Wildlife biologist Diane K. Boyd tackled the so-called “superwolf” myth head-on during her appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience. According to Boyd, many people believe that wolves reintroduced into the United States, particularly from Canada, are abnormally large and aggressive – “superwolves,” as some call them. These claims often involve exaggerated weights like 170 pounds and fears of genetic foreignness. But Boyd, who’s spent decades researching wolves, says these stories don’t hold up under scrutiny.
“I have a chapter in my book called ‘Slaying the Superwolf,’” she told Joe Rogan. “People say they’re not native… they’re Canadian superwolves.” But the reality is that wolves across North America are part of a continuous population. There’s no sharp biological divide between a Montana wolf and a British Columbia wolf – they interbreed and disperse freely across vast distances.
A 540-Mile Journey North
Boyd shared one remarkable example that illustrates just how far wolves can travel. She tracked a female wolf, known as 8551, who was originally collared in Glacier National Park. Seven months later, the wolf was found dead – not in Montana, but 540 miles to the north in British Columbia. “If she had gone south instead of north, she would’ve been 100 miles from Yellowstone,” Boyd said.
This case proved something remarkable: wolves in the western U.S. and Canada form one vast, interconnected population. “It’s one continuous population from Yellowstone almost to the Yukon,” Boyd explained. “It’s a walkabout for a wolf – it’s not a big deal.” Back in the day, VHF collars made this kind of tracking difficult, but modern satellite collars now offer real-time insights into wolf movement.
Wolves on the Move
These long-range dispersals are becoming more frequently documented thanks to better technology. Boyd mentioned a wolf that traveled from Wyoming all the way to Arizona, just north of the Grand Canyon, before turning around and being shot in Utah. Another wolf ended up in Colorado and, after DNA testing, was confirmed to have originated from the Great Lakes region – not the Rockies.
“It just shows how connected these populations are,” Boyd said. With stronger satellite tracking, we’re learning that wolves are not only capable of traversing hundreds of miles – they do it regularly. These aren’t superwolves in the mythical sense; they’re simply resilient, highly mobile animals.
The Truth About Wolf Size
Despite rumors of 170-pound monsters roaming the woods, Boyd clarified that most adult wolves weigh around 100 pounds. Males might be slightly larger, but nothing near the exaggerated figures commonly shared on the internet.
Joe Rogan recalled seeing a massive wolf-like animal in Alberta and questioned whether it could have been a wolf or just a large coyote. Boyd noted that large wolves do exist – especially in places like Russia or Alaska – but they’re rare. Even a 130-pound wolf would be considered massive. Most of the fear around “superwolves” seems to stem from isolated sightings or doctored images online.
A Lone Wolf’s Success Story
Boyd shared another fascinating story from her research in the 1990s. She had collared a lone male wolf in Montana that eventually wandered off into Idaho’s Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness – an area with no other wolves at the time. “He just hung around,” she said. For four years, he survived completely alone.
Then, during the 1995 wolf reintroduction program, a female wolf from Canada was released nearby. She took off running, eventually met the lone male, and the two formed a pack that bred for years. It’s a testament to the patience and survival instincts of these animals.
“That animal had to survive by killing alone,” Boyd emphasized. “Try pulling down an elk with just your teeth – it’s not easy.”
Life Expectancy in the Wild
While wolves can live up to 15 years in captivity, their average lifespan in the wild is much shorter – just 4.3 years. Boyd explained this during her conversation with Rogan, surprising many listeners. “They burn up so much energy mating and breeding that they wear down,” she said.
Predation, starvation, disease, and human interference all play a role in their relatively short lives. “In the wild, it’s just a hard life,” Boyd noted. The oldest wolf she personally tracked lived to 12, an exceptional case.
Broken Jaws and Pack Rivalries
Boyd also described a dramatic Yellowstone story where a wolf was kicked by an elk, breaking its jaw. Despite the gruesome injury, the wolf survived for over a month and was later seen hunting again. Tragically, it was killed not by starvation or injury – but by other wolves. “Probably from its own pack,” Boyd said.
This highlights another brutal truth: wolves live tough lives. “People think wolves can just kill at will,” Boyd said. “They risk being killed every time they take on large prey like elk or bison.”
Russia’s Super Packs
In a separate episode, comedian Jon Reep joined Rogan to discuss another extreme wolf scenario: “super packs” in Siberia. These are not individual large wolves but enormous groups – sometimes numbering up to 100 – formed during severe winters when food is scarce.
Rogan explained that starving wolves in Russia have been known to band together and attack horse stables. “They’d just take down a horse – easy,” he said. These massive packs are a survival adaptation, not evidence of supernaturally strong wolves. But they’re no less terrifying. “Once they get that big, they can kind of do whatever they want,” Rogan observed.
Respecting Territory
One interesting fact noted in the conversation with Reep involved GPS data showing how multiple wolf packs coexist. A time-lapse video displayed how six different packs in Minnesota marked and respected territory boundaries. “They all establish territory and they respect it,” Rogan said.
This isn’t mindless chaos. It’s structured, territorial behavior. Wolves are strategic and deliberate in how they move, hunt, and avoid unnecessary conflicts – at least, most of the time.
The Fear Factor
Why are wolves so controversial in the U.S.? Rogan suggested that unlike mountain lions, which people grudgingly accept as dangerous, wolves spark public outrage – especially when they’re reintroduced into areas where they were once extirpated.
“It’s not just about them being predators,” Rogan said. “It’s because we brought them back – and people don’t like the idea that we’re responsible.” Boyd echoed that sentiment earlier in her interview, noting that misinformation often clouds discussions about wolf reintroduction.
The Name Game: Why Wolves Are Numbered
Another fascinating tidbit from Reep and Rogan’s conversation was the reasoning behind numbering wolves instead of naming them. “If you name them, it’s harder to kill them,” Rogan explained. Calling a wolf “Dolores” makes her sound like a beloved pet. Calling her “Wolf 157” makes her sound like a statistic.
It’s a subtle, almost bureaucratic trick to distance us emotionally from these animals – especially when wildlife management decisions involve lethal force.
So, Are Super Wolves Real?
The answer, according to experts like Diane K. Boyd and Joe Rogan’s many guests, is no – not in the way people think. Wolves are incredible animals: they’re resilient, far-traveling, strategic, and social. But they aren’t some genetically modified monstrosities roaming the woods.
Yes, some are big. Yes, they can travel hundreds of miles. And yes, when conditions are desperate, they will band together in large numbers. But all of this is natural wolf behavior – not the stuff of science fiction.
The real “super” quality of wolves is their adaptability and endurance. In a world that often fears or misunderstands them, wolves continue to survive, roam, and thrive. And that, more than any myth, is what makes them truly extraordinary.
Gary’s love for adventure and preparedness stems from his background as a former Army medic. Having served in remote locations around the world, he knows the importance of being ready for any situation, whether in the wilderness or urban environments. Gary’s practical medical expertise blends with his passion for outdoor survival, making him an expert in both emergency medical care and rugged, off-the-grid living. He writes to equip readers with the skills needed to stay safe and resilient in any scenario.