What is the name of the wolf subspecies that lives on Vancouver Island?

The wolf subspecies that lives on Vancouver Island is called the Vancouver Island wolf. Its scientific name is Canis lupus crassodon, although some modern classifications group it with related coastal wolf populations.

Vancouver Island wolves are gray wolves adapted to the Pacific Northwest coast. They are generally smaller than many mainland wolves and can move between islands by swimming, sometimes covering distances of several miles. Their coastal environment strongly influences their diet.

Researchers have documented these wolves eating salmon, deer, shellfish, crabs, and other marine foods. In some coastal studies, ocean-derived food made up most of their diet. This unusual feeding behavior is why they are also called coastal wolves or sea wolves.

The answer is sometimes confused with “British Columbia wolf,” which refers to a related coastal form found mainly on the mainland and nearby islands. “Coastal wolf” is a broader nickname, while Vancouver Island wolf is the specific name traditionally associated with Canis lupus crassodon.