Wolves have an acute sense of hearing, sight and smell. They are social animals and a pack may contain three or four to 24 animals, although in the north country packs of over 100 have been recorded. They usually hunt together and can kill animals as large as deer, elk, caribou or moose. They also eat smaller animals such as beaver, muskrats, mice and snowshoe hares and will eat carrion. They hunt mainly by scent and usually catch their prey by a swift, open chase.

Wolf packs have a complex social structure with a dominant male and female (the alpha pair), sub-dominant adults and pups. Usually only the alpha male and female breed. Mating occurs in February or March and five to seven pups are born after about nine weeks. The whole pack helps to raise the young. Communication is complex and consists of facial expressions and body language (curled lips, bristling fur, sticking the tongue out, "smiling", tail position and wagging, rolling over and exposing the belly) and vocalizations (howling, whining, barking).

Wolves and coyotes may be confused; however, coyotes are about half the size of a wolf, have a narrower, more pointed face and carry their tail lower. To tell the difference between a large dog and a wolf, tracks can be an aid. Domestic dogs have narrower hips than chests and the back footprint will be inside the front print. A wolf's front and back tracks will tend to overlap and it tends to travel in a straight line. Wolves also have a larger head, bigger paws and a bushier tail than dogs.

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