vilkas

Vilkas is the Lithuanian word for the gray wolf, Canis lupus, a large carnivorous mammal in the family Canidae.

Adults typically weigh 25 to 50 kilograms and measure about 105 to 160 centimeters in body length, with tails adding 35 to 50 cm. Coat color varies from gray to brown, often with lighter undersides and seasonal shading.

Grey wolves inhabit a wide range across Europe, Asia, and North America, including Lithuania and the Baltic region. They prefer forested areas, open woodlands, tundra, and rugged mountains where prey is abundant.

Social animals, wolves usually live in packs that hunt together and defend defined territories. Pack size ranges from a few individuals to over a dozen, depending on prey availability.

Diet is opportunistic but mainly consists of ungulates such as deer, elk, ibex, and moose; smaller mammals, birds, and carrion are also consumed. They are apex predators in many ecosystems, though they can coexist with humans where large prey is available.

Breeding usually occurs once a year in late winter. After a gestation of about 63 days, females give birth to 4–7 pups in a den. Pups are cared for by the whole pack and become independent after several months.

Conservation status: the IUCN lists Canis lupus as Least Concern, reflecting broad range and recovering populations in parts of its range. Local populations may be threatened by habitat loss, human conflict, and illegal killings, and protections or management programs remain in place in many countries.

Cultural significance: in Baltic folklore and modern literature, wolves are common symbols of wilderness and intelligence. In Lithuanian contexts, vilkas features in myths and is used as a symbol in place names and organizations.