-Pups-
Pups are born completely blind and deaf (but have a keen sense of smell). By two weeks of age, the pups can walk, and about a week after that they may come out of the den for the first time. At first, they live only on milk from their mother.The whole pack takes care and raises the pups (non-breeding females produce milk and males compete to baby sit).
Usually four to six pups are born together. This is called a litter, and the pups in a litter are called litter-mates. Food is given to pups by the adult "sicking" back up the swallowed food, this is called regurgutation.
Pups are born inside a den. A den is sometimes a small cave or a hole dug out of the ground. The den must be big enough for the mother and her pups. It shelters them from the weather and protects the pups from other animals that may want to hurt them. Packs sometimes use the same den year after year. At other times, they make or find a new den each year.
-Hunting-
Wolves kill only to eat - to survive. Because wolves usually hunt for large animals, (although wolves are opportunistic and will eat smaller prey) they work together to catch their prey. Wolves will eat a healthy, strong animal if they can catch it.(Wolves need an average of three to ten pounds of meat each day). Hunting is not always successful, so their bodies are designed to feast (eat a lot) or famine (eat nothing). Wolves can eat as much as 22 pounds of meat at a time and then may not eat again for many days. Wolves require from one to three quarts of water per day, depending on the size of the animal, the climate, and the moisture content of the prey. When hunting in winter the wolf will conserve energy when ever possible, by following the same trail as the prey animal, staying upwind, and staying out of sight of the prey as long as possible. When it is time to strike the wolf will start wagging their tails with excitement. Some times when young pups are with the hunt they may dash after the prey in the excitement and spoil the hunt.
Hunt Tactics
Wolves are primarily nocturnal animals that avoid the heat of day. They generally commence hunting at dusk. Wolves detect prey by three primary means, scent (most common), tracking, and chance encounters. After prey is detected, wolves may split up to search through brush, travel on ridge tops searching for the prey below, or test herds looking for signs of weakness.
Hunt Selection
Weakened animals may show thier condition to predators through body stance, uncoordinated movements, the smell of wounds or infection, or some other tangible signal. The reading and evaluation of these signals comprises what Barry Lopez has poetically termed "the conversation of death." Once a weak individual is selected by a pack, wolves will usually travel upwind. By traveling upwind, the sent of any prey will be carried to them. They will follow the air currents directly to the game. Or, they may follow the sent trail left by a game animal's foot tracks and body odors. Wolves hunt out the weak, the sick, the old, and the injured. They help the population of prey animals like the elk, deer, moose, and caribou, by taking away the weak and letting the strong survive. This is important part in the ecological system. By enhancing the strength into the herds. Without animals like the wolf to eliminate the weak, old , sick and injured, the herd of deer would swelter. They would become so numerous that they would starve to death. The wolf helps keep them healthy by insuring the breeding of the strong. Wolves also help feed other animals. When a wolf kills and eats, he sometimes can't eat it all. This leftover feeds animals such as the buzzard, the possum, fox, coyotes and eagles. They help keep the forest clean by removing the sick before it can spread.
Hunting Chase
Just before the chase wolves prefer to make there final approach downwind so there body sent is not carried to the prey species, alerting it to their presence Prey that runs is usually chased. Prey that stands its ground may be able to bluff off its pursuers. Moose and Elk often take to deep water or swift rivers and await departure of the pursuing wolves, But more often than not the wolves wait. While the majority of the pack rests, one or two members test the prey for signs of fatigue.The chase is normaly short, although it has been recorded that a wolf chased a deer for 13 miles Contrary to popular belief, most prey chased by wolves actually gets away. In one study, only three percent of the moose that were tested ended up being killed. The percentage of prey that is killed is called the "predation efficiency," and in spite the wolf's prowess as a hunter, the majority of his prey escapes.
The Attack
When the attack comes, the prey is usually seized by either the nose or the rump. Rarely, if ever, does a wolf hamstring a prey animal. This is one of the oldest and most pervasive false beliefs held about wolves. That the wolf kills "by slashing tendons in the hind legs.", is pure myth. The actual death of the prey is usually caused by massive blood loss, shock, or both. Sometimes with smaller prey a neck bite will snap a backbone. The Alpha wolf will eat first, Wolves usually begin to feed on the rump, if it was exposed during the chase, or else on the internal organs. The muscle and flesh is the last portion of the prey that is eaten, in contras with human habits. Having stong jaws alows the wolf to crush bones to get to the soft marrow, it also helps the wolf eat most of its prey leaving very little waste at the killing site. Another myth is that packs are required to bring down large prey; several observers have seen single wolves catch and kill elk and moose. The first wolf to return to Sweden after the extermination of its wolf population regularly brought down large moose by itself.
-Communication-
Wolves howl for many reasons. There are different howls for different occasions. The most common howl is possibly the howl that says: "This is MY territory, and you aren't welcome." The next one is the howl that calls for help, or alerts pack members to problems, intruders, or other issues. The least comon one is the mating howl. A female will howl, followed by one or more males. The female waits until all males that answered have approached, and then the males will fight over the female, sometimes resulting in death. If there is one male, then he will simply try to claim the female, though she can change her mind.
-Ranks-
Alpha- The Highest of the High, the Alphas are always mates although it is not uncommon for there to only be one Alpha. The Alphas are in charge of everything, they are the only two wolves who may promote or de-rank a wolf. They are also the only wolves who may accept or reject a wolf. They also have the power to exile any wolves who they feel have no reason to be in the pack.
Beta- Second in command. They may not give ranks nor can they accept newcomers into the pack unless the Alpha has given them that power while the Alpha[s] is absent from the pack territory. May organize pack hunts, and other things to relieve the alphas’ responsibilities.They show submission to only the Alphas.
Gamma- A wolf who has proved themselves worthier than a Delta
Delta- A wolf who has proved themselves worthier than a Theta
Theta- These are the head-hunters of the pack. They almost always lead the pack hunts unless the Alpha has decreed that another should take on this task. Thetas will help in training the pups how to hunt.
Taus- A wolf who has proved themselves worthier than a Kappa
Kappa- A wolf who has proved themselves worthier than a Sigma
Sigma-These wolves patrol the borders of the pack, it is there job to insure that the Omegas and Iotas are kept in their places.
Zeta- A wolf who has proved themselves worthier than a Iota.
Iota- When a wolf joins the pack, the Alpha will automatically place the wolf as an Iota.
Omega- When a wolf upsets an alpha or a high ranking member, they immediately find themselves with the rank of omega. The lowest rank of a pack. They are treated like bugs by the rest of the members, but if they are Omegas, it is not without good reason. Most Omegas are there due to bad records or disrespect to higher placed wolves. To preserve a balance there is normally one Omega, although sometimes the Pack might not have one in its circle.
