The hair can be as long as 6 to 7 inches in the mane. Wolves can raise and lower this hair and use it to communicate with other wolves. The hair on the mane and at the end of the tail is usually darker than the rest. Wolves appear thinner in summer because their coat thins out. Wolves have an average life span of six to eight years in the wild and can live for 16 years in captivity.
Wolves travel long distances in the course of a day.
It is not unusual for wolves to travel 20 miles in a 24-hour period. They cover the distance at a trot. If you are trying to track a wolf, the front paws are larger than the rear feet and the toes are spread out more. Their unique stride causes the hind foot to often land in the print made by the front foot on the same side. Wolf tracks are similar to coyote and dog tracks.