| Wolves may feature in our myths, our history, our dreams, but they have their own future, their own loves, their own dreams to fulfill. |
| Denning and Birth Wolves usually only use dens when giving birth and raising a new generation of young cubs. The female will begin preparing a den a few weeks before the birth of her cubs. Her mate will assist her in the nesting. In the warmer southern ranges, wolf matings can take place as early as January or February. Wolves that live in northern climates usually mate in late March or April. Most wolf cubs are born during the spring between March & May. A wolf mother will give birth to a litter of cubs after a gestation period of 63 days. With their mother's milk to nourish them, wolf cubs develop quickly through the first days and weeks. Wolf litters can consist of anywhere from 3 to 9 cubs. The average litter size, however is 4 to 6 cubs. The average weight of a newborn wolf cub is usually around one pound, although it soon starts gaining about 3 pounds a week. The newborn cub will typically measure between 10 to 13 inches from nose to the tip of his tail. Wolf cubs learn the skills they will need for hunting by engaging in hours and hours of play fighting with each other. When they are about a month old, wolf cubs begin to add meat to their diet. However, they will continue to get nourishment from their mother's milk until they are almost 8 weeks old. Although adult wolves are known for their strength and hardiness, less than 50% of newborn cubs survive. A wolf cub's natural predators include grizzly bears, cougars, bobcats, and hawks. Spring is the time of year when young wolves sometimes defect from the pack and go off on their own to try to start new packs. When the need for a den has passed, the pack will choose a rendezvous site away from the original den. Like the den, the rendezvous site is near water, but it also has a clear area that can be used as an observation post. As each new cub is born, the mother wolf licks it thoroughly, leaving it clean and dry. The Wolf is kept fed by his feet--- Russian Proverb |
| Family & Hierarchy Wolves have an extreme sense of loyalty to their pack. Their pack is a family, and their very survival can depend on the strength of those family ties. A wolf that leaves its home and moves away to a new territory is known as a disperser . Within a wolf pack, there are separate hierarchies for males and females. Each pack therefore has both an alpha male and an alpha female, together known as the alpha pair. Wolf packs have a dominance hierarchy. The pack's leader is called the alpha male. Beta wolves are sometimes also called biders because they are biding their time, waiting for the opportunity to advance in rank when the alpha wolves die or become too old or weak. The lowest member of a wolf pack's dominance hierarchy is known as the omega wolf, which is sometimes bullied and mistreated by the rest of the pack. If the alpha male shows no interest in the alpha female during breeding season, she may mate with another mate. In this way, the pack continues to thrive and the alpha male does not have to give up his position. Mystery and majesty- both live within the spirit of the wolf |
| Howls and Songs Wolves seem to howl more frequently in the evening and early morning hours. The length and pitch of a wolf's howl may communicate a variety of different meanings to its pack mates, including specific purposes as to call a hunt. The sound of a howl can carry up to 7 miles. When a wolf howls, it holds it head up at a 45-degree angle for optimum sound projection. In the truth of the evening, a sound is heard-- Wolf's haunting howl, his song, his word..... |
| ~Types of Wolves~ Gray/Timber Wolves Most scientists agree there are 5 distinct subspecies of the gray wolf in North America: The eastern Timber wolf, The Great Plains wolf, The Arctic wolf, The Mexican wolf and The Rocky Mountain wolf. When most people talk about wolves, they are in general speaking of the gray wolf. Gray wolves can actually be any color from white to jet black, with any number of shades if cream, tan, and gray in between. Canis Lupus Tycaon is the subspecies commonly known as the Eastern Timber wolf. The timber wolf inhabits the eastern portions of the United States and southern parts of Canada. Gray wolves are still found in large numbers in Russia and the Balkans. Arctic Wolves Canis lupus Arctosis the wolf subspecies that lives in the High Arctic. Often called the White Wolf or Arctic wolf because of its creamy white coat, this wolf inhabits the far regions of North America. Arctic wolves have adapted to their environment. The coat is thicker that their brother, the gray wolf, and their ears are smaller and more rounded. Mexican Wolf The Mexican wolf, reintroduced into Arizona and New Mexico in the late 1990's is the smallest subspecies of gray wolf in North America. Its scientific name is Canis lupus baileyi. This reintroduction began in 1998 with the release of 13 wolves in Arizona . The Mexican wolf prefers to inhabit mountainous regions at least 4000 feet above sea level, where prey such as deer, elk, pronghorn, and javelina live in the pine forests. The Mexican wolf is considered the most endangers wolf subspecies in the world. Red Wolf Canis Rufus is the scientific name for the Red Wolf. The Red Wolf is generally considered to be a second species of wolf, although some biologist believe it is a hybrid resulting from interbreeding between gray wolves and coyotes. Like gray wolves, red wolves can actually be any one of a number of different colors. There are red wolves that are black, gray, brown and yellow. Red wolves usually form a long-term pair-bonds, which means they remain with the same mate for life. The Red wolf is found only in very small numbers in the southeastern United States. Its original range included the southern states from Texas to Florida and into Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and the Carolinas. Mackenzie Valley Wolf Canis lupus occidentalis is the subspecies known as the Mackenzie alley wolf. This wolf inhabits Alaska and western Canada. This wolf lived from the upper Mackenzie River Valley south into Alberta. It is one of the largest wolves in North America and varies in color from black to white. Great Plains Wolf The Great Plains wolf is the subspecies of gray wolf that is currently found in Upper Michigan, Wisconsin, ans Minnesota. Also known as the buffalo wolf, its scientific name is Canis lupus nubilus. Without wilderness, without the freedom and awe of nature, where would this world be? |
| Wolf Creek Habitat Wolf |
| ~ Facts about Wolves ~ ~ The Indian Ways ~ ~ The Laws and Distinction of the Wolf ~ Picture by Scooters Designs |
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