Grey Wolves

The grey wolf or Timber Wolf (S. "draugwath"; pl. "draugwaith"; Q. "mistanarmo"; pl. "mistanarmor"; aka "sindanarmo") is a powerful, muscular dog with a thick coat of hair and a bushy tail. They range all over Middle-earth. Varying in color from nearly black in warmer locales to almost white in the North, they are exceptionally adaptable.

Grey wolves are exceptionally social animals who live in family groups or packs that roam and hunt together. These packs cooperate to run down their favorite prey: generally deer and sheep in the warmer climes and elk or reindeer in cooler regions. While typically interested only in larger herd animals, they also feed on rodents, fish, and crustaceans and, in rare cases (e.g., during hard winters or famines), they may attack lone travellers, trappers, or hunters.

The wolfpack's hierarchy is organized and regulated in accord with the wolves' ritualized postures, gestures, and combat. Grey wolves, however, do not fight over mates except in extraordinary circumstances. Pairs normally remain together for life.