American Wolf
CR

American Wolf

Canis lupus

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The wolf faces severe population declines due to extensive habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and systematic persecution across much of its historical range. Livestock predation leads to retaliatory killings, while expanding human development continues to reduce and fragment suitable wilderness areas. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, but multiple threats continue to impact wolf populations globally.

Threat summary

Habitat

Wolves occupy diverse habitats including boreal and temperate forests, tundra, grasslands, and mountainous regions, typically requiring large territories with adequate prey populations and minimal human disturbance. They prefer wilderness areas and semi-wild landscapes that can support viable populations of ungulate prey species.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Canidae

CulpeoVU

Culpeo

Lycalopex culpaeus

Unknown
Bush DogVU

Bush Dog

Speothos venaticus

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Arctic FoxCR

Arctic Fox

Vulpes lagopus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is American Wolf classified as Critically Endangered?
American Wolf is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The wolf faces severe population declines due to extensive habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict, and systematic persecution across much of its historical range. Livestock predation leads to retaliatory killings, while expanding human development continues to reduce and fragment suitable wilderness areas. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, but multiple threats continue to impact wolf populations globally.
Where does American Wolf live?
American Wolf occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to American Wolf?
The main threats to American Wolf are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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