What is the typical weight range of an adult male gray wolf?

The typical weight range of an adult male gray wolf is 40–70 kg. Gray wolves are the largest living members of the dog family, but their size varies greatly by geography. Northern wolves in Alaska, Canada, and Russia are generally heavier than wolves living farther south, reflecting Bergmann’s rule: animals in colder regions often evolve larger bodies that conserve heat more efficiently.

Males are usually heavier and more heavily built than females, with broader heads, thicker necks, and more massive shoulders. A 40–70 kg range describes many adult males, though it is not an absolute limit. The species’ recorded body masses extend from roughly 12 kg to nearly 80 kg, and exceptionally large males have been documented in central Russia and northern North America.

People often confuse a typical weight range with the maximum possible weight. Wolves exceeding 54 kg are uncommon, while the largest individuals are unusual exceptions. Regional subspecies, age, season, nutrition, and sex all affect an individual’s mass. North American wolves average about 36 kg overall, with adult males generally above that average.