Where does a wolf live and what does it eat? Facts about wolves and their unique personalities
Wolf (lat. Canis lupus) is a predatory mammal from the Canidae family. Along with coyotes (Canis latrans) and common jackals(Canis aureus), as well as some other species and subspecies, gray or common wolves are included in the genus Wolves (Canis).
Description of the gray wolf
According to genetic and genetic drift studies, wolves are the direct ancestors of domestic dogs, which are generally considered a subspecies of the wolf. Currently, Canis lupus is the largest modern representative of its family.
Appearance
The size and body weight of a wolf are characterized by pronounced geographic variability and directly depend on climatic conditions and some external factors. The average height of the animal at the withers varies from 66 to 86 cm, with a body length ranging from 105-160 cm and a weight of 32-62 kg. A profit or one-year-old wolf weighs no more than 20-30 kg, and the weight of two- and three-year-old wolves is no more than 35-45 kg. The wolf becomes seasoned at age three years when the minimum body weight reaches 50-55 kg.
In appearance, wolves are similar to large, pointed-eared dogs with high and strong limbs, large and more elongated paws. The two middle fingers of such a predator are characterized by a noticeable projection forward, due to which the footprint acquires a very peculiar relief. Wolves have a broad-browed head with a relatively wide and fairly elongated, massive muzzle, which is characterized by increased expressiveness, which allows one to distinguish more than a dozen facial expressions of a predator. The skull is high, massive and large, with a wide nasal opening, widening at the bottom.
This is interesting! Significant differences The wolf's track from the dog's is represented by a large set back of the lateral toes, as well as keeping the paw “in a lump” and a more straight “path” left by the animal.
The tail part is “log-shaped”, thick, always lowered down. An important characteristic of a wild predator is the structure of its teeth. The upper jaw of a wolf is equipped with six incisors, a pair of canines, eight premolars and four molars, and the lower jaw has a couple more molars. With the help of fangs, the predator not only holds well, but also drags prey, so the loss of teeth causes hunger and a rather painful death for the wolf.
Double-layer wolf fur is sufficiently long and thick.. Coarse guard hairs have water- and dirt-repellent properties, and the undercoat is necessary to retain heat. Different subspecies differ in color, corresponding to environment. Forest predators have a grayish-brown color, tundra ones are light, almost white, and desert individuals are gray-reddish. Wolf cubs have a single color dark color, which becomes lighter as the animal grows older. Within the same population, the coat color of different individuals can also have noticeable differences.
Character and lifestyle
Wolves are primarily active at night, accompanying their presence with a loud and prolonged howl, which serves as a means of communication even over very long distances. When hunting for prey, a wolf, as a rule, does not make unnecessary sounds and tries to move as silently as possible.
This is interesting! The habitats of the gray wolf are very diverse, which is due to the affinity of such a predatory mammal to almost any landscape .
The predatory mammal has very well-developed hearing.. Such an animal's vision and sense of smell are somewhat less developed. Thanks to a well-developed higher nervous activity, strength, speed and agility, the wolf's chances of survival are very high. The predator is capable of running at speeds of up to 60 km/h and covering a distance of 75-80 km in one night.
How long do wolves live?
The general life expectancy of a gray wolf in natural conditions in most cases depends on human activity. The average lifespan of such a predator in nature is fifteen years or a little more.
Range, habitats
Wolves are found in most areas of Europe and Asia, as well as in North America, where they have chosen the taiga, conifers forest areas, icy tundra and even deserts. Currently, the northern border of its habitat is represented by the coast of the Arctic Ocean, and the southern border is Asia.
As a result of active human activity, the number of places where the predator is distributed has significantly decreased over the past few centuries. People often exterminate wolf packs and force them out of their inhabited places, so this predatory mammal no longer inhabits Japan, the British Isles, France and Holland, Belgium and Denmark, as well as Switzerland.
This is interesting! The gray wolf is a territorial animal, occupying from 50 km 2 to 1.5 thousand km 2, and the area of the family territory directly depends on the landscape features in the predator’s habitat.
The distribution zone of wolves is determined by sufficient quantity production regardless of the time of year. With the onset of winter, the predator tries to avoid places with a lot of snow and continuous forest. Largest quantity individuals are observed in the tundra and forest-tundra, forest-steppe and alpine zones, as well as steppes. In some cases, wild predators settle in close proximity to human habitation, and taiga zones are currently characterized by the spread of wolves following the deforestation of the taiga, which is quite actively carried out by people.
Gray wolf diet
Wolves feed almost exclusively on food of animal origin, but in the southern regions predators often eat wild fruits and berries. The main diet consists of domestic and wild ungulates, hares and small rodents, as well as birds and carrion. Tundra wolves prefer calves and females, geese, lemmings, etc. The prey of predators inhabiting mountainous areas is often rams and tarbagans, as well as hares. They can also become food for the wolf.
The genus of wolves is one of the smallest
Among mammals, the genus of wolves is one of the smallest. It includes only 7 species: wolf (Canis lupus); common jackal (Canis aureus); coyote (Canis latrans); red wolf (Canis rufus); black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas); striped jackal (Canis adustus); Ethiopian jackal (Canis simensis), wild and domestic dogs. In addition, the wolf family includes all foxes, arctic foxes, raccoon dog and a maned wolf.
Appeared about 1 million years ago
The wolf evolved from carnivorous predators that lived 100 million years ago, and dogs evolved from the wolf about 20 million years ago. As a species, Canis lupus emerged in Eurasia about 1 million years ago, and by the end of the Pleistocene it became the most widespread predator.
Ancestors of wolves
Dogs and wolves descended from miacids, which lived on earth 50 million years ago. Their immediate ancestors were the race carnivorous mammals Hesperocyon (35 million years ago). During the Miocene, the Canidae Family was distinguished from Borophaginae mammals. Fossil remains of representatives of the Canis family were found in Spain and date back to 7 million years. The immediate ancestors of the American steppe wolf settled in North America between 4 and 2 million years ago. During this period, the Etruscan wolf (Canis etruscus) lived in Europe, which became the direct ancestor of European wolves (Canis lupus). Formation modern look happened 1 million years ago.
Most common predator
Among all land mammals, wolves Canis lupus have the widest habitat. Currently only gray rat With the help of humans, it was able to spread wider than the wolf. Wolves live in many areas of Europe, Asia and North America, where only large ungulates are found: from taiga, coniferous forests and icy tundra to deserts. The northern border of the wolf's distribution is the coast of the Arctic Ocean. In southern Asia, in Hindustan, the wolf is distributed up to approximately 16" northern latitude. In its range, the wolf is very variable; there are many subspecies that differ in size, color, and some features of their lifestyle. Zoologists identify several dozen subspecies of wolves. The largest wolves inhabit the tundra, the smallest - southern regions.
Between a coyote and a wolf
American zoologists believe that the states of Texas, Pennsylvania and Florida are inhabited by special kind- Red Wolf. This one is very rare beast, survives in small numbers in southwestern North America. It occupies a sort of intermediate position between a coyote and a wolf, given its size and some other characteristics. Some zoologists consider it a hybrid of a wolf and a coyote, others consider it a special subspecies of the wolf, and still others give it a separate species status.
Wolves large and small
There are 41 species in the canine family. Wolves of northern populations are larger, while wolves of southern populations are smaller. On average, the length from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail is 1000 - 1300 mm (males), 870 - 1170 mm (females). Tail length 350 - 520 mm. Weight 30 -80 kg (males), average 55 kg, 23 -55 kg (females), average 45 kg. Height at the withers (from the base of the paw to the shoulder) 60 - 90 cm.
Wolf color
... varies depending on the distribution area. In the Arctic there are white individuals, other colors are variants of white with gray, brown, cinnamon, black, and sometimes completely black. North American populations have three color phases. The first (normal) is a mixture of black, gray and cinnamon with a brown top. The second is black (a mixture of black and dark brown). The third phase is gray with brown. The similarly colored wolves Canis lupus differ from coyotes (Canis latrans) and red wolves (Canis rufus) in size (they are 50-100% larger), wide muzzle, shorter ears and higher paws.
Thick fur
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-tipped guard hairs. They repel water and the undercoat does not get wet. Fleet-footed deer can run away, and moose can give a worthy rebuff: these 600-kilogram giants with sharp antlers and heavy hooves can easily break a wolf’s skull.
Wolf teeth
The wolf's weapon is teeth. There are as many as 42 of them in his mouth. Four sharp, crooked 5-centimeter fangs stick out in front - two on top and two on bottom. With them the wolf can bite through the thick skin of the victim. And with predatory, or carnivorous, teeth - this is what the molars of all predators are called - an adult wolf even gnaws the femur of an elk.
Smell and Hearing
When hunting, the nose, and not the ears or eyes, is the first to tell wolves where to look for prey. In the wind, they catch the smell of even the smallest animal located 1-2 kilometers away 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. A hunter needs keen hearing, and wolves are lucky in this regard. When they hear a noise, they move their ears and determine where the sound comes from. The sound source may be several kilometers away.
Moves silently and quickly
Wolves hunt almost silently because they run on the very tips of their fingers. Just like horses and cats, a wolf's heel does not touch the ground. He has strong, muscular legs and a sweeping gait, and can trot for long periods at a speed of 9 km/h, and can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h when chasing deer and elk.
Social life wolf
Wolves live in families of 2 to 15, usually 4 to 8 animals. A pack is a family group consisting of animals of different ages. Typically, a flock consists of parents, newborns (this year's brood) and youngsters (animals that have not reached sexual maturity). But very often it also includes several adult animals, apparently not taking part in reproduction. In years with abundant food, up to 30 wolves or more can gather in a family. Young wolves usually stay with the family for 10-54 months, after which they leave.
The flock is a self-regulating mechanism
If the population density is low, then the flocks are small, and the separation of the younger generation occurs faster. Under favorable environmental conditions, the population density increases, in this case the size of the flock increases, but up to a certain limit. Growth occurs only due to non-pack lone wolves occupying a subordinate position. Thus, in the pack there is a “core” of wolves with high social status and subordinate wolves. When the environment deteriorates, at the birth of a new generation, it is the subordinate male wolves who independently leave the pack, and the females are expelled by the most important female.
Males and females in a flock
A pack of wolves consists of an a-male, an a-female, a b-male, low-ranking wolves of both sexes, and pups outside the hierarchy. During the mating season and before it, the a-female is extremely aggressive towards all mature females. Although she prefers the a-male, she can also mate with other sexually mature males, including low-ranking ones. But greatest number She still maintains contacts with the a-male. After the rut, her aggressiveness drops sharply, and she behaves friendly towards all members of the pack, which helps to establish a climate favorable for raising puppies in the family.
The A-male, in Tsimena’s figurative expression, “tolerant boss,” is the real leader in the pack - he is friendly towards all its members, but is extremely aggressive towards strangers. Almost all the activity of the pack is concentrated around him, and he also holds leadership in marking behavior.
The B male is the most likely successor to the A male. Usually this is the son or brother of a-male or a-female, or their common one. Thus, he is closely related to the puppies, being their older brother or uncle. The B-male exhibits high aggression towards low-ranking members of the pack, but sometimes it is also directed at high-ranking ones. The B-male, demonstrating aggression towards the A-male, periodically checks the latter’s status, since he is his successor in the hierarchy and is constantly ready to take his place.
The role of low-ranking males is determined primarily by the advantages that the flock receives from collective hunts for large ungulates, often larger in size than the predators themselves. The chances of low-ranking males leaving offspring are very limited. They are forced to wait for a long time for their turn in the hierarchical leadership goal. At the same time, such animals are the most likely candidates for a leading position when joining a new flock.
Family hunting plot
The survival of a pack depends on the size of its hunting grounds, so wolves protect them tooth and nail. Wolves mark the boundaries of the territory (it can be 50-1500 sq. km, depending on what animals the pack hunts) with odorous marks - they spray stumps and large stones with urine - and notify neighbors about their rights by howling. Family groups Wolves living in the same territory are closely related; the areas of neighboring families may overlap, but they never collide. If there is an abundance of food, then many generations of wolves live in one area.
The size of a family's territory depends greatly on the landscape
...and fluctuates within very wide limits. The largest family plots are in open landscapes of tundra, steppe or semi-desert, where they reach 1000 - 1250 km2. In the forest zone they are smaller - 200 - 250 km2.
Border signs
Wolves mark their territory with urine, feces, or by leaving scratches on paths, fallen trees, and isolated stumps. Wolf droppings, when dry, acquire White color and in an open place is noticeable on long distance. It seems that wolves sometimes specifically choose the most visible places to leave droppings. Litter was discovered in Altai large wolf on the mower seat, which rose about a meter and a half above the ground. The mower itself stood for many days in the middle of a spacious clearing, very visible from the road, along which wolves regularly walked, gathering in places where deer roared.
Wolves roam
When wolves do not have small cubs, they rarely live permanently in one place. For the most part, animals go quite far and leave their habitable places for several days or weeks, only to return here again when they find prey. The wolf undertakes his wanderings both in packs and alone, makes his way along mountain ranges, passes great steppes, moves from one forest to another and, as a result, sometimes appears in areas where wolves have not been seen for several years in a row. It has been proven that during these wanderings, wolves run from 40 to 70 kilometers in one night.
They gather in flocks in winter
In spring and summer, the wolf lives alone or in pairs, in the fall - as a whole family, in winter these predators sometimes gather in packs, the size of which depends on the conditions of the area where they live. If a wolf and a she-wolf form a pair, then their union almost never breaks up; in the spring, pairs are necessarily formed; In large flocks, males predominate.
Sign language
They express their feelings through facial expressions and body movements. "Wolf's tongue" unites the pack and helps it act as one.
Tail
If the tail is raised and its tip is slightly curved, this means that the wolf is quite confident in itself. A friendly wolf has a lowered tail, but its very tip points upward. A wolf with its tail between its legs is either afraid of something or is communicating its sympathy. The way a wolf holds its tail indicates its position in the pack. Among the leaders it is raised high, among their “subjects” it is lowered, and those standing at the lowest level in wolf family tail between their legs. By dancing and wagging its tail, the wolf invites its relatives to play.
Welcome Ceremony
Members of the pack show love and respect to the leader in a welcoming ceremony. Crawling, with ears flattened and fur smoothed, they approach the leader or his mate, lick and carefully bite his face.
Aggression and tolerance
Thanks to mutual tolerance, it is possible to unite the flock during group hunts, accompanied by fine coordination of the actions of its members. Behavioral mechanisms, based on mutual tolerance and the desire for unification, dominate the daily life of the pack. The frequency of aggressive contacts between wolves in natural and artificial conditions is likely to be very different. Limited space does not allow wolves to avoid mutual psychological pressure, maintaining a constantly high general level aggressiveness. For animals with a highly developed psyche, such as wolves, psychological relief has great importance. IN field conditions We have repeatedly observed that during the day, while resting, wolves were dispersed at a distance of tens and hundreds of meters from each other. Even the puppies that grew up by the end of summer did not always stay together.
Muzzle
In a surge of tenderness, the wolves lick each other and rub their muzzles. The faces of wolves are very expressive. Frightened, the wolf presses his ears back and pretends to smile. An angry wolf bares his teeth and turns his erect ears forward. Sensing danger, he pulls his ears back, bares his teeth and sticks out his tongue.
Cruel laws of the pack
In a pack where the leader keeps order, wolves usually do not fight among themselves. However, clashes with strangers or lone wolves who trespass often occur. Each wolf pack hunts only in its own territory. The owners strictly guard and mark her, warning neighbors that they should stay away. Any uninvited guest will be punished. In large packs it often happens that one wolf is poisoned by all his relatives. Sometimes the outcast becomes completely unbearable, and he is forced to leave the pack.
When are wolves especially dangerous?
In autumn and winter, the wolf becomes much more dangerous, as it constantly wanders around the herds that are still grazing and attacks both large and small livestock, but is wary of adult horses, cows and pigs when they walk in a herd, and the wolves have not yet gathered in packs. At the beginning of winter, he comes closer and closer to villages and cities, and in small places he hunts for dogs, which he loves very much and which often constitute his only prey in some places.
They go single file
In winter, quite often, and in deep snow, packs of wolves almost always walk in single file, and each animal, like Indians on a military trail, follows each other, stepping, if possible, in the same trail (lynxes also do this), so that even experienced hunter It can be difficult to find out how many wolves a pack consists of.
Distribution of responsibilities during hunting
When wolves hunt in packs, they know how to distribute responsibilities among themselves very well: part of the pack chases the prey, while the other cuts its path and gnaws it to death.
Wolf vs bear
In Russia they claim that hungry packs of wolves attack the bear and, after a long fight, kill it to death. Kremenets's observations confirm that wolves sometimes disturb a bear in its winter lair, chase wounded bears and try to capture cubs.
Attack people
A flock of wolves, maddened by hunger, can, of course, attack people, even adults and armed ones, on occasion; It may happen that wolves will bite and devour a person, but in any case, the danger from wolves in those countries where there are many of them is not at all as great as it is often imagined. A lone wolf rarely attacks an adult, even armed only with a club; such behavior can only be caused by special circumstances, for example, if the wolf is mad or the she-wolf fears for her cubs.
Sitting in ambush for hours
While searching for prey, the wolf approaches the chosen victim with all possible caution, sneaks up on the animal unnoticed, with a deft leap grabs it by the throat and throws it to the ground. On forest paths, he sometimes waits for hours for prey, for example, a deer or roe deer, and in the steppe areas he patiently watches for a bobak hiding in a hole. He follows the trail of the beast with unmistakable confidence.
Hunting trick
When hunting, wolves use cunning, making sure that the prey has gone far ahead, they stop pursuing, and when the deer or elk slow down, they attack him again. Often wolves refuse an attack from an elk, which is actively defending itself, and go off to look for other prey. If an ungulate defends itself and then tries to escape, this is a clear sign of weakness; wolves pursue such a victim to the end.
Wolves understand humans worse than dogs
There is a unique connection between a person and a dog at the genetic level, which is inherited. Two containers were placed in front of the puppies and wolf cubs, in one of which meat was hidden. Then the researchers made it clear to the animals where the food was hidden: the scientists pointed to the “correct” container with gestures, touched it, or looked closely at it. The puppies won a landslide victory - man's best friend always quickly "guessed" where the meat was, leaving no chance for the wolves. According to their behavioral characteristics, wolves are better adapted to wild habitats, where communication with people is not the highest priority.
Attacks a fox
Foxes often become victims of wolves. If wolves meet a fox on the plain, they try to surround it immediately, and some give chase. But wolves only kill foxes, leaving them in place, and very rarely eat them. This incomprehensible feature of the predator’s behavior was noted by many zoologists. There is a superstition among hunters: where there are many wolves, foxes disappear
Distracts dogs from the herd
When attacking a herd, wolves very cunningly try to distract the dogs from it. When many wolves have gathered, and there are several dogs and shepherds with the herd, some of the wolves attack the dogs, and the other attacks the sheep.
They drive out the ungulates onto the crust
In winter, wolves often drive out ungulates at present. The relative load on the track of wolves is 2 - 3 times less than that of most ungulates. Therefore, the victims of wolves, running away on the crust, get tired very quickly, falling into deep snow, and often injure their feet on the sharp edges of frozen snow.
Driven into an ambush or a dead end
Wolves are excellent at navigating the terrain. Many flocks constantly, year after year, use the same areas of territory to drive prey into a dead end. Such dead ends can be tree debris, scattered stones, or a dead end in the literal sense of the word - a sheer cliff or a deep ravine in a ravine. Wolves often drive saigas into dry lakes, where in autumn and spring the bottom, softened by water, turns into difficult-to-pass mud, and the ungulates move with great difficulty. Finding themselves in a dead end, ungulates begin to rush around, trying to escape from it. In rubble or piles of stones, they often break limbs and then become easy prey for wolves.
They pursue the victim for a long time
They can often follow the herd without giving away their presence and wait for an opportune moment. decisive actions moment. Such passive pursuit can last for many days. Prolonged active pursuit of prey is not typical for wolves. As a rule, this is a short jerk of several tens, less often - several hundred meters
Wolves can "mouse"
Like foxes, wolves can “mouse” while hunting for small rodents and insectivores. Having waited until, for example, a vole appears on the surface, the wolf jumps and crushes it with its paw and eats it. This is normal hunting technique lone wolves, adults and young, in summer period. In summer, the pack breaks up. In summer, when the parents feed the puppies, and the pack breaks up and predators live alone or in small groups, wolves eat insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and various mammals, on which they have also developed skillful hunting techniques. Hares are the most common victims of wolves.
Wolf diet
The wolf's diet is based on large ungulates - reindeer and red deer, elk, saigas, sheep and goats, caribou, in the absence of which it hunts rodents, rabbits, and eats carrion. Where there are no ungulates, there are no or very few wolves. Wolves are also attracted to large concentrations of domestic animals. In reindeer and sheep farming areas, the presence of wolves is common.
How much food does a wolf need?
A wolf requires at least 1.5 kg of food per day, and much more - 2.3 kg - for successful reproduction. Wolves can go without food for two weeks or more. On average, wolves eat 4.5 kg of meat per day, and in case of successful harvest they can eat more - up to 9 kg. The wolf, due to its bloodthirstiness, did not exterminate much more animals than it required for saturation. Wolves slaughter young ungulates, or old and sick ones. Attacks on ungulates are especially frequent in the winter months, when the wolf has clear advantages when moving through the snow.
In summer it feeds on fruits and berries
During the summer period in the wolf's diet great place occupied by plant foods: fruits, berries, greens. It was noted that in the vicinity of a family camp on an area of more than one hectare, blueberries were bitten by wolves. The wolves bit off the apical shoots along with the berries. The numerous droppings of predators during the day were everywhere painted in a soft blue color. The wolves regularly fed on mulberries and apples, which fell in abundance from the trees.
Stocking feed
Feature eating behavior wolves, like many other predators, store food. When full, animals often bury pieces of meat. But they probably do not remember the exact location of the pantry, but rather remember the area where the victim was killed and eaten. Moving in a shuttle motion, like a pointer dog, wolves sense a storeroom, and not necessarily their own.
Howl
It is believed that wolves howl to find out about the location of members of their family, to announce the capture of prey, or simply from a desire to communicate with relatives. Under natural conditions, wolves usually howl in the late evening hours, less often at night and early in the morning. The howl of a wolf can be heard at a distance of 10 km. Under artificial conditions, their sound activity can greatly shift, which depends on the general activity regime of the animals, determined by the specific daily dynamics of stimuli that stimulate consolidation motivation. In artificial conditions, the behavior of wolves is largely focused on humans. Contacts with him usually have a certain rhythm. For example, in the vivarium, wolves howled most often around lunchtime, when people serving the animals usually passed by the enclosure. The wolves knew them well and reacted positively to them, as they regularly received random food from them. The expectation of people, their appearance and disappearance aroused the motivation of consolidation in the wolves. They began to whine and often the whining turned into a howl, and then into a howl. During the year, wolves howl most often in winter, when packing is at its maximum. In winter, wolves stay in the most cohesive and numerous groups, facilitating collective hunts for large ungulates. It is in winter that such hunts are especially typical for wolves. The howling activity of wolves also increases at the end of summer and at the beginning of autumn, during the period when puppies develop the territory, when they begin to move especially widely around the family area. But if in winter, during the period of packing, spontaneous group howls are more typical for wolves, then in early autumn - single and caused group howls.
Shelter
Wolves do not have a hole, with the exception of the den where the wolf breeds offspring. Usually the wolf curls up into a ball. covers his paws and nose with his tail and allows himself to be covered in snow. A wolf's den is a hole that is located high above the water level near a body of water. It is not equipped with anything from the inside. The length of the tunnel is from 1.8 to 7.5 m, sometimes longer. The wolf family returns to the same lair for many years. Wolf cubs leave the den at the age of 8 weeks.
Wolf's Lair
Wolves make their dens in sheltered, well-protected places. They can be overhangs in rocks, deep cracks, niches, gullies in ravines, and fallen trees. Wolves often use the burrows of other animals as dens: foxes, arctic foxes, badgers, and marmots. Wolves expand other people's burrows and very rarely dig their own, choosing for this purpose soft, usually sandy soil. Dens, as well as family days where wolf cubs spend the first months of life, meet two requirements: the presence of shelters from dense vegetation or microrelief and at the same time a good overview of the area, allowing you to detect danger. It is difficult to approach a wolf's lair without being noticed. As a rule, animals detect a person and manage to take cover before the person detects them.
Reproduction
Only one pair in a family breeds, this occurs in February, and in April 6-10 (usually 7) puppies are born. The eyes of wolf cubs open on the 9-12th day. At the end of the second week they usually begin to respond to sounds, and after three weeks they emerge from the nest for the first time and begin to taste meat around the same time. During the neonatal period, wolf cubs are completely helpless. The mother helps them toilet by licking under the tail. Puppies are not able to rise to their feet at this time and move around crawling. They are constantly in physical contact with their mother or with each other. Puppies sleep most of the time. The she-wolf diligently hides from prying eyes. If the family is in any danger, the she-wolf carries her cubs one by one in her mouth to another, more secluded place. In the first days, the she-wolf is constantly with the puppies. She is fed by a wolf. He brings food in his stomach and regurgitates it to the female. Gradually, the she-wolf leaves the puppies alone, often going away for a long time in search of food. According to the observations of Y. K. Badridze, the female leaves the wolf cubs for 6.5 - 68 hours, that is, she can be absent for almost three days. The duration of the female's absence greatly depends on the abundance of food in the vicinity of the den. The more accessible it is, the less time the she-wolf leaves her puppies. Usually, when the female leaves the den, the cubs are left alone, huddling together to keep warm. The wolf is rarely in the den with them. But if the puppies crawl towards their father, he does not drive them away, warming them with the warmth of his body. When the babies have grown up, the female goes hunting with the pack, and the puppies are fed by all family members, regurgitating food for them. As they grow up, the puppies leave the den, but do not move away from it and stay close. Usually this place has a lot of vegetation and is located near water. Wolf cubs learn to hunt by attacking mice and shrews. Young wolves grow until their third year and then become capable of reproduction.
Wolf mother
does not show aggression towards people close to her children. There are known cases when hunters took the entire brood from the den, put the helpless puppies in a bag and carried them away, while the she-wolf watched restlessly at a distance and then accompanied the hunters for several kilometers to the village without making any attempts to attack.
A wolf never hunts near its nest,
This is why young roe deer and wolf cubs often play together in the same clearing. Growing wolf cubs can frolic in a completely open, clearly visible place, but such a playground is necessarily adjacent to either dense thickets, or a pile of stones and labyrinths of passages in rocks and ravines. In these shelters, wolf cubs, and even adult wolves, instantly “dissolve” without betraying their presence in any way.
Foxes destroy wolf cubs
A case of a male fox destroying a litter of wolves in the Badkhyz Nature Reserve in Turkmenistan is described. The wolf cubs were about three weeks old, and they were left without parents for a long time, since for some reason there was no male, and the she-wolf was forced to leave the den for a long time.
Young wolves die
Young wolves, whose mother is killed, often disappear without a trace, and, in all likelihood, their graves become the stomachs of old wolves. If the wolf cubs are not disturbed in their nest, then this should be attributed more to the vigilance of the mother than to the love of the father.
Wolves-fathers
The father participates in obtaining food for the cubs, but the issue of this should be considered not yet resolved. Only later, when the young wolves grow up, does the mother bring them to the old wolves, and they accept the babies into their society, always respond to their squeals with a howl, teach them, warn about danger and howl pitifully if the cubs die.
How long do wolves live?
Wolves can live 12-15 years; many of them die of hunger, others die from a variety of diseases to which they are susceptible in the same way as dogs.
The wolves were exterminated
Under human influence, the wolf's range has sharply declined over the past 200 - 250 years. Man exterminates the wolf, protecting herds of domestic animals, and displaces it from densely populated areas. There are currently no wolves in Japan and British Isles. It has been exterminated in France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, and throughout Central Europe.
Rare beast
In the northern hemisphere, the wolf is considered a rare animal and is listed on the CITES List (Appendix I) of India, Pakistan, Bhutan and Nepal and (Appendix II) in other countries. IN North America The gray wolf is an endangered species in Mexico and 48 US states (except Minnesota, where the species is listed as threatened). The protection of wolves comes down to preserving the usual habitats of wolves, preventing wolf hybridization with domestic dogs, and educational activities among the population that has long persecuted wolves.
Norway is cleared of predatory animals
The Association of Norwegian Forest Owners has announced its intention to seek the destruction of wolves in Norway, as well as a reduction in the numbers of other large predators and bears, lynxes and wolverines.
Wolves take over Swedish forests
The number of wolves in Scandinavia began to decline rapidly at the beginning of the 20th century. By 1960 it was believed that they had completely disappeared. However, in the mid-1980s, wolves suddenly appeared again in Sweden. Research by scientists has shown that they came here after traveling almost 1000 km from neighboring Finland. The periodic arrival of new animals from the east helps to improve the health of the small population, which is threatened by degeneration due to inbreeding. There are currently about 100 wolves in Scandinavia, including 10 actively breeding groups.
Wolf, wolves, about wolves, Falkland wolf, about the Falkland wolf
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 very rarely attack people. Like all predators, they hunt to feed themselves and live their lives, trying to stay away from people. I invite you to lift the veil of secrecy and plunge into the mysterious world - the world of the Wolf.
Wolves have lived on Earth for more than a million years. They originated from carnivorous predators who lived 100 million years ago, and about 20 million years ago dogs originated from the wolf.
The genus of wolves (Lupus) unites wolves, coyotes, jackals, wild and domestic dogs - the largest representatives of the wolf family. In addition, all foxes, arctic foxes, raccoon dogs and maned wolves belong to this family. Like dogs, wolves are very intelligent and easy to train. In addition, each wolf has a special character: some are cautious, daring or self-confident; they behave freely and naturally in wolf society, while others are not seen or heard.
Wolves live in mountains, forests and plains Northern Hemisphere. Like all living beings, they, as biologists say, occupy wildlife my ecological niche. In the territories of their habitat wolves are the largest group of predators that hunt large mammals.
Is the wolf big? “Big” is not a very suitable description for a wolf. Typically, a male wolf weighs about 50 kilograms, a female 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. Any 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. Wolf pack - a group of animals related by kinship and mutual sympathy, - 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. His friend, a she-wolf, helps him rule. In order for others to obey, leaders must have strong character. All decisions concerning the life of the pack are made by this pair. In a pack where the leader keeps order, wolves usually do not fight among themselves. However, clashes with strangers or lone wolves who trespass often occur.
Each wolf pack hunts only in its own territory. The owners strictly guard and mark her, warning neighbors that they should stay away. Any uninvited guest will be punished.
In large packs it often happens that one 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 who left the pack and lives on his own. Over time, changes occur in the flock. Candidates 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 pack if they are lucky enough to meet a lone wolf. If the wolf and she-wolf want to rule the pack, they must subjugate all the other members of the pack to their will and force them to unquestioningly carry out their laws.
The leader dominates the males of the pack, and his mate maintains order among the she-wolves. The leaders constantly remind their “subordinates” who is the boss of the pack: they growl at them, bite them, chase them and even knock them down, preferring to do this in front of the whole pack.
One stern, intent look from the leader or his girlfriend is enough for those he targets to submit. Grinning 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 the most important here.
The way a wolf holds its tail indicates its position in the pack. Among the leaders it is raised high, among their “subjects” it is lowered, and those at the lowest level in the wolf family have their tail between their legs.
Members of the pack show love and respect to the leader in a welcoming ceremony. Crawling, with ears flattened and fur smoothed, they approach the leader or his mate, lick and carefully bite his face.
Wolves are one of the most loyal animals; they form strong bonds with their pack mates. They express their feelings through facial expressions and body movements. "Wolf's tongue" unites the pack and helps it act as one. In a surge of tenderness, the wolves lick each other and rub their muzzles.
The wolf also needs a tail to express its feelings. If the tail is raised and its tip is slightly curved, this means that the wolf is quite confident in itself. A friendly wolf has a lowered tail, but its very tip points upward. A wolf with its tail between its legs is either afraid of something or is communicating its sympathy.
The faces of wolves are very expressive. Frightened, the wolf presses his ears back and pretends to smile. An angry wolf bares his teeth and turns his erect ears forward. Sensing danger, he pulls his ears back, bares his teeth and sticks out his tongue. Companions understand how to behave in order to maintain peace in the pack.
Wolves are created for hunting by nature itself. In winter, a wolf leaves a neat chain of footprints in the snow - he places his hind paw exactly behind his front paw. Thanks to this gait, he can run on any terrain and even in deep snow.
The wolf's weapon is its teeth. There are as many as 42 of them in his mouth. Four sharp, crooked 5-centimeter fangs stick out in front - two on top and two on bottom. With them the wolf can bite through the thick skin of the victim. And with predatory, or carnivorous, teeth - this is what the molars of all predators are called - an adult wolf even gnaws the femur of an elk.
A hunter needs keen hearing, and wolves are lucky in this regard. When they hear a noise, they move their ears and determine where the sound comes 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, a wolf's heel does not touch the ground.
He has strong, muscular legs and a sweeping gait, and can trot for long periods at a speed of 9 km/h, and can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h when chasing deer and elk.
When hunting, the nose, and not the ears or eyes, is the first to tell wolves where to look for prey. In the wind, they catch the smell of even the smallest animal located 1-2 kilometers away 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-tipped guard hairs. They repel water and the undercoat does not get wet. In such a fur-lined cloak, the wolf is not afraid of the weather.
Wolves are carnivorous (or predatory) animals. They hunt in groups. To satisfy a hungry wolf, 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 big catch– deer, elk or ram. It is not for nothing that they are called orderlies - after all, as a rule, their victims are old, sick or inexperienced animals. With a sick animal, the focus of the disease disappears; if an old animal is killed, the young and strong get more food. This biological regulation of numbers promotes the survival of strong, healthy animals, both among hunters and among their possible prey. Although wolves are considered merciless, only every tenth of their hunts are successful.
It happens that, after spending three days tracking and chasing a herd of deer or elk, wolves manage to kill only a few animals. Why? Fleet-footed deer can run away, and moose can give a worthy rebuff: these 600-kilogram giants with sharp antlers and heavy hooves can easily break a wolf’s skull. Wolves can go without food for two weeks, but if they are lucky on the hunt, they will eat to their fill. An adult wolf can eat up to 10 kilograms of meat at one time! Sometimes wolves hide part of the uneaten prey in reserve - they drag it into a hole and throw something on top. If the hunt is unsuccessful, they will return to this cache and dig up the hidden lunch. The survival of a pack depends on the size of its hunting grounds, so wolves protect them tooth and nail.
Wolves mark the boundaries of the territory (it can be 50-1500 sq. km, depending on what animals the pack hunts) with odorous marks - they spray stumps and large stones with urine - and notify neighbors about their rights by howling.
Wolves do not always hunt, growl and be ferocious. The first thing a wolf will do when its stomach is full is curl up in a ball and take a good nap. When he wakes up, he will frolic with pleasure. If he wants to play, he will invite his relatives to join him. Crouching low to the ground on his front paws, he will approach them and, wagging his tail, say: “Well, please!” No answer? Then, in order to attract attention, he will begin to jump from side to side, just like a dog.
Who isn't afraid of the evil wolf? Since childhood, when we were read fairy tales “The Three Little Pigs”, “Little Red Riding Hood” and “The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats”, we learned that wolves are evil and scary. They don't actually harm people. But despite this, people kill them.
For most people, the wolf is not just a wild animal, but an archetypal image familiar from childhood. It is no coincidence that he became a character in fairy tales. People have long feared and revered this beast. They frightened naughty children with a wolf, called them a man’s elder brother, and composed fairy tales and legends about him.
In languages different nations peace, the word wolf is consonant. It is worth noting that it was born in the Old Slavic language and means “drag” or “drag.” Apparently, the name comes from the manner of moving prey by dragging (dragging in front of you).
Habitat and distribution in the world
In past centuries, the wolf was the most common animal on earth. Today, the habitat has been significantly reduced. The reason for this is the widespread extermination of animals by humans. Nowadays, most of the species lives in the territory of the following countries: Russian Federation, Belarus, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Georgia, China, Korea, Iran, Indonesia, India, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Scandinavian and Baltic countries, South American countries, Italy, Poland, Spain , Portugal, Mexico, USA, Canada.
The wolf adapts to life in any terrain, but tries to settle in places with a small amount trees. Often lives in close proximity to human settlements. In the taiga, for example, it invariably follows people, choosing to live in places cleared of trees.
IN mountainous area They live up to the border of meadows, choosing weakly rugged areas.
The wolf is one of the territorial animals. IN cold period flocks lead a sedentary lifestyle. The flock's habitat is marked with tags. The area of such a territory can reach up to 44 km. With the coming warm months animals form pairs.
The strongest individuals continue to live in their territory, while the rest scatter. It is worth noting that wolves accompany herds of deer and domestic animals.
Ancestors of wolves and evolution
The probable ancestor of the modern wolf is Canis lepophagus. This is a representative of the canine breed that inhabited North America during the Miocene period.
The first true wolves appeared during the early Pleistocene. Among the species was Canis priscolatrans, characterized by its small size. This species is believed to be the ancestor of the red wolf, which migrated to Europe and Asia.
Subsequently, Canis priscolatrans modified and evolved, which led to the appearance of C. Mosbachensis, a species that has many things in common with modern representatives. Over time, C. mosbachensis evolved into Canis lupus.
Types and features of each type
Science knows about 32 species and subspecies of wolves. The most interesting species will be described below.
Arctic (polar)
The rarest subspecies of the gray wolf. Distributed in Greenland, in northern regions Canada and Alaska. The absence of humans in the cold, snowy area made it possible to preserve the habitat in its original form.
The Arctic wolf has a large and powerful body build. The male at the withers can reach 1 m, weighing 100 kg. This species is characterized by sexual dimorphism (males are 15-16% larger than females in size).
The animal is ideally adapted to life in conditions polar night, covering vast distances across a snowy plain to search for prey. An adult can eat up to 12 kg of meat at one time. Often nothing remains of the spoils, because polar wolves They do not chew the meat, but swallow it along with the bones.
Representatives of this species live in flocks of 12-15 individuals. The head of such a group can be not only a male, but also a female. There are times when a pack accepts lone wolves (if they obey the leader).
Ruffed
The species is named because of the long fur that covers the neck and shoulder area. The skin resembles a horse's mane. The main place of residence is South America.
The maned wolf has a red color. Distinctive feature species are large ears and an elongated head. In appearance, the animal looks lean. Body weight adult does not exceed 25 kg.
The maned wolf is a solitary hunter. It chooses small livestock, birds, and reptiles as prey. It also eats fruits.
INTERESTING! Several years ago there was a threat of extinction of this species. Today the problem has been resolved, but the animal continues to remain in the Red Book.
Makenzensky
The most common species found in North America. The weight of the animal can reach 80 kg, and its height is 90 cm. The individual hunts deer, musk oxen, elk and bison.
Mountain (red)
The mountain wolf has a beautiful appearance. Its fur is the color of a fox. Weight slightly exceeds 20 kg. The length does not exceed 100 cm. The color depends on the region of residence. During the cold period, the fur becomes soft, fluffier and thicker. With the onset of warmth, it takes on a dark color and begins to become coarse.
Predators of this species live and get food in a flock of 12-15 individuals. Their community rarely has a clear leader. Deer, antelope or large rodents are chosen as prey. A strong pack can attack a bull and even a leopard. In case of food shortage, the red wolf can feed on carrion.
INTERESTING! Distinctive feature mountain wolf is a method of attacking the victim. Unlike other species (and all canids), it attacks prey from the back, without trying to bite into the neck.
The animal lives secretly and tries to set up camps away from human habitation. This hinders learning.
Ginger
The appearance of the red wolf is similar to the appearance of gray individuals, only red ones are inferior in size and weight, and also have shorter ears and fur. The body can reach a length of 130 cm and a weight of 40 kg. The color is not uniform, the muzzle and legs are red, and the back is dark.
Predators settle in swamps, steppes and mountains. In flocks there are individuals of different ages. There is almost never aggression towards individual members in the group.
The red wolf eats not only meat, but also vegetation. Mainly hunts rabbits, rodents and raccoons. Very rare, but attacks large mammals. There are times when the predator itself becomes prey to a lynx or alligator.
common wolf
This species is collectively called the gray wolf. It is the most common animal in the family. Body length reaches 160 cm, weight – 80 kg.
The animal lives in North America and Eurasia. Behind last years the total number has decreased greatly. The reason for this is extermination by man. And only in North America does the population remain stable.
What do wolves eat?
The wolf is a predator. Most often it chooses the following animals as prey:
- Roe.
- Antelope.
- Boar.
- Deer.
- Hare.
- Elk.
Small species, as well as solitary individuals, attack smaller animals - rodents, gophers, birds. Very rarely can choose a victim in the person large predator, although there are cases when packs attack wounded or sleeping bears and foxes.
During the hungry period, they can return to half-eaten carcasses. At such times, predators do not disdain carrion.
In addition to meat, they eat forest fruits, berries, grass, watermelons, and melons. This food allows you to get the required amount of fluid.
Reproduction and raising of offspring
A pair of wolves is usually formed for life. If one partner dies, the other does not look for a replacement. Animals live in packs of 12 to 45 individuals (depending on the species).
There is a clearly constructed hierarchy in the wolf community. The head is the alpha animal (this can be either a male or a female). This is followed by adults, lone wolves, and pups. Very often single individuals are accepted into the flock. The main condition is a tolerant attitude towards other members of the pack. When the puppies reach three years of age, they are driven outside the conglomerate. The time has come to find a mate on your own and start a family.
INTERESTING! It should be noted that puppies born in the same litter will never mate with each other.
The busiest time in a pack's life is mating season, when alpha males and females try to fight off other members. Often fights between animals end in death.
In one litter, a she-wolf has from 3 to 15 puppies. The offspring are gestated for more than two months. Puppies are born blind. The eyes open 10-14 days after birth.
Wolves in zoos - features of captivity
Wolves in zoos live longer than their wild relatives (the former live 20 years, the latter from 8 to 15). This is due to the fact that in the wild, old individuals, unable to obtain food, die or become victims of relatives.
For a full life in captivity, special conditions must be created. The fact is that an animal in its natural environment travels up to 20 km daily. This is a normal and necessary load, so there must be an enclosure of appropriate size. It’s a good idea to recreate the conditions of the area in which the animal should live.
An adult should consume up to 2 kg of fresh meat daily. IN winter period the norm increases to 3 kg.
Live food should be brought in periodically to maintain the hunter's instinct.
History of the domestication of the wolf into a dog
Very often small wolf cubs fall into the hands of hunters. They don't always hand over animals to the zoo. Some people bring them home, others sell them. Such a product is in demand; there are risky people who want to get their hands on the predator. And the desire to raise a pet from a wild animal fuels the excitement even more.
In most cases, such decisions are erroneous and unsafe. The wolf is primarily a predator. Starting it at home is like setting a time bomb. Sooner or later it will explode.
If such a predator appears in the house, then first of all it is necessary to create all the conditions that ensure safety. The wolf is an intelligent, freedom-loving and cunning animal, so he will spend all his free time trying to get out of the cage. In addition, he is able to learn primitive actions from humans. In other words, he can remember how a person opens the cage and do it himself.
Another point that everyone who wants to tame a wild animal should know. He will never perform the functions of a dog. The wolf is a predator, and man is his enemy, he will always be afraid of him. Consequently, when a stranger tries to enter the territory of the house, he will try to hide.
Common wolf, gray (Canis lupus) is different high development nervous system and especially acute hearing and smell. High mental development The wolf, combined with great strength, exceptional endurance and the ability to adapt to various conditions of existence, is the reason that, so persistently persecuted by man from the beginning to the present day, it has not yet been exterminated.
Brief description of the wolf
The gray wolf is one of the most dangerous animals in Ukraine. Belongs to the canine family. The body length of a common wolf is over 120 cm. Males are always larger than females. Outwardly, gray wolves resemble shepherds, but are characterized by characteristics that are characteristic only of wolves. The head is large, broad-browed, the neck is short and inactive, the muzzle is massive and elongated. The eyes are light brown, placed obliquely. Brow ridges, protruding, making the eyes appear sunken and larger than those of dogs.
The strong, high scruff of the neck and the gray wolf's habit of tucking its hind legs give the impression that the dorsal part of its strong body is tilted towards the tail, and the powerful wide chest is separated from the tucked belly. Forelegs common wolves although slender, they are muscular and strong. The gray wolf never throws his evenly fluffy tail over his back; it always hangs like a log.
The fur color of a wolf in summer is reddish, much darker along the back and almost halfway up the tail. In winter, the rusty-reddish shades in the hair of an ordinary wolf disappear, and the color becomes brownish-gray, lighter on the abdominal part.
Wolf habitat
The distribution of common wolves on the territory of Ukraine is uneven: more of them are in the forest areas of northern Polesie and the Carpathian mountain ranges, less common in forest-steppe zone and steppe regions, are absent in Crimea. Typical forest dwellers, gray wolves have long adapted to life in cultivated landscapes. Particularly favorite habitats are thickets of bushes in semi-dry swamps, among forests.
Common wolves are active mainly at dusk and at night and can only occasionally be seen during the day. However, where they are not pursued, they hunt during the day. In the dark, wolves see much better than other canines.
Diet of common wolves
Gray wolf – typical predator that gets its own food by actively searching and tirelessly pursuing its prey. The basis of food for ordinary wolves is wild boars, deer, roe deer, domestic ungulates, etc. In pursuit of them, wolves can reach running speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour. Gray wolves also hunt small animals, especially hares, ground squirrels, mouse-shaped rodents, waterfowl and other birds nesting on the ground. As an exception, the gray wolf's diet includes berries, wild and garden fruits.
Wolves breeding
Gray wolves make their dens for raising babies in secluded places provided with food resources. They are building it is found in a shallow hole, a depression under the root of an inverted tree among a windfall, in a wide bush of thorny bushes, or in a depression on the ground among dense reed thickets, always near a reservoir. IN mountainous areas Common wolves make their dens in rocky cliffs, rock crevices, caves or rubble.
Once a year, in mid-March or early April, after a 62-64-day pregnancy, the she-wolf often gives birth to five or six blind, deaf, toothless wolf cubs, which develop rapidly and are even able to crawl out of the den at three weeks of age. At the age of one month they are fed by burping, that is, small pieces half-digested meat swallowed by parents. In June-July, old wolves already teach wolf cubs to get food on their own. In autumn (late September - October) young gray wolves baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth. From this time on, the wolf cubs actively help the old wolves hunt.
Why is the gray wolf dangerous?
Common wolves are dangerous predators. Until recently, they caused great losses to our economy. Having settled near settlements, gray wolves attack domestic animals and dogs. They are especially dangerous in hunting grounds. The gray wolf, covering long distances every night, regardless of whether he is hungry or not, destroys all the game he encounters on his way, and much more than he can eat. In addition, gray wolves are the main spreaders of the incurable disease rabies.
Despite the fact that the gray wolf is a game animal, the cost of its skin is low compared to the harm it causes. This is the most harmful predator of the fauna of Ukraine. The persistent fight against this predator, which is carried out in Ukraine during all seasons of the year, has greatly reduced its number and, compared with the last century, the harm from wolves is not of a threatening nature. However, in Lately In connection with the establishment of the sanitary significance of the common wolf in nature, the fight against this predator was significantly weakened, and, naturally, the number of wolves increased again. Now there is a need to strengthen control over the number of gray wolves, both in Ukraine and throughout the CIS.
A short video about gray wolves shows how smart and resilient these animals are, and how they communicate in a pack. Also see how wolves in a pack hunt ungulates, helping each other.