110 lbs (32–50 kg); average 75 lbs (34 kg) 50–80 lbs (22–36 kg); average 60 lbs (27 kg) LIFESPAN Up to 19 years; average of 13 years in the wild HABITAT Forest and swamp borders, sparsely forested areas, and places with mixed fields and woodland openings. Range: Formerly the U.S. northeast from New York State to Maine. Now limited population across the Great Lakes region and in western Canada. Conservation Status: Endangered throughout the U.S. except in Minnesota, where they are considered threatened. Wolves of all kinds were hunted to near-extinction in the U.S. by the beginning of the 20th century. BEHAVIOR Wolves live in packs, which are families of a mated male and female and their young, who stay with their parents until they are between one and two years old. The mating pair is always clearly dominant. They walk with their heads and tails up, while the other members of the pack walk with their tails down and lower their heads and bodies when approaching the dominant pair. Wolves communicate by making sounds, by the way they stand, and by leaving scent marks. As young wolves mature, they gradually leave the pack to search for a mate and their own territory. Wolves see, hear, and smell well and spend up to 10 hours per day moving around their territory, usually at about 5 mph (8 kph). When hunting, a pack may travel 40 miles (64 km) in a single day. Usually only the breeding pair reproduces, mating in January or February. Gestation is 63 days. Pups are born both blind and deaf, but can hear after about two weeks. At three to six weeks old, pups can leave the den, and at six months they are old enough to hunt with their pack. Mature wolves that leave the pack often travel hundreds of miles to find a suitable home. Top land speed recorded: 40 mph (64 kph) DIET White-tailed deer, moose, beaver, small mammals such as mice and squirrels. OFFSPRING Breeding interval: Annual Birthing period: March–April Average litter size: 4–7 pups Size at birth: 1 pound TRIVIA It’s easy to tell whether tracks were left by a dog or a wolf. Wolves step into the track left by their front foot with their back foot, overlapping their own tracks. Dogs do not. When wolves hunt deer, they usually target animals that are weak or ill. The National Basketball Association (NBA) team based in Minneapolis is called the Minnesota Timberwolves.
	Click to enlarge an image Eastern Timber Wolf Pack of Wolves Timber Wolf with Winter Fur CLASSIFICATION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Genus: Canis Species: C. lycaon
	Data Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Author: World Tra