Fun Kenai Peninsula Wolf Facts For Kids

The Kenai Peninsula Wolves (Canis lupus alces) are an extinct subspecies of the Gray Wolf. They are also known as the Kenai Peninsula Grey Wolf. Up until 1915, these wolves lived in the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska in North America. A gold rush in the late 19th century resulted in them being exterminated via hunting and trapping, by humans. Kenai Peninsula Wolves were big creatures, as much as 5-7 ft long, and 35-44 inches tall. They are believed to have evolved to be this big to be able to hunt their preferred prey, moose or elk. Their scientific name comes from Canis lupus alces, which comes from the scientific name of moose, Alces alces. They were also known to prey on other large ungulates. Their average lifespans was 7-10 years. The Kenai Peninsula Grey Wolf population was declared extinct by the year 1925, however, the Kenai Peninsula began being repopulated by other wolves from 1960 onwards. A part of their DNA may have been carried to the present by current wolf species that now inhabit the Kenai Peninsula.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other insects including the Tundra Wolf or the Arctic Wolf here.

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What type of animal is a Kenai Peninsula Wolf?

The Kenai Peninsula Wolf (Canis lupus alces) is a wolf.

What class of animal does a Kenai Peninsula Wolf belong to?

The Kenai Peninsula Grey Wolf (Canis lupus alces) belongs to the mammal class of animals.

How many Kenai Peninsula Wolves are there in the world?

There are no Kenai Peninsula Wolves left in the world.

Where does a Kenai Peninsula Wolf live?

The Kenai Peninsula Wolf (Canis lupus alces) favored the Kenai Peninsula's woods, forests, and wetlands when they were alive.

What is a Kenai Peninsula Wolf's habitat?

The Kenai Peninsula Wolf (Canis lupus alces) was native to the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska in North America until they were exterminated by humans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They roamed freely and favored the natural terrains and flora of the Kenai Peninsula, which were the woods, forests, and wetlands.

Who do Kenai Peninsula Wolves live with?

The Kenai Peninsula may have lived alone or as is custom for most wolves, in packs.

How long does a Kenai Peninsula Wolf live?

The Kenai Peninsula Wolf lived anywhere between 7-10 years.

How do they reproduce?

Kenai Peninsula reproduced by mating and giving birth to live ones.

What is their conservation status?

The Conservation Status of the Kenai Peninsula Wolf is 'Extinct'.

What do Kenai Peninsula Wolves look like?

The Kenai Peninsula Wolves had grown to be a truly large gray wolf species. They were 5-7 ft (150-215 cm) long from nose to tail, and they measured 35-44 in (89-112 cm), from the ground to the shoulder. It is believed that they evolved to be this big to hunt their favored prey, moose. Being a gray wolf subspecies, the Kenai Peninsula Wolf most probably had a coat and fur that were white, black, and silver-gray in color. It was fairly heavy, weighing around 150-200 lb (68-91 kg). The Kenai Peninsula Wolf species resembled gray wolves of today in appearance, and they had thick coats, seeing that they lived in Alaska.

How cute are they?

Kenai Peninsula Wolves can be considered to have been very cute animals. Wolves are essentially large, wild dogs that haven't been tamed. And much like dogs, they had 'emotive' faces. They have much thicker fur and infinitely more majestic appearances. Being wolves, they also extremely smart animals.

How do they communicate?

Kenai Peninsula Wolves, much like other wolves, used many different ways to communicate, such as howling, sniffing, body language, and touching.

How big is a Kenai Peninsula Wolf?

The typical Kenai Peninsula Wolf size was 5-7 ft (150-215 cm) long, and 35 to 44 in (89-112 cm) tall, which makes it about seven times bigger than a Chihuahua dog.

How fast can a Kenai Peninsula Wolf run?

Being gray wolves, the Kenai Peninsula Wolf species have been able to run around 31-38 mph (50-60 kph).

How much does a Kenai Peninsula Wolf weigh?

A Kenai Peninsula Wolf species weighed anywhere between 150-200 lb (68-91 kg).

What are their male and female names of the species?

Just like domesticated dogs, male and female Kenai Peninsula Wolves were called dogs and bitches.

What would you call a baby Kenai Peninsula Wolf?

A baby Peninsula Wolf would be referred to as a pup.

What do they eat?

Kenai Peninsula Wolves preferred to eat moose and other large ungulates.

Are they dangerous?

Kenai Peninsula Wolves may have been dangerous to humans, but when humans moved to Kenai Peninsula, they were killed by gold miners from 1895 onwards, before going extinct in 1915.

Would they make a good pet?

Kenai Peninsula Wolves are extinct, so there is no possibility of taking them as pets.

Did you know...

The Kenai Penisula wolf, endemic to Alaska, was only one of four subspeices identified by Edward A. Goldman.

Size of the Kenai Peninsula Wolf

The Kenai Peninsula Wolves were 5 to 7 ft (150-215 cm) long and 35 to 44 in (89-112 cm) tall. This makes them as tall or slightly loner than a typical human. They weighed 150-200 lb (68-91 kg).

The biggest wolf still in existence is the Mackenzie Valley Wolf, also known as the Northeastern Wolf. The typical height of this wolf is  81-102cm (32-40 in), and the typical length is 5-7 ft (150-215 cm). This means the Kenai Peninsula Wolf was among the biggest wolves to have existed, probably than any other current wolf.

The Kenai Peninsula Wolf evolution

Up until the year 1885, the Kenai Peninsula Wolf population was stable in Alaska. But then, a gold rush hit the Peninsula which brought in many gold miners looking to make it rich. Fearing a rabies outbreak due to the Kenai Peninsula Wolves, these miners began poisoning and hunting them. These wolves were also used for their fur and pelt and fur. By 1915, all the Kenai Peninsula Wolves had fallen victim to hunting and trapping by such predator control programs, and by 1925 they officially extinct.

The DNA of Kenai Peninsula Wolves, however, might possibly live on. The mainland Alaska Wolves have DNA that is very similar to the extinct Kenai Peninsula Wolves. This may be because the at some point, a few Kenai and mainland wolves may have occasionally mated. It could also mean that the Keni Peninsula Wolves had not yet developed significantly different genetic makeup than other wolves. In the 1960s, the Kenai Penisula had been once begun being populated by wolves.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals including wolf, or Mexican wolf.

You can even occupy yourself at home by drawing one on our Kenai peninsula wolf coloring pages.