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What are the main causes of death for gray wolves?

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gray wolf — wolf Gray wolf (*Canis lupus*).

In most regions of the world, humans are the primary cause of death for gray wolves. While wolves can live up to 13 years in the wild, most die significantly younger due to a variety of factors.12

In environments characterized by high wolf density and declining prey populations, the leading causes of mortality include:

Intraspecific conflict: Wolves are frequently killed by other wolves, often during territorial disputes between neighboring packs.12
Starvation: A lack of available prey can lead to fatal starvation.12
Disease and parasites: Wolves are susceptible to various health threats, including canine parvovirus, distemper, rabies, blastomycosis, Lyme disease, lice, mange, and heartworm.12