The hair can be as long as 6 to 7 inches in the mane. Wolves can raise and lower this hair depending on the circumstances. The wolf uses its hair to communicate anger and aggression. The hair on the mane and at the end of the tail is usually darker than the rest. There are patterns of color on the face that seem to give wolves expressive features.
Wolves appear thinner in summer because their coat thins out.
It can be hard to distinguish between wolves, coyotes and dogs if the light is bad or you don't get a long, close look. Because of their long legs and thin body a wolf could be mistaken for a deer or calf. 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.