Interesting - the whole truth about wolves. What do we know about wolves? Meaning of beeps

02.02.2022

They are fierce and dangerous. This is probably what someone who knows almost nothing about wolves will say about wolves. In fact, wolves rarely attack people. Like all predators, they hunt for food and live their lives trying to stay away from people.

Ancestors of dogs

Wolves have lived on Earth for over a million years. They descended from carnivorous predators that lived 100 million years ago, and about 20 million years ago dogs originated from the wolf.

Wolf

The genus wolves (Lupus) unites wolves, coyotes, jackals, wild and domestic dogs - the largest representatives of the wolf family. In addition, all foxes, arctic foxes, the raccoon dog and the maned wolf belong to this family. Like dogs, wolves are very intelligent and easy to train. In addition, each wolf has a special character: there are cautious, impudent or self-confident, they keep themselves freely and naturally in wolf society, and others are not seen or heard.

Wolves live in the mountains, forests and plains of the Northern Hemisphere. Like all living creatures, they, as biologists say, occupy their ecological niche in the wild. In their habitats, wolves are the largest group of predators that prey on large mammals.

Is the wolf big?

"Big" is not a very good term for a wolf. Usually a male wolf weighs about 50 kilograms, a she-wolf weighs 5 kilograms less. Their height at the withers is about 75 centimeters, and the length from the nose to the tip of the tail reaches 1.5 - 2 meters.

Life in the pack

Wolves are social animals: they live in families. Every flock has its own "table of ranks", and in it everyone has their own place. Strong and aggressive wolves rule, and those who need a firm hand obey them. A wolf pack - a group of animals related by kinship and mutual sympathy - is led by a wolf and a she-wolf. The rest of its members are their offspring (from tiny puppies to 2-3 year old teenagers). Usually in a wolf family there are 6 - 7, and sometimes 15 animals. The strongest wolf in the pack becomes the leader. A girlfriend, a she-wolf, helps him to rule. For others to obey, leaders must have strong character. All decisions concerning the life of the pack are made by this couple. In a pack where the leader keeps order, wolves usually do not fight among themselves. However, skirmishes are common with strangers or lone wolves that have violated the border of possessions. Each wolf pack hunts only in its own territory. The owners strictly guard and mark it, warning the neighbors that they should stay away. Any uninvited guest will be punished. In large packs, it often happens that a wolf is poisoned by all his relatives. Sometimes the outcast becomes completely unbearable, and he is forced to leave the pack.

Why is an unsociable person called a lone wolf? Because he resembles a wolf that has left the pack and lives on its own. As time passes, changes occur in the flock. Applicants for the role of leader remain in the pack and wait in the wings. Other wolves, having matured, leave to wander alone. But they can also create their own flock if they are lucky enough to meet a lone she-wolf. If the wolf and she-wolf want to rule the pack, they must subjugate all the rest of its members to their will and force them to unquestioningly comply with their laws. The leader dominates the males of the pack, and his girlfriend maintains order among the wolves. The leaders constantly remind their "subordinates" who is the boss in the pack: they growl at them, bite, drive and even knock them down, preferring to do this in front of the whole pack. One stern, intent look from the leader or his mate is enough to subdue those he targets. Smiling ingratiatingly, the wolves fall to the ground, and then, if possible, sneak away. Sometimes they lie on their backs, as if to say: we know who is in charge here. The way a wolf holds its tail speaks of its position in the pack. Among the leaders, it is raised high, among their "subjects" it is lowered, and those who stand at the lowest degree in the wolf family tuck their tail. Members of the pack show love and respect to the leader in a welcoming ceremony. Crawling, with flattened ears and smoothed hair, they approach the leader or his girlfriend, lick and gently bite his muzzle.

Wolves are one of the most loyal animals, they are strongly attached to their pack mates. They express their feelings through facial expressions and body movements. "Wolf tongue" unites the pack and helps it to act as one. In a surge of tenderness, the wolves lick each other and rub their muzzles. The wolf also needs a tail in order to express its feelings. If the tail is up and its tip is slightly curved, this means that the wolf is quite confident in himself. In a friendly wolf, the tail is lowered, but the very tip of it looks up. A wolf with its tail between its legs is either afraid of something or communicates its sympathy in this way. The muzzles of wolves are very expressive. Frightened, the wolf presses his ears and depicts a semblance of a smile. An angry wolf bares his teeth, and turns his upright ears forward. Sensing danger, he turns his ears back, bares his teeth and sticks out his tongue. Comrades understand how to behave in order to keep the peace in the pack.

natural born hunters

Wolves are designed to hunt by nature itself. In winter, the wolf leaves a neat chain of footprints in the snow - he puts his hind paw exactly behind the front. Thanks to this step, he can run on any terrain and even in deep snow. The weapon of the wolf is the teeth. There are as many as 42 of them in his mouth. 4 sharp, crooked 5-centimeter fangs stick out in front - two at the top and bottom. With them, the wolf can bite through the dense skin of the victim. And predatory, or carnivorous, teeth - this is the name of the molars of all predators - an adult wolf gnaws even the femur of an elk. The hunter needs a keen ear, and in this respect the wolves are lucky. When they hear a noise, they move their ears and determine where the sound is coming from. The sound source may be several kilometers away. Wolves hunt almost silently, because they run on the very tips of their fingers. Just like horses and cats, the wolf does not touch the ground with its heel. He has strong muscular legs and a sweeping gait, and he can trot for a long time at a speed of 9 km / h, and in pursuit of deer and elk, accelerate to 60 km / h. When hunting, the nose, not the ears or eyes, is the first to tell the wolves where to look for prey. In the wind, they catch the smell of even the smallest animal, located 1-2 kilometers from them, when it is not yet heard or seen. Thanks to their keen sense of smell, wolves can follow the tracks of their prey. Thick fur up to 8 centimeters long protects the wolf from frost. The layer of fur closest to the body is the undercoat, and the outer layer is formed by hard, long, black outer hairs at the ends. They repel water, and the undercoat does not get wet. In such a raincoat with fur lining, the wolf is not afraid of bad weather.

Pack on the hunt

Wolves are carnivorous (or predatory) animals. They hunt in groups. For a hungry wolf to get enough, sometimes a small animal is enough - a beaver, a rabbit, a mouse or a bird. But this is not enough for the whole flock, it needs large prey - a deer, an elk or a ram. It is not for nothing that they are called orderlies - after all, as a rule, old, sick or inexperienced animals become their victims. With a sick animal, the focus of the disease disappears; if the old beast is killed, the young and strong get more food. This biological regulation of numbers contributes to the survival of strong, healthy animals, both among hunters and among their possible victims. Although wolves are considered merciless, only every tenth of their hunt ends in luck. It happens that, after spending three days tracking down and chasing a herd of deer or elk, the wolves manage to kill only a few animals. Why? Swift-legged deer can run away, and moose can give a worthy rebuff: these 600-kilogram giants with sharp horns and heavy hooves do not have to break a wolf's skull. Wolves can go without food for two weeks, but if they are lucky on the hunt, they will fill up to satiety. At one time, an adult wolf can eat up to 10 kilograms of meat! Sometimes wolves hide part of the half-eaten prey in reserve - they drag it into a hole and throw something from above. In the event of an unsuccessful hunt, they will return to this cache and dig up the hidden lunch. The survival of the pack depends on the size of its hunting grounds, so the wolves protect them not for life, but for death. The boundaries of the territory (it can be 50-1500 sq. Km, depending on what animals the pack hunts) are marked by odorous marks - they spray stumps and large stones with urine - and notify neighbors of their rights by howling.

Wolf games and fun

Wolves do not always hunt, growl and are ferocious. The first thing a wolf will do when its stomach is full is curl up and take a good nap. Waking up, frolic with pleasure. If he wants to play, he will invite relatives to join him. Crouching low on his front paws to the ground, he will approach them and, wagging his tail, will say: “Please!” No answer? Then, in order to attract attention, he will begin to jump from side to side, just like a dog.

Wolves and people

Who is not afraid of the bad wolf? Since childhood, when we were read fairy tales "Three Little Pigs", "Little Red Riding Hood" and "The Wolf and the Seven Kids", we have hardened that wolves are evil and scary. In fact, they do not harm people. But despite this, people kill them.

Wolf, wolves, about wolves, the truth about wolves

08/18/2010 | What are the wolves talking about?

But this song excites, amuses the souls of people who closely communicate with tame wolves. “After waking up, Chris, as usual, began to yawn luxuriously ... The wolves, in turn, yawning and stretching, appeared from under the bed. The man and the animals exchanged low intimate sounds that created the appropriate mood, and suddenly the wolves howled at the top of their voices ... Amazed and delighted, we looked at each other and made up a quartet for them. I hung from the head of the bed, looking into the red gaping maw of the Lady. The trigger wailed right in the face of Chris ... From now on, when we wake up, we always raise a howl ... ”So writes L. Chrysler in his book “Caribou Paths”.
More than once we had to lie down and get up under the howling of wolves. Dozens of times we hurried to peep how they behave at this moment. Usually the wolves walked briskly at the same time, stretching out their tails, raising their heads, and sang melodiously in different voices, with obvious pleasure. But maybe wolves howl so carelessly only in captivity, when they are full and in complete safety? And what does the wolf howl mean? Why is it so diverse, so unlike one another?

Since wolves prey on large animals, a pack requires complete orderliness, coordination of the individual capabilities of all animals. The basis for understanding signals by animals and responding to them is illustrated by the experiments of the zoologist B. Ginzburg. A group of young wolves was isolated from older animals. When the young grew up, the same organization was formed in their pack, which happens in ordinary wolf packs: all the signals used by wolves in life were present and correctly perceived by animals. Since the possibility of mutual training of young wolves was preserved in this experiment, another experiment was set up: a newborn puppy was completely isolated from other wolves. After 10 months, the young wolf turned out to have formed the entire sound repertoire, typical for the intraspecific communication of wolves.

However, when the wolf was planted with his brothers, it turned out that he did not understand the meaning of their sounds. It took the beginner five days to learn how to correctly understand the visual signals. Thus, it was found that wolves for normal communication, in addition to innate, firmly fixed ideas about signals, require a process of living learning, although short, but still. Wolves distinguish between general communication and individual communication. In general communication, the main signals accepted for all representatives of the species are used, and in communication between animals living together, additional signals are also used, which individuals who are little familiar with each other must learn. As a result of such individual communication within the family, a closer group communication is formed.

There are ten basic types of sounds in wolves: howls, barks, thuds, squeals, whines, whines, growls, hisses, snorts, and yips. In addition, L. Chrysler writes about two rare signals she observes when communicating with wolves: “talking”, when the wolf wants to say something, issuing short emotional “messages”, and long, passionate, passionate “telling”. Usually for wolves and clattering jaws.
Between all these sounds, transitional as well as mixed sounds are observed. To communicate at short distances, wolves do not use their entire sound repertoire; signals become more diverse with increasing distance between animals. A specially conducted analysis of the howling of the same wolf made it possible to identify eleven variants of this sound, each of which corresponded to a specific situation. The manner of howling depended on the weather, the emotional state of the animal, and also on the environment. L. Chrysler highlights joyfully sociable, mourning, hunting, invocative howl. A fixed standard exists only for mourning howls, other types vary widely without changing the meaning.

Howling is the main remote means of communication for wolves. Through howling, wolves convey all the information that is important to them. A person is not able to convey with his voice the various nuances of a wolf howl, however, the famous scientist Yason Konstantinovich Badridze, who has been studying wolves all his life, taught his wolves six sounds-symbols. For example, the signals "food", "to the north", "to the south", etc. The wolves released into the wild transmitted the signals invented by man by inheritance, and their descendants subsequently used these signals. A curious story about the “wolf telegraph” was told to us in his book by the Canadian naturalist Farley Mowat: “My real education in the field of wolf linguistics began with the appearance of the Eskimo Utek. Once, the two of us watched the wolf lair, but to no avail.
Suddenly Utek put his hands to his ears and listened attentively. I didn't hear anything and couldn't figure out what caught his attention until he whispered, "Listen, the wolves are talking." I strained my ears, but if the wolf was on the radio, it wasn't on my wavelength. It seemed that there was nothing on the air but the ominous moan of mosquitoes, but Georg (the leader of the wolf pack), who was sleeping on the ridge, suddenly sat up, pricked up his ears and, turning his long snout to the north, began to sing. It was a vibrating howl. Low at the beginning, it ended on the highest note the human ear can hear. Utek grabbed my hand and broke into a satisfied smile: "The wolves say - the caribou (deer) have gone." It turns out that a wolf from a nearby area to the north not only reported that the long-awaited caribou had moved south, but also indicated where they were now. Moreover, and it was quite incredible, it turned out that the neighbor wolf himself did not see the deer, but simply transmitted the information he received from the wolf living even further.

Moving through the forest, wolves check the road in front of them with a periodic howl. After all, the packs-neighbors shun each other. They just got together - a fierce fight in which one or two wolves get seriously injured. Therefore, in the forest, there seems to be an endless dialogue: “Get out of our way!” - "What else, run yourself faster." If the flock is strong and confident in its strength, it ignores the formidable howl and moves forward. And then the neighbors have to decide whether to fight or retreat. For the most part, the formidable vocal rebuke is empty bravado, followed by a stealthy escape. It happens that the flock is brave until it sees the enemy, and noticing enemies from afar, it rushes away, tails between its legs. If the pack is discreetly silent, it yields territory without a fight. But sometimes wolves wait: suddenly the strangers themselves will realize that they have wandered into the neighbors without an invitation. After all, a flock invades someone else's territory more often inadvertently - they chase game, kill it, eat it in a hurry, as much as they can, and go home. As long as the howl helps to avoid unnecessary meetings, it is useful, but if there are conscious aggressors who do not pay attention to the marks of their rightful owners, give a voice - give yourself away.
Since howling for nothing is fraught with trouble, there must be important motives for voting back. Everything is taken into account: where the pack is located - in the center of their possessions or on the periphery, near the den or at the meeting place, whether there are wolf cubs in the pack and how many adults are near them.
The wolves will never be too lazy to turn off the original route, so as not to risk an unnecessary meeting with their neighbors. But if they are very hungry, and the prey is tempting or there are wolf cubs nearby, then there is no time for compliance. The flock menacingly announces: "Go your own way, we won't let you pass, we'll tear you to shreds."
Having killed large prey, wolves guard the place where the slaughter is hidden, zealously. To the howl of strangers, they answer: “Well, get out of here, this is ours!” But as the meat decreases, the wolves are cautious, weighing, but is it worth it to respond - suddenly a reckless pack that is looking for a fight hurries towards?
But at the end of February - away with prudence! On the eve of spring and the rut, the blood plays in the veins. Don't poke your nose here! The bloodiest clashes between packs occur during the mating season. The size of the pack in any season is reflected in its courage: 4-6 wolves use their vocal abilities much more modestly than 7-10. But here comes April, and the unbridled aggressiveness, as if it had not happened, again went to be careful.
In May-June, wolf cubs appear in the family. The she-wolf is the mistress in the den, the wolf often does not even approach him with prey, but calls the female with her voice and gives her the brought meat at some distance from the hole. The call consists of just one full bass note in the male and a squeaky high note in the female, which reports that everything is safe at the lair. The reason for howling in the den should be sought in the need of animals to live together all year round, as a family, in the need to constantly communicate with its members.
In July-August, when the cubs leave the den, a howl hangs over the forest: some wolves hunt hard and feel the way in front of them with a howl, while others, not wanting to abandon their young and give way, drive away intruders with their voice. While the cubs are not able to run fast, at the sound of someone else's howling, one part of the pack answers: "The place is busy!", And the other urgently evacuates the children to a safe place. In a fight, a flock of youngsters will not do well. In good weather, a powerful mournful wolf howl is heard for several kilometers, reminiscent of the buzz of many wires on a frosty day, the howling of the wind in the pipe, or even the distant discordant song of a cheerful village company.
But now the cubs have grown up, they quickly follow adults, heroism is no longer required, you can return to the tactics of avoiding meetings. The flock cautiously responds to other people's signals and shows aggressiveness only near prey.
In July, the need for feed delivered to the den increases sharply. In search of food, parents often find themselves in different directions from each other. When giving a voice, the hardened ones determine by ear who is where, and by the intonation of the howl, they guess about the prey found. When the she-wolf is already constantly walking for prey, the cubs, left to their own devices, begin to move farther and farther away from the lair. In the morning and evening dawns, the old, having brought prey, convene the young. In most cases, when a person enters the den area, both old wolves begin to howl.
But not only hardened wolf cubs communicate with a howl during this period. Older children, although they leave their parents, stay close by. Having overtaken or found prey, they send a signal to their parents, they howl, tell where the food is. Mothers hear, remember where the sound comes from, sometimes they answer. Having chosen the moment, the hardened ones go to the indicated place for provisions. As a result, the rearings, as it were, "harvest" the meat for the family, and this is how they help parents in raising the profitable ones. The profits, no matter how hungry they are, do not vote in the lair on their own initiative. But as soon as the kids hear the voice of the wolf, they begin to whine and bark in support of him or in response. Often they run in a crowd to the place where the wolf howled. Such behavior of wolf cubs indicates that a certain tone of wolf howling within the den is perceived by them as a signal about delivered prey.
In August, three generations of wolves join together and start howling at night. They are now increasingly found in groups, and sometimes the whole family. The most common function of the howl is to maintain consolidation in the pack, the desire to unite. In describing the behavior that accompanies spontaneous group howling, when the animals begin to howl for seemingly no apparent reason, all observers of wolves unanimously emphasize the friendly nature of the interaction between animals immediately before and during this acoustic demonstration. A. Muri, for example, describes the behavior of wolves gathered for a spontaneous howl: “... I saw two black and two gray males, they converged on the horizon, waving their tails and clearly expressing their disposition. Then the energetic actions ceased and five snouts rose to the sky. Their howl spread softly across the tundra. The group broke up abruptly - the mother returned to the hole, and the four wolves went deep into the twilight that thickened in the east.
“Some wolves love to sing more than others and resort to “singing” from any distance, and one must see how often they breathe at the same time, how their eyes burn, and how passionately, as they approach, they begin to howl, widely opening their mouths, not able to contain himself." As the Chryslers noted, the howling of wolves is not a “noisy market”, but a pleasant social event.
The consolidating howl is under the control of the female, which naturally follows from the specifics of the social organization of the wolf pack. Grown-up puppies keep around it, always taking part in group howling, over-flocks gravitate to the same group during the period of increasing schooling. In addition, all members of the flock throughout the year are tied to the site of the territory where the den is located and, therefore, constantly maintain contact with the female. Under natural conditions, wolves usually howl in the evening, less often at night and early in the morning. But frequent howling, especially repeated during the day, may indicate a complication in the life of a family or individual. Experienced hunters say that the August night howl is a sign that there will be a lair next year.
During the year, wolves howl most frequently in winter, when pack numbers are at their highest. Howling activity also increases in late summer and early autumn, when the flock begins to move especially widely within the family area. At this time, single and caused group howls are more characteristic of wolves. In autumn, moving widely around the area, wolves usually gather together for daytime rest. Solitary animals, returning after a long absence for the day, usually howl when approaching it. From the day camp, located hundreds of meters from the howling animal, everyone who is on it answers. The contagiousness of the howl during this period is especially high, and hunters use this when looking for a flock. Even a not very skillful imitation of a howl causes a response howl of a flock located on a daylight.
Usually a person hears a howl for one and a half to two kilometers. By howling, you can distinguish the sex and age of the beast. Matery howls bassist and long. His single howl lasts 20-25 seconds. When imitating the howl of a mother, a person experiences difficulty due to a lack of exhaled air, a mother howls higher and shorter, her howl is more complex and mournful, sometimes it seems that two wolves are howling. The voices of pereyarkov differ in monotony and sonority. Often they howl in a tenor voice, sometimes ending with whining and barking.
The wolf distinguishes the howl of his fellows well from the tape recording, no matter how accurate it may be. He is even more likely to respond to a not very accurate imitation of his voice by a person than to a real howl recorded on tape.
Howling, alternating with barking, can be emitted by both adult females and males, disturbed by a person near the den, day and prey. This sound is rarely heard by a person. Howling, alternating with barking, is very demonstrative and sometimes lasts for tens of minutes.
Wolves use sounds to communicate both at close and far distances. At close range, when animals see each other, the antagonistic behavior of wolves is accompanied by growls, barks and squeals. It is more characteristic of adult animals and is characteristic of close contacts between them, when individual distance is violated and the likelihood of conflict increases. Higher-ranking animals are more likely to growl and bark at subordinate animals or those occupying a low rank in the pack. Females growl and bark less often than males. During the mating season, growling and, to a lesser extent, barking are aimed at maintaining an individual distance between partners. Growling usually prevents direct confrontations between males, and in some cases it entails the submission of a partner. The dominant animal with all its appearance expresses the intention to stop the activity of the opponent. Low-ranking animals express submission by squealing, which blocks the partner's aggressive intentions. The dominant wolf never squeals, and the closer the ranks between partners, the less often it is possible to hear their squeals.
Growling and dull barking on the one hand and screeching on the other are antipodes, although all three sounds express a negative attitude towards the partner. However, if wolves demonstrate equality between partners by growling or deaf barking, then screeching means subordination of one to the other. It also signifies an agreement to interrupt the activity preceding the squeal.
Wolves, especially males, also bark when guarding large portions of meat or when another male approaches them. Often barking stops the approach of the beast. In similar situations, wolves growl. However, barking is accompanied by lunges towards the enemy, but growling is not. From which it follows that growling is a milder threat than barking.
She-wolves raising young ones, at the moment of concern for them, give signals to call the cubs, as well as signals warning of the proximity of a person. This is a series of short, soft, snorting sounds that follow at intervals of about a second. Hearing a snort, the cubs scatter and hide. Especially often wolves warn puppies with these sounds near the den or near the family day. Moreover, she-wolves react not only to the detection of a person, but also to his traces. Introducing the wolf cubs to the traces of a person, the she-wolf makes snorting sounds, establishing in young people a connection with the traces of a person as a source of danger.
The vocal responses of wolves to humans are not limited to snorting. The literature describes a sonorous bark, very similar to the barking of a dog. There is an assumption that in this way the she-wolf forbids the cubs to howl.
Like dogs, wolves can also whine. With this sound, they express their desire to establish contact with a partner in the group, and when kept in captivity, with a person. At the heart of whining lies a motivation that is directly opposite to the sounds of antagonistic behavior. While whining, wolves never show a grin. All their movements at this time express friendliness and the desire to establish contact with a group partner. However, such a demonstration of friendliness is not always understood. Often, in response to a welcoming whining, the animal encounters a menacing grin and growl, especially from higher-ranking animals.
Wolves also have other sound signals, such as grouchy conversations. One observation of a pack of wild wolves describes how one of them, acting as a beater when hunting deer, grumbled his displeasure to two other wolves for five minutes after an unsuccessful hunt.
Of course, of all the sound signals characteristic of wolves, howling is the most expressive, widely known and at the same time the most mysterious. The only pity is that it is less and less possible for an ordinary person to hear it in natural conditions.

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What do people know about wolves? That they are fierce and dangerous, treacherous and treacherous. That they must be destroyed. This is how those who know nothing about wolves think about wolves. In fact, wolves rarely attack humans. Like all predators, they hunt to feed and live their lives, trying to stay away from people. I suggest you lift the veil of secrecy and plunge into the mysterious world - the world of the Wolf.

Wolves have lived on Earth for over a million years. They descended from carnivorous predators that lived 100 million years ago, and about 20 million years ago dogs originated from the wolf.

The genus wolves (Lupus) combines wolves, coyotes, jackals, wild and domestic dogs - the largest representatives of the wolf family. In addition, all foxes, arctic foxes, the raccoon dog and the maned wolf belong to this family. Like dogs, wolves are very intelligent and easy to train. In addition, each wolf has a special character: there are cautious, impudent or self-confident, they keep themselves freely and naturally in wolf society, and others are not seen or heard.

Wolves live in the mountains, forests and plains of the Northern Hemisphere. Like all living creatures, they, as biologists say, occupy their ecological niche in the wild. In their habitats wolves are the largest group of those predators that prey on large mammals.

Is the wolf big? "Big" is not a very appropriate term for a wolf. Usually a male wolf weighs about 50 kilograms, a she-wolf weighs 5 kilograms less. Their height at the withers is about 75 centimeters, and the length from the nose to the tip of the tail reaches 1.5 - 2 meters.

Wolves are social animals: they live in families. Every flock has its own "table of ranks", and in it everyone has their own place. Strong and aggressive wolves rule, and those who need a firm hand obey them. A wolf pack - a group of animals related by kinship and mutual sympathy - is led by a wolf and a she-wolf. The rest of its members are their offspring (from tiny puppies to 2-3 year old teenagers). Usually in a wolf family there are 6 - 7, and sometimes 15 animals. The strongest wolf in the pack becomes the leader. A friend, a she-wolf, helps him to rule. For others to obey, leaders must have strong character. All decisions concerning the life of the pack are made by this couple. In a pack where the leader keeps order, wolves usually do not fight among themselves. However, skirmishes are common with strangers or lone wolves that have violated the border of possessions.

Each wolf pack hunts only in its own territory. The owners strictly guard and mark it, warning the neighbors that they should stay away. Any uninvited guest will be punished.

In large packs, it often happens that a wolf is poisoned by all his relatives. Sometimes the outcast becomes completely unbearable, and he is forced to leave the pack. Why is an unsociable person called a lone wolf? Because he resembles a wolf that has left the pack and lives on its own. As time passes, changes occur in the flock. Applicants for the role of leader remain in the pack and wait in the wings. Other wolves, having matured, leave to wander alone. But they can also create their own flock if they are lucky enough to meet a lone she-wolf. If the wolf and she-wolf want to rule the pack, they must subjugate all the rest of its members to their will and force them to unquestioningly comply with their laws.

The leader dominates the males of the pack, and his girlfriend maintains order among the wolves. The leaders constantly remind their "subordinates" who is the boss in the pack: they growl at them, bite, drive and even knock them down, preferring to do this in front of the whole pack.

One stern, intent look from the leader or his mate is enough to subdue those he targets. Smiling ingratiatingly, the wolves fall to the ground, and then, if possible, sneak away. Sometimes they lie on their backs, as if to say: we know who is in charge here.

The way a wolf holds its tail speaks of its position in the pack. Among the leaders, it is raised high, among their "subjects" it is lowered, and those who stand at the lowest degree in the wolf family tuck their tail.

Members of the pack show love and respect to the leader in a welcoming ceremony. Crawling, with flattened ears and smoothed hair, they approach the leader or his girlfriend, lick and gently bite his muzzle.

The wolf also needs a tail in order to express its feelings. If the tail is up and its tip is slightly curved, this means that the wolf is quite confident in himself. In a friendly wolf, the tail is lowered, but the very tip of it looks up. A wolf with its tail between its legs is either afraid of something or communicates its sympathy in this way.

The muzzles of wolves are very expressive. Frightened, the wolf presses his ears and depicts a semblance of a smile. An angry wolf bares his teeth, and turns his upright ears forward. Sensing danger, he turns his ears back, bares his teeth and sticks out his tongue. Comrades understand how to behave in order to keep the peace in the pack.

The weapon of the wolf is the teeth. There are as many as 42 of them in his mouth. 4 sharp, crooked 5-centimeter fangs stick out in front - two at the top and bottom. With them, the wolf can bite through the dense skin of the victim. And with predatory, or carnivorous, teeth - this is the name of the molars of all predators - an adult wolf gnaws even the femur of an elk.

The hunter needs a keen ear, and in this respect the wolves are lucky. When they hear a noise, they move their ears and determine where the sound is coming from. The sound source may be several kilometers away. Wolves hunt almost silently, because they run on the very tips of their fingers. Just like horses and cats, the wolf does not touch the ground with its heel.

He has strong muscular legs and a sweeping gait, and he can trot for a long time at a speed of 9 km / h, and in pursuit of deer and elk, accelerate to 60 km / h.

When hunting, the nose, not the ears or eyes, is the first to tell the wolves where to look for prey. In the wind, they catch the smell of even the smallest animal, located 1-2 kilometers from them, when it is not yet heard or seen. Thanks to their keen sense of smell, wolves can follow the tracks of their prey.

Thick fur up to 8 centimeters long protects the wolf from frost. The layer of fur closest to the body is the undercoat, and the outer layer is formed by hard, long, black outer hairs at the ends. They repel water, and the undercoat does not get wet. In such a raincoat with fur lining, the wolf is not afraid of bad weather.

Wolves are carnivorous (or predatory) animals. They hunt in groups. For a hungry wolf to get enough, sometimes a small animal is enough - a beaver, a rabbit, a mouse or a bird.

But this is not enough for the whole flock, it needs large prey - a deer, an elk or a ram. It is not for nothing that they are called orderlies - after all, as a rule, old, sick or inexperienced animals become their victims. With a sick animal, the focus of the disease disappears; if the old beast is killed, the young and strong get more food. This biological regulation of numbers contributes to the survival of strong, healthy animals, both among hunters and among their possible victims. Although wolves are considered merciless, only every tenth of their hunt ends in luck.

It happens that, after spending three days tracking down and chasing a herd of deer or elk, the wolves manage to kill only a few animals. Why? Swift-legged deer can run away, and moose can give a worthy rebuff: these 600-kilogram giants with sharp horns and heavy hooves do not have to break a wolf's skull. Wolves can go without food for two weeks, but if they are lucky on the hunt, they will fill up to satiety. At one time, an adult wolf can eat up to 10 kilograms of meat! Sometimes wolves hide part of the half-eaten prey in reserve - they drag it into a hole and throw something from above. In the event of an unsuccessful hunt, they will return to this cache and dig up the hidden lunch. The survival of the pack depends on the size of its hunting grounds, so the wolves protect them not for life, but for death.

The boundaries of the territory (it can be 50-1500 sq. Km, depending on what animals the pack hunts) are marked by odorous marks - they spray stumps and large stones with urine - and notify neighbors of their rights by howling.

Wolves do not always hunt, growl and are ferocious. The first thing a wolf does when it fills its stomach is to curl up in a ball and take a good nap. Waking up, frolic with pleasure. If he wants to play, he will invite relatives to join him. Crouching low on his front paws to the ground, he will approach them and, wagging his tail, will say: “Please!” No answer? Then, in order to attract attention, he will begin to jump from side to side, just like a dog.

Everyone remembers the fairy tale about the gray wolf, which we were told in childhood. So who is the real wolf? An image from a fairy tale or a dangerous animal? The common wolf is a large predator of the Canine family. The gray wolf is the master of the tundra and taiga, a hardy and very intelligent beast. In this article you will find a description and photo of the wolf, learn a lot of interesting things about the harsh life of this formidable predator.

Outwardly, the common gray wolf is very reminiscent of a dog, which is not surprising, because these animals have common ancestors. However, the wolf looks much larger. The body length of a wolf can reach 110-160 cm, the length of the tail is up to 52 cm, the height at the withers ranges from 60 to 90 cm, and the body weight of a wild predator can reach up to 80 kg.

There were cases when the weight of individual individuals exceeded 92 kg. The average weight of wolves varies from 30 to 65 kg. The size and weight of wolves depend on the geographical location. The colder the climate, the larger the animal. Males are always larger than females.

The animal wolf has thick, rather long and warm fur, which consists of two layers, in connection with this, the wolf looks larger. The first layer of wool of the common wolf is tougher and protects from dirt. The second is a waterproof undercoat that protects the wolf from the cold and various extreme conditions of nature. Animal gray wolf is very hardy.

The wolf looks like a threatening and dangerous animal, has a strong muscular body, high strong paws and a large broad-browed head with sharp ears. The elongated and large muzzle with dark stripes is combined with almost white cheeks and light spots in the eye area. The massive muzzle of the wolf is also very expressive. The tail of the gray wolf is quite long and is usually lowered down. By its movement and position, one can judge the mood of a predator.

The common wolf has a completely different color, depending on the habitat. In the forests it is a gray-brown color. In the tundra - lighter, almost white. In the desert - grayish-reddish. There are even white individuals that are found in the Arctic, as well as red or almost black ones. The undercoat of the beast is always gray.

How is a wolf different from a dog? An ordinary wolf differs from a dog not only in appearance, but also in its tracks. The track of tracks in the gray wolf is more even than in dogs, and forms an almost straight line. Also, the wolf has a different track length, which is 9-11 cm, and the width is 6-7 cm, for the she-wolf it is 7-9 cm and 5-6 cm. a much more embossed imprint than that of a dog.

Where do wolves live?

The wolf is the most common land predator. This wild animal has a wide range of habitats. The wolf lives mainly in cold countries and in various landscapes. In forests, steppes, deserts, taiga, tundra, forest-steppe and at the foot of mountains.

Wolves live in many parts of Europe (from Russia to Portugal), Asia (from Korea to Georgia) and North America (from Alaska to Mexico). Large individuals inhabit the tundra, and small ones inhabit the southern regions. It is curious that in Russia the wolf is absent only on Sakhalin Island.

The common wolf is a territorial animal. Packs of wolves live in conquered areas, the boundaries of which are marked with marks. In summer, when the wolf pack breaks up, the occupied territory is divided into several sections. The best of them is occupied by the main pair, and the rest of the wolves are moving to a nomadic lifestyle.

How do wolves live?

The common wolf is a social animal. Therefore, wolves live in packs, they hunt together, play and even howl. A wolf pack is a family group that consists of animals of different ages and can number from 3 to 40 individuals. The pack is controlled by a leader or a seasoned wolf - the dominant male. This is the smartest, wisest and strongest male in the wolf pack. The leader of the pack has a girlfriend - a dominant female. Together they form a pair, thereby uniting other wolves around them - this is the wolf pack.

A pack of wolves has its own hierarchy. The leader in the pack has unquestioned authority. This is a wise leader and he is friendly towards all members of the pack. But the seasoned wolf meets strangers extremely aggressively. A beta male is often present in the pack - the most likely successor to the leader. Usually this is the common son of the leading pair or the brother of the leading male. The applicant for the position of the head of the pack periodically demonstrates aggression towards the alpha male, as if checking his status, as he is ready to take his place at any moment.

A wolf that left the pack on its own or was expelled is called a lone wolf. Such animals have every chance to create their own flock.

Wolves live by relying on their feelings. They use these senses to hunt and communicate with other wolves. The excellent hearing of the beast allows you to hear a howling wolf at a distance of seven kilometers. Their sense of smell is 100 times stronger than that of humans. The gray wolf is able to run at a speed of 55 km/h.

Wolves live in packs and each pack has its own hunting area, which animals carefully guard from other wolves. In a pack where the leader keeps order, the wolves live peacefully and do not fight. Skirmishes happen with strangers and lone wolves that have violated the boundary of the site. Each wolf pack has its own territory and hunts only on it.

The owners carefully guard and mark their territory, leaving scratches on fallen trees or old stumps. Thus, make it clear that it is better to stay away. Unexpected guests are punished, such are the cruel laws of the wolf pack. The wolf howl that is heard around is a way of notifying that the territory is already occupied.

The size of the family territory of the common wolf depends on the landscape and ranges from 50 to 1500 km². The pack's survival depends on the size of its hunting grounds, so wolves protect them carefully. If there is more than enough food in the family hunting area, then several generations of wolves will live on one site. The largest hunting grounds for wolves are found in open landscapes of the tundra and steppe and are 1000-1250 km². In the forest zone, they are much smaller - 200-250 km².

When wolves do not have small cubs, they are nomadic. Wolves travel both in packs and alone. As a result of wandering, animals sometimes appear in areas where no wolves have been seen for several years. Nomadic wolves run up to 70 kilometers in one night.

Gray wolves gather in packs in winter. If the snow is deep, the wolves in the pack walk in single file. Each animal follows each other, stepping on the same track if possible. The common wolf is very cunning. Therefore, it is very difficult to find out from the tracks how many wolves a pack consists of.

Why do wolves howl? Wolves howl because howling is the way they communicate with each other. With the help of howling, wolves find out where their family members are, announce the capture of prey and the seizure of territory, or simply to communicate with relatives. Wolves howl usually in the late evening hours. During the year, wolves howl most frequently in winter, when the number of pack members reaches its maximum. Wolves begin to howl more actively by the end of summer and with the beginning of autumn, as well as when puppies are developing the family plot and begin to move its territory.

What does a wolf eat and how does it hunt?

The wolf is a picky predator. The main diet of the common wolf includes large ungulates: deer, moose, saigas, sheep and goats. But the wolf also feeds on hares, various rodents and birds, because he is picky. Sometimes wolves can eat the dead members of the pack.

Large concentrations of livestock attract wild and predatory wolves. Therefore, meeting a gray wolf near farms is a common thing. The wolf eats meat, so the average animal needs 3-4.5 kg of meat per day. The wolves store their food. Having sated, the animal wolf buries the remaining pieces of meat. Wolves can go without food for more than two weeks. In the summer, the diet of the common wolf includes plant foods, so in the summer the wolf also eats fruits and berries.

The principles of wolf hunting are very diverse. In winter, wolves collectively hunt large ungulates. Wolves use this type of hunting in winter. The main advantage of the wolf's winter hunting is the presence of snow cover, on which it moves with ease. For hoofed animals, snow makes it much more difficult for them to escape from the wolf, a wild and predatory animal.

It is curious that the collective hunting of wolves provides for the distribution of responsibilities: part of the pack participates in the pursuit of prey, while the other cuts the path of the prey. On the hunt, the nose of the wolf is the main adviser. He tells the wild predator where to look for prey. Wolves smell even a small animal that is a couple of kilometers away from them. It is with the help of a keen sense of smell that wolves can follow their prey in the footsteps. The wolf hunts almost silently.

The main weapon of the wolf is the teeth. With sharp fangs 5 cm long, the wolf holds and drags the victim, and with the rest of its teeth it cuts the game. The teeth of a wolf are not only its weapons, but also its protection, so their loss is detrimental to the animal.

Especially large ungulates are killed by wolves, attacking the whole pack and attacking until their prey falls. At the same time, the primacy of eating prey rightfully belongs to the leader and his female, they eat the best pieces of the carcass.

The wolf hunts very carefully. Imperceptibly sneaking up to the animal, with a deft jump grabs it by the throat and knocks it to the ground. It can sit in ambush for hours and wait for prey for a whole day. Often they can follow a herd of ungulates, predators do not betray their presence, but wait for a convenient moment to attack.

Wolves are very cunning, in pursuit they stop the pursuit, allowing the prey to go far ahead. When the victim slows down, the wolf attacks again. Often wolves attack foxes. But most of the time they don't eat them. When attacking a herd of livestock, wolves can distract dogs. Part of the wolf pack attacks the dogs, and the rest - the herd.

Wolves are very good at navigating the terrain. Many packs use the same patches of territory to drive prey into a dead end. When hunting rodents, the wolf jumps on the prey, crushes it with its paw and eats it. This hunting technique is common for wolves in the summer.

In summer, the flock is divided and predators live singly or in small groups. Wolves feed on various animals using well-established hunting techniques. In the summer, most often the wolf feeds on hares. But even with all the prudent moves and clever maneuvers in the hunt, it does not always end successfully.

Wolf cubs - the birth of puppies. How does a pack raise wolf cubs?

A wolf's lair is a hole where a she-wolf brings out wolf cubs. Wolves make their lairs in secluded places. In this case, the place should have a good overview. Often wolves use empty burrows of other animals as a den device.

Wolves breed annually in January-February, for the first time the breeding season begins at the age of 2-3 years. The duration of the pregnancy of a she-wolf is about two months. In the spring, wolf cubs are born in the lair. Usually a female gives birth to 4 to 8 cubs. Wolf puppies are born deaf and blind, the first days of the life of the babies, the she-wolf is constantly nearby. They begin to see and hear around the 10-12th day of life.

After three weeks, the wolf cubs leave the den for the first time and begin to taste the meat at the same time. The whole flock takes part in the cultivation and education of wolf cubs. Wolves bring the best meat to the lair with the kids.

In small wolf cubs, the color has a grayish-brown hue, which changes with age. At the age of 2 months, wolf cubs leave the den, but still stay close to the hole. Such places are protected by vegetation from prying eyes. Wolf puppies learn the basics of hunting, attack shrews and mice.

Wolf cubs grow rapidly and their weight increases almost 30 times in the first four months. Newborn wolf cubs have blue eyes. At the age of 8 months, the cubs' eyes change to yellow. By the end of the first winter after birth, wolf cubs reach adult size. The common wolf lives 12-15 years.

Are wolves necessary and why?

Why do we need wolves, because for a person a wolf is an enemy. It is dangerous to people and exterminates livestock. Gradually, the struggle of people with wolves led to a reduction in their numbers. But a wild predatory animal, the common wolf plays an important role in the balance of the ecological system.

Wolves are needed to regulate the population of large ungulates. Also, wolves are a kind of "orderlies", since by destroying sick animals, wolves do not allow diseases to spread. Hunting the weak animals helps the strong survive.

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