By 7 to 8 months of age, when they are almost fully grown, the pups begin traveling with the adults. Often, after 1 or 2 years of age, a young wolf leaves and tries to find a mate and form its own pack. Lone dispersing wolves have traveled as far as 500 miles in search of a new home. Wolf packs usually live within a specific territory. Territories range in size from 50 square miles to more than 1,000 square miles depending on how much prey is available and seasonal prey movements.
Packs use a traditional area and defend it from strange wolves.
Their ability to travel over large areas to seek out vulnerable prey makes wolves good hunters. Wolves may travel as far as 30 miles in a day. Although they usually trot along at 5 m.p.h., wolves can attain speeds as high as 45 m.p.h for short distances. Indirectly, wolves support a wide variety of other animals. Ravens, foxes, wolverines, vultures and even bears feed on the remains of animals killed by wolves.