V.

Reproduction and Life Span

It is believed that wolves mate for life. The alpha pair has exclusive breeding rights during mating season, which occurs during the spring. After a gestation of about two months, a litter of blackish-brown pups is born. Average litter size is 6 but can be as large as 14. For the first six weeks, the pups remain in the den, or lair, which may be a cave, a hollow tree trunk, or a thicket. At nine days old the pups open their eyes. After one month, they are gradually weaned and then fed regurgitated food by adult pack members. At 3 months they begin learning how to hunt, and by 18 months they are fully grown. Females reach maturity at two years of age, and males at three. The family remains together for at least two years, even when the mother breeds in successive years. Wolves generally live eight to ten years in the wild.