![]() ![]() As they eliminate only weak animals from the pack, the pack becomes stronger and healthier overall. Ecological nicheĮastern wolves are keystone predators because of their help in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. It has been also found that Arctic wolves scavenge through garbage. They have also been found to prey on lemmings, caribou, Arctic foxes, birds, and beetles. Most Eastern wolves live in central Ontario and western Quebec the highest population densities are found in Algonquin Provincial Park (Ontario, Canada). In the wild, Arctic wolves primarily prey on muskoxen and Arctic hares. ![]() ![]() Population numberĪccording to the Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) resource the total population size of the Eastern wolf is less than 500 individuals. Hunting in packs allows wolves to kill larger animals. Each pack has a dominant male and female who mate for life and are the only couple that breeds. They live in packs with a complex social order. Habitat loss and fragmentation due to roading networks and urbanization is another threat to population expansion, as well as negative public attitudes towards them, and established eastern coyote territories. Arctic wolves have white fur year-round to blend in with their snowy environment. Research in Algonquin Park has shown that large numbers of deaths probably limit dispersal and change pack breeding dynamics, causing another main threat: cross-breeding with eastern coyotes due to the scarcity of eastern wolves as mates. The main threat outside protected areas is probably from hunting and trapping, facilitated by roading networks. ![]()
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