The gray wolf is the ancestor of the domestic dog, though you would never see one in any car beds, and the largest existing wild member of the Canidae family. In the past, gray wolves numbered many in much of Eurasia, North America and North Africa but now their geographic range has lessened as have their numbers. This is due to human encroachment and the destruction of the wolf’s territory.

Social predators, gray wolves live in nuclear families which are a mated pair preside over. Wolf pairs are known to not just look after their own offspring but to often adopt immature wolves. Gray wolves are apex predators with only tigers and humans posing any significant threats to them. Wolves are generally monogamous and mated pair usually remain together for the duration of their lives. Unpaired females are a rarity as males usually predominate in any given wolf population. Females usually have just one cub at a time rather than multiple litters, if there is more than one the female is likely to turn to infanticide.