Kelly Lessard
Public Relations
Minnesota Zoo
13000 Zoo Boulevard
Apple Valley, MN 55124
952.431.9217 direct
952.431.9300 fax kelly.lessard@state.mn.us
Press Releases
New Gray Wolf on Exhibit at the Minnesota Zoo Striking new wolf accompanies resident female; Zoo hoping for love connection
Apple Valley, MN – January 25, 2012 – The Minnesota Zoo has a striking new gray wolf on exhibit – quite noticeable by his beautiful, dark black fur.
The male wolf, who is nearly two years old, came to Minnesota from Quebec. Although he is still a bit shy and getting used to his new home, the Zoo hopes he will breed with its resident female in the near future.
About Gray Wolves
A symbol of strength, wilderness, and family bonds, gray wolves are integral to Minnesota’s northern ecosystems. Minnesota packs live in the state’s northern forests, although in recent years they have been moving as far south as Lake Mille Lacs. They are also found in other northern areas of the United States, Alaska, and Canada.
Living in highly-socialized packs, wolves usually avoid people, often roaming a territory of 25 to 150 square miles. Their grizzly coats can be varying shades of gray mixed with brown, white, or black markings. A thick undercoat provides insulation and long guard hairs keep out moisture. Long legs and large paws provide support in the snow.
Gray wolves have long, bushy tails which they hold straight out when on the move.
Wolves are social animals. They hunt together, eat together, and play together in packs. Gray wolves prey on a variety of large and small animals, including beaver and moose, and will also scavenge carrion.
Statewide conservation attempts with gray wolves have proven successful; they were taken off the endangered species list last year.
Gray Wolf Fun Facts:
Pups weigh just one pound when born. They start out blind and deaf, completely dependent on their mother for food and protection.
Gray wolves eat an average of 3-5 pounds of meat daily, but can gorge themselves on up to 20 pounds in one sitting.
Although considered great hunters, Minnesota’s wolves only kill about one out of every five deer they stalk.
Wolf jaws can crush bones at a pressure of 1,500 pounds per square inch. (A human jaw: 300).
Gray wolves have a sense of smell 80 times stronger than humans.
After smell, hearing is wolves’ strongest sense. Wolves cover large areas in their hunt for food. They can trot 40 miles without resting.
Gray wolves keep warm by growing thick coats. When they get warm, they shed their dense undercoats.
Big feet help them move in snow better than deer or moose.
Wolves have been clocked at 35 mph for short distances.
The Minnesota Zoo is open daily from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. The wolves can be seen in their exhibit on the Medtronic Minnesota Trail.
The Minnesota Zoo is located in Apple Valley, just minutes south of Mall of America. For more information, call 952.431.9500 or visit mnzoo.org. The Minnesota Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and an institutional member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).
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