Mammal
Gray Wolf
Canis lupus
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Common Names
Timber Wolf, Grey Wolf
Habitat
Open plains, forests, and mountainous regions across the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains
First Observed
1804-09-18
Observed At
Near present-day Gregory County, South Dakota, along the Missouri River
The gray wolf was one of the most commonly encountered predators throughout the expedition. Lewis and Clark noted wolves following bison herds across the Great Plains, and the animals were so abundant that the Corps often heard them howling at night. Wolf skins were an important trade commodity among the Plains tribes, exchanged for guns, powder, lead, and blankets.
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Gray Wolf
Jul
7
1804
Clark: July 7, 1804
...the Sun, Saw a large rat on the Side of the bank, Killed a
wolf on the Bank passed (2) a verry narrow part of the river, all confined
within 200 yards, a yellow b...
Jul
20
1804
Clark: July 20, 1804
...raries without Seeing any, I killed an
emence large yellow Wolf-The Countrey throu which we walked after leaveing
the Creek was good land covered with Grass inter...
Aug
12
1804
Clark: August 12, 1804
...t 5 oClock Cap L. & My Self wen on Shore to
Shoot a Prarie wolf which was barking at us as we passed This Prarie Wolf
barked like a large fest and is not much lar...
Sep
17
1804
Clark: September 17, 1804
...Coloured woolf Covered
with hair & corse fur, also a Small wolf with a large bushey tailSome
Goats of a Different Kind Seen to day,Great many Plumbs, rabits,
Por...
Sep
18
1804
Clark: September 18, 1804
Septr. 18 I Killed a prarie wolf to day about the Sise of a Gray fox with
a bushey tail the head and ears like a Fox wolf, and bark...
Sep
21
1804
Clark: September 21, 1804
...ers a head left a Deer & its
Skin also the Skin of a white wolfwe observe an emence number of Plover of
Different kind Collecting and takeing their flight Souther...
Apr
3
1805
Clark: April 3, 1805
...ountains.
No. 12. The bones & Skeleton of a Small burrowing wolf of the Praries
the Skin being lost by accident.
No. 99 The Skeliton of the white and Grey hare.
Bo...
May
5
1805
Lewis: May 5, 1805
...heir tallons are reather longer than those of the ordinary
wolf or that common to the atlantic states, none of which are to be found
in this quarter, nor I believ...
May
8
1805
Lewis: May 8, 1805
...er, goats
beaver and wolves. Capt C. killed a beaver and a wolf, the party killed 3
beaver and a deer. We can send out at any time and obtain whatever species
of...
May
25
1805
Lewis: May 25, 1805
...the rocks in the faces of inacessable precepices, where the wolf nor
bear can reach them and where indeed man himself would in many instancies
find a similar defi...
May
25
1805
Clark: May 25, 1805
...he rocks in the face of inaccessable precepices, where the
wolf nor Bear Can reach them, and where indeed man himself would in maney
instances find a Similar defi...
Jun
14
1805
Lewis: June 14, 1805
...led me directly to an anamal that I at first supposed was a wolf; but on
nearer approach or about sixty paces distant I discovered that it was not,
it's colour wa...
Jul
18
1805
Lewis: July 18, 1805
...
in fact they are perfectly secure from the pursuit of the wolf, bear, or
even man himself.at the distance of 21/2 miles we passed the
entrance of a considerable...
Aug
21
1805
Clark: August 21, 1805
...egins & robes of different animals, Beaver, Bear, Buffalow, wolf
Panthor, Ibex, Sheep Deer, but most commonly the antilope Skins which they
ware loosely about the...
Aug
23
1805
Clark: August 23, 1805
...nd fish until my return. I proceeded on
Somtims in a Small wolf parth & at other times Climeing over the rocks
for 12 miles to a large Creek on the right Side abo...
