THE WARY WOLF 155 



same wolf in Florida and Alaska, in Labrador 

 and Arizona. In different localities he varied 

 in size, colour, and minor characteristics; he 

 necessarily adapted himself to the food supply 

 of his locality and followed the necessary means 

 of getting his food. But everywhere he was 

 really the same gray wolf. 



The present wolf population of the United 

 States is not numerous; but it is active, ag- 

 gressive, and destructive. The animal prob- 

 ably has been exterminated in most of the 

 Eastern States and in California. The coyote 

 probably is economically more beneficial to 

 man than the gray wolf, and does less damage 

 to man's cattle. 



In common with most animals, wolves live 

 on a fixed or home range. They spend their 

 life in one locality. This has a diameter of 

 fifteen or twenty miles. To a certain extent 

 its area and form are dependent on the food 

 supply and the topography. One wolf that I 

 knew of had a home range that measured forty 

 by ten miles. 



Much of the time wolves run in pairs; and, 

 from both my own observation and that of 

 others, I believe they commonly mate for life. 

 Their home is a den. This most frequently is 

 upon a southern slope. It may be of their own 

 or a badger or a prairie-dog hole which 



