FAQ

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• Frequantly Asked Questions

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Q: Is it true that wolves attack people?
A: There has never been a documented case of a wolf attack on a person in North America. Wolves are generally shy animals and avoid people.



Q: What do wolves eat?
A: Wolves are predators and generally hunt other animals, mostly hooved animals such as moose and elk, for food. Wolves can eat a variety of food--meat, bone, sinew, invertebrates, plants--for greater versatility and survival. If an adult wolf has eaten a lot after a successful hunt, it can survive for a couple weeks without eating.



Q: What kinds of wolves live in the United States?
A: There are two main species of wolf living in the United States: the gray wolf (canis lupus) and the red wolf (canis rufus).



Q: Are wolves related to dogs?
A: Wolves and domestic dogs are descended from the same species, called "creodonts." So, in that way, wolves and dogs are related.



Q: Besides color, how are gray wolves and red wolves different?
A: The gray wolf is larger than the red wolf. Additionally, some features such as longer ears and snout on the red wolf distinguishes from the gray wolf.



Q: What is the status of wolf population in the United States?
A: The wolf is considered an endangered species in the U.S., except in Minnesota, where it is listed as threatened, and in Alaska, where it is not listed at all.



Q: What does it mean to call a wolf the "alpha wolf?"
A: The "alpha" wolf leads the pack. There is generally an alpha male and and alpha female. All other wolves in the pack must submit to the alpha wolves. The other wolves are ranked similarly, with the second-in-command being the "beta" and the lowest wolf (who often gets picked on by the other wolves) as the "omega."



Q: Why do wolves live in packs?
A: Wolves are very social animals. Also, there is a hierarchy of rank within the pack which determines social order. Pack organization helps wolves protect themselves from outsiders and survive by hunting together.



Q: Is it true that wolves mate for life?
A: Yes, wolves usually mate for life. Generally only the alpha wolves in a pack mate. On occasion, the alpha wolves may mate with other wolves in the pack, but this is often a rarity.



Q: When is the mating season for wolves?
A: The mating season for wolves can being anywhere from early in January to late in April, depending on the climate in which the wolves live. The warmer climates encourage earlier mating.



Q: How do wolves stay warm outside all winter?
A: Wolves have two coats of fur. There is a thick, downy undercoat which is used to for insulation. There is an overcoat of long, guard hairs which repels water and snow. The undercoat sheds in the spring and grows back again in the fall and winter. Wolves can adapt to very cold climates-they keep warm by curling themselves in a ball and tucking their muzzle in their tail.



Q: How many wolf pups are usually in a litter?
A: There are usually four to six pups in a litter, although a litter can range in size from two to ten pups.



Q: Why do wolves howl?
A: Wolves communicate through howls and body language. Wolves howl to bring the pack together for a hunt, for instance. They communicate many messages with their voices.



Most of info. from W.E.R.C.