Wolf Stuffed Animal Toys & Facts

by citizen for boysenberry jam

We don't realize how lucky we are to be able to choose a wolf stuffed animal from the vast array of soft toy choices, given there was a time when, in many parts of the United States, the real thing had all but disappeared. To this day, wolves are very misunderstood animals so it's a good thing the same can't be said about the wolf stuffed animal.

By the time the 1970s rolled around, in the lower 48 United States, wolves had been hunted to extinction in order for both ranchers and farmers to protect their livestock. Given the wolves were the predators, there was nothing else to prey upon them except humans. Finally, after 30 years without them, researchers felt that in order to control rising populations such as cougar and elk, wolves needed to be reintroduced.

Fourteen wolves from the Canadian Rocky Mountains were transferred to Yellowstone National Park in the United States in 1995. The next year, another 17 wolves joined them. From the original 31, more than 1,000 healthy wolves are descendents and 150 of those still live inside the park boundaries. The question researchers had back in 2006 was: why were the wolves only dispersing at a rate of about 6.2 miles one tenth of their usual 62 mile disperse rate? The puzzle was finally solved by a team of mathematical biologists from the University of Alberta.

According to Dr. Mark Lewis, co-author of the study when the wolves travelled far distances in their new environment it was easy for them to lose track of their mates, and the further they travelled the less likely it is for them to find a mate. Ultimately, the wolves recolonization process was significantly slowed when there was the reduced possibility of them finding a mate. Despite the fact that the wolves were adapting well to their new home, researchers weren't so much concerned about their slow dispersal as they were puzzled by it all; as long as they are dispersing into uncharted territory, we expect the population to continue spreading at the slow rate - about 6.2 miles per year, said Dr. Mark Lewis.

Luckily, for the soft toy world, the wolf stuffed animal has made it's place amongst the numerous teddy bears, tigers, lions, and elephants, to name just a few.

Angeline Hope is a collector of large stuffed animals. You can view a selection of large stuffed animals including wolf stuffed animal toys at MyBigPlush.

Wolf Stuffed Animals & Facts

by cliff1066™

It's hard to imagine that a child would prefer wolf stuffed animals over a cherished teddy bear, but like all wild animals, they do have their place in the plush world. For anyone that is a collector of plush toys, in particular, wild animals, wolf stuffed animals make a wonderful addition to an already established collection. Even though wolf stuffed animals can look like the canine pet next door, they should never be mistaken for domesticated dogs. Despite that, they can still add both a uniqueness and charm to an already growing assortment of plush toys.

Wolves are members of the dog family. They live and hunt in packs which usually consists of six to ten animals. The family group, more commonly known as a wolfpack, is made up of a very strict hierarchy with the dominant male of the group being the leader and his mate next in line to him. Despite their fearsome reputations, wolves (like dogs) are actually very sociable and playful animals. All of the adults in a wolfpack help to care for the babies by bringing them food in addition to watching over them while others hunt.

Most wolves have grey coats and were once found all over the Northern Hemisphere. In the lower 48 United States, grey wolves have been hunted to near extinction. Some populations, however, have manged to survive, while still others have been re-introduced following strict hunting laws and captive breeding programs. There are still many grey wolves that inhabit parts of Alaska, Canada, and Asia.

Wolf stuffed animals are available in a wide range of colors though grey is the most common. Wild wolves have coats that can be anywhere from jet black to white (all Arctic wolves are white). Still others have salt and pepper type coats which can also be found in the plush fur bodies of some wolf stuffed animals.

Angeline Hope is a collector of huge stuffed animal toys. You can view a selection of huge stuffed animal toys including wolf stuffed animal toys at MyBigPlush.

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Wolf Plush Animals & Facts

by Quite Adept

When it comes to stuffed animals, most children can't be torn away from their cherished teddy bears. And why should they be? After all, teddy bears are as popular today as when they were first created in 1902. Since 1902, however, there is much more variety of stuffed animals to choose from. Despite the teddy's iconic status, it is possible for a child to enjoy and even embrace other kinds of plush toys. Take the wolf, for example. Some wolf plush are incredibly life-like and designed with luxurious, soft fur. Online stores carry just this type of wolf plush they have one that is three feet long and is absolutely gorgeous! It is a must have for anyone that has a penchant for stuffed animals, especially 'wild' ones.

When children learn that dogs are descended from wolves, their interest in wolf plush may peak. Wolves, in fact, are the largest members of the dog family. They are often misunderstood creatures, that have a long history with humans that is antagonistic at best. Gray wolves were all but wiped out in the lower 48 United States, though in recent years, breeding programs and strict laws regarding hunting has helped gray wolf populations bounce back. Unfortunately, gray wolves did not survive in Europe, but they can still be found in Alaska, Canada, and Asia - there are an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 wolves living in Canada alone.

In 1980, wild red wolves in the United Stated became extinct. With a small number of captured red wolves, scientists were able to establish breeding programs and then successfully reintroduced the animals in North Carolina. Today, red wolves are living in the southeastern U.S. with just 100 of them left in the wild.

Wolves live in families called packs that consist of a male, a female, and their pups which were born several years earlier. Wolf plush may further interest a child when they learn about the wolves social structure; they may be able to relate wolves back to their own family (father, mother, siblings). Wolves can have up to six pups (called litter mates) born in a litter. They are born with their eyes closed and weigh just one pound. After about 14 days, the pups open their eyes. By the time they are three weeks of age, they start on a diet of meat like their parents. Like most human families, all members of a wolf pack take turns caring for the pups; they will bring back food to the mother so she doesn't have to leave the pups; they will also babysit and play with them.

A child can learn a great deal about wolf plush by learning more about the animal they were designed for. Like all stuffed animals, a child knows that they are more than just a soft toy but companions and lifelong friends that both comfort them and join in their greatest adventures.

Angeline Hope is a collector of big plush toy animals. You can view a selection of big plush toys including wolf plush toys at MyBigPlush.

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Wolf Stuffed Animals & Facts

by roboM8

Wolf stuffed animals are not to be confused with dog stuffed animals, because simply put, wolves and dogs are not the same thing. While it's true dogs are decedents of the wolf, as we know, one is domestic and one is wild which is not the same at all.

Wolves are the largest wild member of the dog family and both their physical and behavioral characteristics are what distinguishes them from domestic dogs; wolves hunt together, cooperating with each other so they can successfully pursue, attack, and eat animals which are generally much larger than they are.

In North America, there are 24 recognized species of wolf. In terms of their physical appearance compared to other species in the same family coyotes and dogs there are differences. Wolves for example, range in weight from 75-115 pounds. Coyotes weigh as little as 25 pounds and as much as 35 pounds, while in dogs, weights can vary. Wolves are black and different shades of grey and tan -found mainly in north-western Montana. White wolves are found mostly in the Arctic, and grizzled in color and they are never spotted. Coyotes can be all shades of grey and tan, white or black, which is rare, and they are also never spotted. Dogs, on the other hand, vary in color and can be spotted (such as the Dalmatian breed). Both wolves and coyotes tails either hang straight down and never curl while a dogs tail carriage can vary and may even curl. Overall, a wolfs general appearance is massive with long legs and if only seen quickly, they are often mistaken for a calf or deer. In contrast, coyotes are of medium size similar to dogs, have dog-like proportions but a fox-like face. A dogs general appearance can vary from the tiny chihuahua to the very large mastiff.

If the light is bad, or if from a distance, it can be very difficult to tell a wolf, coyote, and dog apart. Through microscopic analysis, the hair of a wolf can be distinguished from both the coyote and the dog, although there are no other current techniques to tell the difference in hair between wolves and coyotes. In addition, genetically, wolves, coyotes, and dogs are nearly identical and there are no testing methods to tell them apart based purely on their genes. The skulls of the three species, however, can be used to tell them apart by examining the differences in size of teeth, and overall angle and size of the skull itself.

A terrific way to teach a child about the differences between wolves and dogs is to have both wolf stuffed animals and dog stuffed animals on hand. At the very least, with these two types of plush toys, both similarities and differences can easily be pointed out. Despite their physical differences, wolf stuffed animals are equally as soft and cuddly as any dog plush toy and like their domestic relative, wolf stuffed animals make terrific life-long friends.

Angeline Hope is a collector of giant stuffed animals. You can view a selection of giant stuffed animals including wolf stuffed animals at MyBigPlush.

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