~ Wolf Gallery ~Some Interesting Wolf Facts: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. Only two species of wolves remain today - the gray, or timber wolf and the red wolf. 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 high at the shoulder and weighs up to 175 pounds. The red wolf is smaller - about 66 pounds - and has a cinnamon or tawny coat with gray and black highlights. Wolves generally travel in packs and frequently establish territories ranging from 40 to more than 400 square miles. 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 because of this that wolves have been persecuted by poisoning, trapping and shooting.
|
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. After the pups are trained to hunt and kill, they may choose to leave the pack or remain as helpers themselves. For centuries the wolf have been depicted as a symbol of fighting prowess, courage, and endurance. Humans could learn a lesson from these magnificent creatures. More wolf photos:
|
