They were predators of strictly large animals. They didn’t adapt fast enough to changing conditions and became extinct. Nature already sorted it out a long time ago that they shouldn’t be alive.

I guess I need to buy some heavy snares.
I don't have any suitable traps for wolves.
Already have ammo for 444 and 12ga slugs,
so I'm good there.

This is amazing technology. Reading this thread my thought process is bouncing all over the place: I agree that nerds playing god is not a good idea, but I would drive to Dallas to see them. The high fence crowd stand to make a fortune off the dog shooting crowd before this is over. Were Neanderthal women hot?

Trying to find credible websites that appear to know what they are talking about is a challenge. It appears they were about the same size as a large Grey Wolf with a few differences.

I hear they will release them in northwest Colorado

https://home.nps.gov/articles/000/dire-wolf.htm

Scientific Name
Canis (Aenocyon) dirus

Description
The dire wolf was the largest of the Late Pleistocene canids of North America.
The skull could reach up to 12 inches in length and its teeth were larger and more robust than today’s gray wolves.
In terms of body size, the dire wolf was on average the size of the largest gray wolves which have a shoulder height of 38 inches and a body length of 69 inches.

https://direwolfproject.com/dire-wolf/dire-wolf-size-increase/

The Great Dire Wolf Size Debate

The dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) has long been a creature of fascination, evoking images of a hulking Ice Age predator stalking its prey across the frozen tundra. But in recent years, some popular sources—ranging from Google AI summaries to Wikipedia and even the National Park Service—have begun inflating its size beyond what the fossil record supports. Claims of dire wolves standing 36 to 38 inches at the shoulder and weighing 200+ pounds have started circulating widely. However, a closer look at the science behind dire wolf fossils reveals a more moderate, albeit still impressive, reality.

What Do the Fossils Actually Say?
Dire wolves were undoubtedly larger and more robust than modern gray wolves (Canis lupus). However, the best-supported size estimates from scientific literature place them at:

Shoulder height: ~30 inches (76 cm)
Body length (head to rump): 50–69 inches (127–175 cm)
Weight: 110–150 lbs (50–68 kg), with some individuals possibly reaching 175 lbs (79 kg) but not commonly exceeding this range
These estimates are based on extensive fossil records, particularly those from the La Brea Tar Pits, where thousands of dire wolf remains have been studied. Nowhere in the peer-reviewed literature do scientists claim that dire wolves averaged 200 lbs or 38 inches tall.

Where Do the Exaggerated Claims Come From?
1. Confusing Maximums with Averages
One of the most common mistakes in popular science reporting is using extreme outliers as representative of the whole population. While the largest dire wolf specimens may have approached 175 lbs or more, the vast majority were closer to 110-150 lbs. The same pattern is seen in modern gray wolves—some individuals can exceed 150 lbs, but the species’ average weight is much lower.

2. Comparing Dire Wolves to the Largest Gray Wolves
Some sources cite dire wolves as 36-38 inches tall at the shoulder, which matches the largest modern gray wolves, such as Canis lupus occidentalis, the northwestern wolf. However, the average gray wolf stands between 26 and 32 inches at the shoulder, meaning dire wolves were large, but not dramatically outsizing typical wolves. When comparing dire wolves to only the biggest gray wolves, it gives the false impression that they were much larger than they really were.

3. Media and the "Bigger is Better" Bias
From Jurassic Park’s oversized velociraptors to Hollywood’s supersized megalodons, pop culture has a habit of exaggerating prehistoric creatures to make them seem more impressive. The dire wolf is now suffering from the same trend. The idea of a 200-pound super-wolf is more dramatic and marketable, even if it’s not entirely accurate.

A More Accurate Picture of the Dire Wolf
The truth is, dire wolves didn’t need to be 200-pound giants to be apex predators of their time. Their real advantage was their robust build, powerful jaws, and cooperative pack behavior, which allowed them to take down Ice Age megafauna. Their shorter legs and heavier bones made them more suited for ambush-style hunting rather than the long-distance endurance chases favored by modern gray wolves.

Understanding the true size of the dire wolf doesn’t diminish its legacy—it enhances it. By focusing on the actual science rather than sensationalized claims, we gain a deeper appreciation for this remarkable Ice Age predator and its place in prehistoric ecosystems.

Final Thoughts
The recent trend of inflating dire wolf size is an example of how misinformation can spread, even through seemingly authoritative sources. While the occasional dire wolf may have been exceptionally large, the best fossil evidence does not support an average shoulder height of 38 inches or a weight of 200 lbs. Instead, we should respect the dire wolf for what it truly was: a powerful, stocky predator that ruled the Ice Age without needing exaggerated proportions to be formidable.

Next time you see claims of a 36+ inch, 200-pound dire wolf, take a step back and ask: Is this based on fossils, or just the biggest numbers someone could find? The dire wolf doesn’t need Hollywood-style embellishment—it was an awe-inspiring predator just as it was.

They need to find a better source of DNA, but we all are just a couple of modifications from our ancestors....

Wouldn't surprise me if they didn't already have a few examples hiding underground. Area 51.

It wouldn’t surprise me in CO, dumb asses

I’m trying to find article I read that broke down what they had done, while it was a big breakthrough, it’s not near full clone as it’s made out to be, in fact very little but does have a few Dire wolf traits

I am not any modification away from my ancestors. Neither are you SA. Humans are humans, there has been no evidence to say we came form anything other than humans.

I would be ok if they brought back the Tasmanian tiger. I think we killed them all off.

There's thought that they may still be in New Guinea.

Also the same group is already working on bringing them back.

Think what you want TB. Human genome project.

Started a new thread so as not to derail this thread, but feel free to post your thoughts on the new thread about how the HGP shows what you think it shows

That tends to happen to livestock killers.

Its a white gray wolf.

Got a litter of Dire-doodles that will be weaned and ready for their new homes in 2 weeks…

They need more DNA, but what they are doing is nothing short of amazing

I want the new Golden Retriever.

In honor of the return of the dire wolf:

Let's kick off your Thursday morning playlist!

Would really like to know their plans for these Dire wolves, before making a decision.

listen to Ben Lamm on the JRE. he's the CEO of the company behind all of this. It's really amazing and frightening at the same time.

This is an interesting article on what exactly they did:

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/202...re-wolf-some-scientists-arent-convinced/

There could be dire consequences.

Lmao, wouldn't that be the truth. You could name your price with those and people'd line up.

100%

Talk about Pandora's box.