ABUNDANCE

There are different biological stages within a wolf population. The Swiss wolf concept (DE, FR, IT) defines them as follows:

Pack: A group of three or more wolves living in a common home range or at least one mature wolf with one or more wolf pups living in a common territory. A pack is a social unit that eventually reproduces, catches prey together, and marks their home range together. Years without reproduction are possible.

Pair: A female and a male wolf that have marked their territory together for at least three months or more, hunt and roam together and have no offspring. The occupation of a territory is not mandatory, but possible.

Resident lone wolf: A single wolf that has lived in an area for six months or more. Short-term evidence of other transient lone wolves without a social bond between the animals within the territory is possible.

Transient lone wolf: A solitary wolf that lives in an area for less than six months, is not site-loyal and does not form social bonds with resident wolves (e.g. a dispersing animal). Evidence of short-term stays in the territory of other lone wolves, pairs or packs is possible.