What does the size of a gray wolf pack depend on?

Wolves usually travel in packs and establish territories ranging from 30 to more than 500 square miles. They define their ranges with scent markings and such vocalizations as growls, barks and their legendary howl.

In regions like the desert where typical prey is small, packs may consist of 7 or less, instead of 30 or more where prey is large. There is a clearly defined dominance hierarchy in the pack, the nucleus of which is the breeding (alpha) pair, who mate for life. Additional members include offspring and "helpers."

Wolves eat a wide variety of food, including small animals like mice and squirrels, large animals like deer and moose and sometimes, carrion and plant material. Animals killed are usually young, old, or otherwise impaired and weaker than others.

Wolves often prey on domestic animals because of their vulnerability, which has resulted in the wolf's persecution by poisoning, trapping, and shooting. Attacks on humans are rare and believed to occur only in isolated cases of famine or an epidemic among wolf populations.