Group size and home range of the Arabian wolf (Canis lupus) in southern Israel

Abstract

The Arabian wolf (Canis lupus arabs) is a desert-adapted canid that occurs throughout arid regions in the Middle East. We examined group size, home range, habitat selection, and dispersal of Arabian wolves in the southern Negev Desert. We investigated the degree of association between wolves and human habitats. Arabian wolves had extensive dispersal distances (50-200 km). Annual survival rate of adults was 81%, but mortality caused by humans was considerable. Size of foraging group and home range were smaller than generally reported for wolves elsewhere. Arabian wolves in the Negev Desert foraged more than expected in the vicinity of human agricultural settlements.