WOLF. Believed to be an ancestor
of the domestic dog, the wolf is a highly intelligent and
courageous hunter. Its remarkable powers of endurance are legendary.
Although it is not a
fast runner, it can maintain a loping run for many miles, running
throughout the night if
necessary.
Wolves belong to the dog family Canidae, which includes
the coyote (Canis latrans) and
the jackals. Only two species of wolves remain today the gray, or
timber, wolf (C. lupus),
largest member of the dog family, and the red wolf (C. rufus). Because
of human
persecution and habitat destruction, the gray wolf, once among the
most widespread
mammals outside the tropics, is now found in substantial numbers
only in a few regions in
Europe, Asia, and North America. The pure red wolf is thought to
be virtually extinct in
the wild as a result of hybridization with migrating coyotes.
Both species resemble shepherd dogs, though their heads
and muzzles are broader and
their tails shorter and bushier. The gray wolf has a coat usually
of gray to tawny-buff. It
grows up to 32 inches (81 centimeters) high at the shoulder and
weighs up to 175 pounds
(79 kilograms). The red wolf is smaller about 66 pounds (29 kilograms)
and has a
cinnamon or tawny coat with gray and black highlights.
Social and Hunting Habits
Wolves generally travel in packs and frequently establish
territories ranging from 40 to
more than 400 square miles (100 to 1,000 square kilometers). They
define their ranges
with scent markings and such vocalizations as growls, barks, and
their legendary howl.
Wolves will eat a wide range of food, including small
animals such as mice and squirrels,
large animals such as deer and moose, and occasionally carrion and
plant material. Attacks
on humans are believed to occur only in isolated cases of famine
or epidemic among the
wolf population. Where domestic animals are available, wolves often
prey on them
because of their vulnerability; it is this practice that has resulted
in the wolf's persecution
by poisoning, trapping, and shooting.
In regions where typical prey is small, packs may consist
of seven or less. Where larger
animals are prevalent, packs of up to 30 individuals may occur.
In this case the members
of the pack cooperate in a grueling contest of wits and endurance,
maneuvering in an
attempt to make the hunted animal expose its vulnerable flanks.
The nucleus of the wolf pack is the breeding pair,
and it is believed that wolves mate for
life. Only one male and one female in each pack will mate each year.
The female gives
birth to some four to seven pups, which are cared for by their parents
and other pack
members, known as helpers. After the pups are trained to hunt and
kill, they may choose
to leave the pack or remain as helpers themselves.
|
