01 Dec,2023
Credit: Google Images
The Vancouver Island wolf, also known as the coastal wolf or sea wolf (Canis lupus crassodon) is a subspecies of grey wolf, endemic to the coast of the Pacific Northwest.
Credit: Google Images
Vancouver Island wolves measure between 4 and 5 feet from nose to tail-tip, and are noticeably lighter than their interior counterparts, weighing between 29 and 40 kilos (65-90lbs), as opposed to the 36 to 68 kilos (80-150lbs) of a mainland British Columbia wolf.
As with other wolves, there is a difference in size between the sexes, with males being larger than females.
Credit: Google Images
The colour of their coat ranges between individuals, with varying degrees of reddish-brown, grey, beige, and white fur, though entirely white[2] and melanistic individuals are seen on occasion.
Credit: Google Images
Vancouver Island wolves range from southern Alaska, down along the coast of British Columbia, including within the Great Bear Rainforest.
Credit: Google Images
Vancouver Island wolves have a diverse diet, with between 75 and 90 percent of it being sourced from the ocean.
Along the coast, they will forage for barnacles, clams, mussels, and crabs, digging into the sand with their paws and using powerful jaw muscles to break open shells.