Pack of wolves

Wolves have the following general characteristics: They are quadrupedal animals, mammals, with bodies between 60 and 90 cm tall and a weight of between 32 and 70 kg. They usually measure between 1.30 and 2 meters long. They have a long tail, and are not, in principle, anatomically very different from a dog. Their bodies are built to withstand long-distance travel, with a narrow chest and powerful back and legs. This means they can reach 10 km/h at a trot and 65 km/h in a full chase. They have been seen to cover about five metres in a speed jump. They have non-retractable claws on their legs, which allow them to grip various slippery surfaces. Their bodies are covered with thick fur, of various colors, ranging from brown to white. Wolves have formidable teeth, identical to those of dogs, but larger. They have a keen sense of smell and night vision, which makes them fearsome hunters. They are distinguished from coyotes and jackals by their long, thick snouts, and from foxes by the size and shape of their ears.

Behavior of wolves male alpha female wolf The male and female that lead the pack are called alphas. Wolves rarely roam alone. In fact, they tend to organize themselves into packs of two to twenty individuals, with a strict social hierarchy, whose behavior becomes evident during the hunt. At the head of the pack is a reproductive male and female, whose bond is almost always monogamous, and who are called alphas. They are the ones who impose order within the pack and who control the resources, such as the order of feeding. Sometimes a wolf will leave its pack and form a new one, which requires finding a mate and a territory to claim, as wolves control their habitat. It is therefore rare for a wolf to trespass into another's territory, unless it is a pack that is determined to claim it as its own. Other types of intruders, such as dogs and even humans, will receive the same level of hostility from wolves.

Feeding the wolves carnivorous wolf feeding A wolf can eat a ton of meat a year. Wolves are hunters, and their diet is predominantly carnivorous. A wolf can only eat between 3 and 4 kilos of meat per meal, which amounts to an incredible figure of one tonne of meat per year. This can vary in adverse weather conditions, when they will overeat to have energy reserves. Their diet consists mainly of sheep, goats, pigs, deer, reindeer, horses, elk, yaks, antelopes, bison, birds and rodents and other small animals. Depending on the habitat, they may even eat salmon, seals or stranded whales. Cannibalism is not uncommon in times of scarcity, although these animals can survive for a long time without eating.

Wolf howls wolf howl The howling of the wolf allows each pack to demarcate its territory. One of the most characteristic features of the wolf, for which it has become famous, is its prolonged, nocturnal howling, which serves as a mechanism for locating packs and demarcating the borders between their territories. Wolves howl to communicate with their peers and rivals, thereby avoiding unwanted encounters between packs. That is why lone wolves rarely respond to the howls they hear: they do not have a territory to demarcate.

learn to howl according to its rank. After two months, the pups, which are beginning to change from their blackish tones to the colours of their permanent coat,[23] will be moved to a safe location where they remain while most of the adults go out to hunt. One or two adults stay behind to ensure their safety. After a few weeks, the pups are allowed to join the adults if they can, and will be given priority over any hunted prey despite their low rank. At five months, their permanent teeth emerge and they begin to be called cubs.[23] Cubs will remain observers until eight months, when they are old enough to participate. Wolves reach sexual maturity after two to three years, when many are forced to leave their birth packs and seek mates and their own territories.[24] Wolves that reach maturity generally live six to eight years in the wild, although in captivity they may live twice that long. High mortality rates give them a generally low life expectancy. Pups die when food becomes scarce; they may also fall prey to predators such as grizzly bears or cougars, or, less commonly, black bears, coyotes, foxes, or other wolves. The most significant causes of mortality for mature wolves are hunting, poaching, car accidents, and injuries inflicted by prey. Although adult wolves may occasionally be killed by other predators, wolves from rival packs are generally their most dangerous non-human enemies. One study of wolf mortality indicated that 14% to 65% of wolf deaths were due to other wolves.[25] Wolves are susceptible to the same diseases that affect domestic dogs.

However, even when there is no food shortage, wolves will explore alternative prey if they interact frequently and become habituated to each other.[34] Wolf packs display less complex hunting strategies than other social carnivore species such as lions, although pairs of wolves have shown strategic behavior when attacking large prey.[29] When hunting large prey, they will typically attempt to conceal themselves as they approach the targeted animal. They will typically wait for the prey to graze, by which time it is distracted. They kill larger prey by lunging at the rear and perineal area, causing bleeding.[32] They occasionally attack the throat, severely damaging the jugular and trachea.[35] A single bite can cause a puncture wound 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) in length. Once the prey is down, wolves will open the abdominal cavity and begin to devour the animal, sometimes while the prey is still alive. [32] Sometimes they will not stalk the prey, but will wait for it to die of its wounds before beginning to feed. [36] Pack status is reinforced during feeding. The breeding pair usually eats first, starting with the heart, liver, and lungs. Wolves of intermediate rank will warn lower-status wolves to refrain from feeding until the dominant pair is finished. [37] They eat the stomach, leaving the contents intact. The leg muscles are next, with the bones being eaten last. [29] Exceptions exist, with some packs having been documented to prefer the fat deposits of prey over the internal organs.

Social behavior edit See also: Wolf Pack A pack of Italian wolves in the Parc des Loups. Wolves are often organized into packs following a strict social hierarchy. This high level of social organization is thought to have been linked to hunting success. Recent theories suggest, however, that such organization is more closely related to reproductive success. The pack is led by two individuals at the top of the social hierarchy: the breeding male and the breeding female. The breeding pair have a great deal of social freedom compared to the rest of the pack. Although they are not leaders in the human sense of the term, they help resolve any disputes within the pack, and have a great deal of control over resources such as food, and, most importantly, they keep the pack together, which has strong companionship instincts, and the rest of the pack usually follows them.[44] While most pairs are monogamous, there are exceptions.[45] Lone wolves searching for other individuals may travel great distances. Dispersed wolves must avoid the territories of other wolves because these may harass or kill intruders.

Reproduction edit Normally only the breeding pair can produce a litter of pups. Mating takes place between January and April; the higher the latitude, the later. In general, the breeding female's aggressiveness towards subordinate females increases. The increased stress of subordinates, together with the attitude and presence of the breeding female, is usually an inhibitory stimulus to prevent other females from going into heat.[46] The reproductive instinct drives young wolves out of their birth packs, seeking mates and territories. Dispersal occurs at all times of the year, typically involving wolves that have reached sexual maturity in the previous breeding season. During the mating season, reproduction causes wolves to be very affectionate in anticipation of the female ovulation cycle. Overall, tension in packs increases as each mature wolf feels driven to mate. When the alpha female is in the sexually receptive period, which occurs once a year and lasts five to fourteen days,[47] she and her mate will spend a great deal of time isolated. Pheromones in the female's urine and the swelling of her vulva will inform the male of the female's situation. She is not receptive during the first few days of the estrous cycle, during which she will shed the inner lining of her uterus. The male's penis has a bony formation inside it known as the penile bone or baculum, which has the function of facilitating initial penetration of the female, as well as maintaining rigidity prior to full erection.

playback continued: The male will mount the female firmly from behind. After achieving coitus, the two engage in copulation once the bulbus glandis, an erectile tissue of the male located near the base of the penis, expands and the female's vaginal muscles tighten. Ejaculation is induced by the male's pelvic thrusts and the undulation of the female's cervix. The two will be physically joined for ten to thirty minutes, during which the male will ejaculate multiple times.[48] After the initial ejaculation, the male will raise his legs above the female, with the two facing in opposite directions. This is thought to be a defensive measure as one watches the other's back. The mating ritual is repeated many times throughout the female's brief ovulation period.

Wolves can communicate visually with an impressive variety of expressions and mannerisms, ranging from subtle signs or slight movements, to more obvious expressions such as displaying complete submission by rolling over on their backs.[56] Aggression: An aggressive wolf growls and bristles its fur. It may crouch, ready to attack if necessary. Hunting: A wolf that is hunting is tense, and therefore the tail is horizontal and straight. Defense: A defensive wolf flattens its ears against its head. Dominance: A dominant wolf stands tall and rigid. The ears are erect and forward. This display asserts the wolf's rank to the rest of the pack. A dominant wolf may stare down a submissive wolf, mount its shoulders, or even stand on its hind legs. Anger: An angry wolf's ears are erect, as is its fur. Its incisors are displayed. The wolf may also arch its back, attack or growl. Happiness: Just like dogs do, a wolf can wag its tail when it is happy. The tongue can also stick out. Fear: A frightened wolf tries to make its body appear small and therefore less conspicuous. The ears are flattened against the head, and the tail may be tucked between the legs, like a submissive wolf. It may whimper or bark in fear, arching its back. Relaxation: The tail points downwards, and the wolf can sneak around emulating a sphinx. The lower the tail is, the more relaxed it is. Submission (active): During active submission, the entire body is lowered, with the lips and ears drawn back. The muzzle is occasionally licked. The tail is placed low, or halfway or completely between the legs, and the muzzle is usually pointed at the more dominant animal. The back may be partially arched. Submission (passive): Passive submission is more intense than active submission. The wolf rolls over on its back, exposing its vulnerable throat. Suspiciousness: Eyes narrow. Tail is straight, parallel to the ground.