A black wolf is a melanistic colour variant of the gray wolf (Canis lupus). [1][2] Black specimens were recorded among red wolves (Canis rufus), though the colour phase in this species is not extinct yet. [3] .

In northeastern Minnesota during the late 1960s, Dr. L. David Mech found that 3.6 percent of the wolves he observed were black. From 1980 to 2020, biologists in Minnesota found between between 1.5 to 2 percent of the wolves to be black, based on data supplied by John Hart with the United States Department of Agriculture.

Dec 31, 2023 · Black wolves, also known as melanistic wolves, are mysterious and stunning creatures that captivate our imaginations. Their dark fur sets them apart from their lighter-colored relatives and gives them an air of elegance and mystique.

May 22, 2023 · Black wolves are more common in some populations than others, and recent research finds a surprising correlation. Sometime in the last 10,000 years or so, as humans migrated across the Bering Strait to North America, they brought dogs with a gene that ultimately gave gray wolves black coats.

Mar 20, 2025 · Uncover fascinating facts about the mysterious American Black Wolf. Learn about its origins, traits, behavior, and why it remains one of nature's most intriguing predators.

Oct 15, 2019 · Gray wolves aren't always gray—some individuals are black. How did black wolves originate, and what can they tell us about the evolution of wolves and domestic dogs?

Feb 10, 2025 · Two rare black wolves, likely siblings, were spotted on camera crossing a stream in a Polish forest, a conservation organization said Sunday.

Feb 12, 2025 · Black wolves primarily roam the dense forests and remote wilderness areas of North America and parts of Eurasia. Their habitats are chosen for the cover and abundance of prey they provide. Adaptable yet elusive, black wolves thrive in environments where their dark coats offer camouflage.

Feb 5, 2009 · But dark wolves are common in forests, possibly because there they can slink through the woods unnoticed. Geneticists have pinpointed the gene variant that imparts this black fur and determined that it comes from domestic dogs that interbred with their wily cousins thousands of years ago.

Oct 29, 2022 · Black wolves are among the most iconic animals at Yellowstone National Park. People travel from around the world to Yellowstone to catch a glimpse of its famous black wolves. Historically, most...