The Secret Life of the Algonquin Park Wolves

The majestic Algonquin Park Wolf is a fascinating creature that has drawn many interested explorers to the park over the years.  Noticeably smaller than their relatives living further North, and with a gray-brown and reddish colour, the Algonquin Park Wolf or “Eastern Wolf” is considered a subspecies of the Gray Wolf (canis lupis).

Algonquin Provincial Park is one of the largest protected zones for the Eastern Wolf.  In May of 2001 the Eastern Wolf was designated as a ‘Species of Special Concern” and a hunting ban was placed on the Park.  As the wolves are safe from hunting here, they continue to be the top predators in Algonquin Park and one very valuable member of it’s ecosystem.

Wolves around the world live in packs.  There are believed to be about 35 wolf packs living in Algonquin Park at this time.  Wolves are very social and communicative animals – howls and growling are used to communicate with eachother.  In fact, when wolves are hunting they often don’t make these noises so as not to scare off their prey.  Wolves work together to hunt in their packs, and have become specialists in taking down larger prey, such as moose or deer.

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