Males are generally heavier than females. Coloring is usually a mixed gray or grizzly color, though a few are black or white.
Gray wolves appear quite similar to large German shepherd dogs.
They have a pointed muzzle, erect pointed ears, bushy tails and moderately long legs. Gray wolves usually live in family groups or packs of 2-8 individuals, though some packs contain 20 or more members. A dominance hierarchy exists within each pack. Generally, only the dominant male and female breed, though exceptions exist. These individuals are nomadic, some living in areas over 1,000 square miles in size.