Gray wolves (Canis lupus) share a common ancestor with our pet dogs. They are the largest wild member of the canine family, with males weighing up to 79.3 kilograms (175 pounds). Despite their name, gray wolves can be white, brown, black, or any combination of those colors. They live in a variety of habitats, from cold Alaskan forests to hot Mexican deserts. Gray wolves are social animals and live and hunt in packs. As predators, they help control white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), elk (Cervus canadensis), and bison (Bison bison) populations. This in turn protects native plants and keeps the ecosystem healthy.

Gray wolves once lived throughout North America, but by the 1950s, overhunting had reduced their numbers in the United States. In the 1970s, gray wolves were added to the endangered species list. They made such a great comeback that by 2021, most U.S. populations were delisted. Conflicts between wolves and livestock led some states to resume hunting and capturing wolves; these practices are again threatening populations in those states. Policies that put limits on wolf hunting would likely help gray wolf populations and the ecosystems they help balance.