QUIZ!! As it is now and as it will always be my first quiz will come off as a surprise as to what it is over and when it will be, this one just happens to be now. So get out your quills and parchment and get ready this quiz will not be all that hard! So far we have covered Warm blooded and Cold blooded animals, Killer Whales, And Wolves. We have covered them lightly, today I will go a little more in depth with the majestic canine, the Wolf. Wolf Cont. The relationship between wolves and humans is long and complex. Although ancient wolves are the ancestors of today's domesticated dogs, over time wolves have come to be seen as violent predators. In the United States, changing laws over the past 80 years demonstrate the wide range of opinions about wolves. Ranchers, environmentalists, residents, and government officials have been involved in ongoing disputes over the question of whether and where wolves should be allowed to roam. Packs Few Mammals anywhere are aware - and as loyal to - their group as the wolf. Unlike coyotes and foxes, the wolf usually exists for its pack. The rare exception is the proverbial "lone wolf" - the runt, the outsider, ostracized from the pack. This wolf may wander ten kilometers (six miles) or 1000 kilometers (600 miles), passing cautiously through the domains of other packs, If it is very lucky and finds a mate, and if there is enough territory available for them, they might be able to start a new pack of their own. For most wolves, however, their identity begins and ends as part of a cohesive, eight to, fifteen-member pack. The hierarchy of the pack is known to all and reinforced by favors, rituals, nips, and fights Each pack has a leading, dominate pair. The top male, called the alpha male, who submits to no one and to whom all the other males defer. Likewise, a top alpha female, to whom all other females must submit (The subservient members are usually direct descendants of the Alpha parents). Contrary to popular belief a female can lead the pack, in one study of 5 packs almost 50% were lead by a female wolf Next in rank to the alphas are the beta male and beta female. For each gender, every wolf has a rank or place in line where they must submit to anyone higher than they are, but can bully or dominate the wolves lower in rank. At the bottom there is an omega male and omega female. These wolves have no one under them and may be harassed to the point where they disperse, or leave the pack Within the pack, wolves will constantly demonstrate their rank. When two wolves in the pack meet, the higher-ranking one will show aggression and confidence by raising its tail, putting its ears forward, lifting its lips in a snarl, and making itself look as big and threatening as possible. The hackles, the fur along the top of its back, will go up automatically when a wolf is threatening a lower-ranking one. The subordinate, or lower-ranking wolf, tries to make itself look small and non-threatening. Its tail will be tucked under its belly, ears laid back flat, and it will roll over and submit to the higher-ranking wolf, licking its muzzle and "letting it know that it's boss." In almost all cases, this ritual substitutes for actual fighting. If wolves often fought and hurt each other, they might be too injured to be able to hunt and survive. The Alpha Wolf may show friendly dominance by closing its teeth on a subordinate's muzzle in a ritual bite. The bite does not draw blood and is, indeed as much a sign of affection as of benign discipline that status of each of the participants. PUPS Pups are born completely blind and deaf (but have a keen sense if smell), depending on the their mother and other members of the pack. 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. Pups are born inside a den. A den is sometimes a small cave or a hole dug out of the ground. Stages of Development 10 - 13 days: the eyes open 3 weeks: the milk teeth appear, they start to explore the den 4 - 5 weeks: short trips outside the den, begin to eat meat 6 weeks: moving up to a mile from the den (with adult wolf) 6 - 8 weeks: pups are weaned, traveling to rendezvous site. 12 weeks: begin to travel with the pack on hunts (with adult wolves) 15 - 28 weeks: milk teeth are replaced 7 - 8 months: begin to hunt with the pack Hunting/Diet Wolves kill and eat other animals for food. Depending on where they live, wolves live mainly on the meat from such animals as deer, moose, elk or bison. They also eat beavers, rabbits and even mice. They do not eat humans. Wolves are not a threat to humans. Wolves will also eat grass to purge their digestive system when they have eaten something that does not agree with them. Beavers play an important roll as an alternative food source in the summer months, in some areas 60% of the wolf's diet is beaver. One of the most odd part of the diet of wolves is fish! Biologist Bod Bromley once observed a wolf in Canada's Northwest Territories catch five fish in fifteen minutes in the Talston River. Extra Wolves are endangered species, this means that muggles will protect them and its illegal to bring harm to them. The Middle Ages in Europe was a time of growing enlightenment and crushing superstition. A belief in werewolves was widespread. The Roman Church exploited this sinister image of the wolf and, during the years of the Inquisition, used the muggles fear of werewolves to maintain secular control. When the European settlers arrived in America, they brought this dark wolf of their imaginings with them.
Questions!
~~Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry~~
Very good Hogwarts Guild
Neomail Inkyblueness
