Even the data kept on the wolves released into Yellowstone reveals several wolves that were 138-139 pounds at the time of their release...and these are wolves that had been on the USFWS version of the South Beach Diet...receiving barely sufficient viddles while in captivity.
Plus, you don't think USFWS went to the expense they did to bring in truly mature wolves of 8 to 10 years old do you?
http://www.yellowstone.net/wildlife/wolf.htmThis link contains a picture of the Pelican Valley wolf that tipped the scales at 143 lb.:
http://www.carnivoraforum.com/index.cgi ... hread=4453Those that outfit hunts in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan who have had a number of clients tag wolves that weighed 140 to 150 pounds...and that's where these wolves came from.
Those of you reading this, and disputing their size are spouting info from the Defenders of Wildlife wolf-lovers handbook.
What separates one wolf subspecies from another is primarily their size...and the Canis lupus columbianus...Canis lupus occidentalis...and Canis lupus griseoalbus subspecies illegally (violating the Endangered Species Act) brought here by USFWS are all classified as "large wolves" - meaning at maturity, adult males commonly weigh 130 to 140 pounds (with some topping that).
The wolf that was
native here was Canis lupus irremotus, a "medium wolf" - meaning that at maturity, adult males commonly weighed 75 to 80 pounds.