Due to its close proximity to humans and domestic animals, the need for a reliable vaccine is high.

[3] Rueness et al. (2014) showed that wolves in the Caucasus Mountains, of the putative Caucasian subspecies C. l. cubanensis, are not genetically distinct enough to be considered a subspecies, but may represent a local ecomorph (population) of C. l.

[5] It is of average dimensions, weighing 35–40 kg (77–88 lb), thus being somewhat smaller than the Eurasian wolf, and its fur is sparser, coarser, and shorter.

The fur of steppe wolves in Middle Asia and Kazakhstan tends to have more reddish tones.

[1] Steppe wolves occasionally surplus kill Caspian seals.