Arguably the largest gray wolf subspecies in the world, it ranges from Alaska, the upper Mackenzie River Valley; southward throughout the western Canadian provinces, aside from prairie landscapes in its southern portions, as well as the Northwestern United States.

[6] This wolf is recognized as a subspecies of Canis lupus in the taxonomic authority Mammal Species of the World (2005).

It likely crossed into North America through the Bering land bridge after the last ice age, displacing C. l. nubilus populations as it advanced, a process which has continued until present times.

[10][11] More recent studies have reported the average range of height and weight in the north-west of the United States, both sexes were between 68 and 91.5 cm (26.8 and 36.0 in) tall at the shoulder.

[18] Wolves are present in Canadian and British safari parks including Longleat,[19] Woburn,[20] and Parc Omega.