Wolves live in lots of different places around the world. They like places where there is enough food and space for their pack. Common homes for wolves include:

• Forests — where there are trees and deer or elk to hunt.
• Tundra and the Arctic — some wolves (like Arctic wolves) live in very cold, open areas.
• Mountains — they can live high up where it is rocky and snowy.
• Grasslands and prairies — wide open areas where they can find animals to eat.
• Desert edges and scrublands — a few kinds of wolves (for example, the Mexican wolf) live in drier places.

Wolves usually make a den for their pups. A den can be a cave, an empty burrow dug by another animal, a hollow log, or a spot under tree roots. Packs also have a territory — an area they travel, hunt, and protect. Some territories are pretty small, but others can be very large (many square miles or kilometers). Wolves mark and defend their territory with scent and howling so other packs know it is taken.

You can find wolves in parts of North America (Canada, Alaska, and some parts of the United States), much of northern Europe, and large areas of Asia (like Russia and Siberia). They usually stay away from big cities but sometimes come closer to towns if food is near.

Would you like to see a map of where wolves live or learn about a wolf that lives near your country?

Short answer: No — wolves are usually not a threat to people. Wolves are shy and try to stay away from humans. Most of the time they live far from towns and avoid people. Attacks on people are extremely rare and have usually happened only in special situations, for example when a wolf is sick with rabies, when wolves have learned to get food from people (like being fed or taking garbage), or when wild food is very scarce.

What you can do to stay safe:

• Never try to feed or touch a wolf. Feeding them makes them lose their fear of people.
• If you see a wolf, do not run. Running can make it chase. Stand still or slowly back away while facing the wolf.
• Make yourself look bigger by raising your arms and speaking loudly and firmly. This usually scares a wolf away.
• Keep pets and small children close, especially at dawn or dusk when wolves are more active.
• If you are camping, keep food stored safely and clean up so you don’t attract wildlife.
• Tell a parent or local wildlife authorities if a wolf is acting strangely or seems too comfortable around people.

Why wolves are important: Wolves help keep nature healthy by controlling numbers of other animals and keeping ecosystems balanced. The best thing we can do is respect them and give them space.

Most wolves live about 6 to 8 years in the wild. Some wolves can live longer — up to 10–13 years or even a little more — but many do not because of sickness, injuries, fights, or lack of food. Wolves that live in zoos or wildlife parks usually live longer, often 12 to 16 years (and sometimes around 20) because they have regular food and veterinary care. Lifespan can also change a bit depending on the kind of wolf and where it lives, but 6–8 years in the wild is a good average to remember.

The scientific name for the gray wolf is Canis lupus (pronounced KAY-nis LOO-pus). “Canis” means dog and “lupus” means wolf. (Domestic dogs are often called Canis lupus familiaris because they are considered a subspecies of the wolf.)