Wolves: our social cousins Wolves: our social cousinsWolves are a member of the family, Canidae, which also includes dogs, foxes, coyotes, and jackals. It is thought that wolf-like animals evolved from a common ancestor 2-3 million years ago, while more familiar species such as the gray wolf probably emerged 1 million years ago.
Like dogs, and our own species, humans, wolves are social creatures. Whether hunting prey or nurturing their young, wolves work together for the good of the pack.