When the word wolf is mentioned, most conjure up a mental image of White Fang sitting all alone on a mountain top howling at the moon.
However, there is much more to the largest member of the dog family than the fictionalized characters and reputations. Historically, Gray wolves (Canis lupus) were the most widely distributed mammals in the world, being found throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. However, with human expansion overtaking their native wilderness and fear of the predator on the rise, the range and population of wolves dramatically decreased. They are now considered extirpated or extinct in western Europe, Mexico and much of the United States. However, with controlled reintroductions and conservation efforts, current population numbers of remaining gray wolves are stable.
Three male Gray wolves, Loki, Tundra and Lobo, are on exhibit near the Arctic Encounter on the North Side of the Toledo Zoo. Walk around their outdoor exhibit and step inside the Wolf Cabin to learn more about these amazing predators. There is much more than what meets the eye to these mysterious and majestic creatures!
