Source: The Wolf / David Mech
AGE | SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT | DEVELOPMENT PERIOD | GROWTH PERIOD | APPROXIMATE WEIGHT(Lbs) |
Birth | - | Neonatal | Maximal growth | 0.5 - 1.0 |
11 - 15 days | Eyes open | Transition | - | 3.5 |
20 days | Hearing begins | Period of Socialization |
- | 7.0 |
21 days | First emergence from den |
- | - | - |
35 days | Weaning | - | - | 13.0 |
8 - 10 weeks | Pups abandon den & live in temporary rendezvous sites |
- |
- |
15.0-22.0 |
11 weeks | - | Juvenile | - | 20.0-30.0 |
14 weeks | - | - | Rapid growth | 25.0-45.0 |
16 - 26 weeks | Milk teeth replaced; winter pelage becomes apparent |
- | - | 28.0-70.0 |
27 - 32 weeks | Pups travel with the pack |
- | Slow growth | 30.0-80.0 |
1 year | Epiphyseal cartilage closes |
- | End of bone growth | 60.0-100.0 |
22 months | Sexual maturity | Adulthood | - | - |
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Wolf pup +/- 14 days old © Wolf Song of Alaska |
Wolf pup +/- 3 months old © Wolf Song of Alaska |
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Sub-adult © Wolf Song of Alaska |
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Adult male © Wolf Song of Alaska |
X-rays of a 7 week-old male Canadian wolf pup
showing signs of metabolic bone disease.
Source: Monty Sloan / Wolf Park
Red Wolf Pups