The wolf has a keen sense of smell, fine hearing, and has excellent vision. The wolf's sense of hearing is sharp. The three senses help the animal locate prey. The wolf can smell and see an animal more than a mile (1.6 km) away. They can detect the slightest movement in front of them. the wolves eyes are in front of them and have less than 180 degrees vision unlike their prey. The prey of wolves can see over a 300 degrees of a circle. The average wolf has 42 teeth that includes 4 fangs at the front of the mouth. The fangs are used to wound, grab, and kill prey. The fangs are used to pull at and nibble at the skin. The sharp teeth at the side cut through the tough muscle easily. The flat teet at the back crush thick bone, so the bone can be swallowed easily. Wolves have a large stomach, and they can eat up to 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of food at once. The wolf can go without good for 2 weeks or longer. The wolves are cursorial hunters. The wolves are able to catch their prey to earth. The wolves like to get close to their prey before testing their prey. When the wolves spot and kill their prey are two different things. Wolves eat from a mouse to a moose. Wolves are in danger when they are killing an elk, caribou, moose, or a musekex. When wolves chase the prey for 300 yards (273 m), the chase is discontinued.
Wolves prefer to prey on moose, deer, beavers, and rabbits, usually hunt at night. Using their keen sense of smell, they track their prey by picking up a scent from up to two miles away. Wolves often cause a herd of animals to stampede, which generally results in the sick or weak laggingg behind.
In the wild, wolves live in packs. The packs may be a small group. Packs is where wolves live in a family group setting. The packs consist of three or more members, and they are usually related. Some packs may have 20 members. Zoologists say the members of the pack remain together. The reason they do this is that wolves have a strong affection to each other in the pack. Wolves may leave the pack and become a lone wolf. A lone wolf travels alone and finds food by itself. The packs have an alpha male and female. A wolf pack is an extended family unit. Wolf packs contains 4-7 wolves. The largest wolf pack consisted of 36 members, and the pack lived in Alaska. The wolf's devotion to his family shows pack parallels the relation between an Native American and their tribe. Also, the wolf's hunting skills were felt envy for by the Native American Indians. To understand the wolf's personality, people need to understand the social dynamics of the pack. The subordinate wolf in the pack is also known as the omega wolf. The omega wolf is the lowest indicidual on the wolf totem pole and the subject of harassment (The Wolf Almanac, 41, Busch). The alpha male and female are usually a pack's only wolves to breed. Dominant wolves rank below alphas but are superior to others in size or level of agression. "Biders" bid thier rimes, waiting to replace alpha wolves who die or cannot defend themselves. Alphas who lose dominance often become omega wolves, a pack's lowest position.
Each weighing about one pound at birth, wolf pups are born in dens, usually between March and May. An average litter contains six pups; normally, half will survive. Pups cannot hear after they are several days old, and their sight begins to function about ten days after birth. Wolf pups have blue eyes until twelve weeks old, when their eyes turn orange-yellow.
About a month after they're born, pups leave the den and are cared for equally by each member of the pack. Often, they run up to pack members retruning from the hunt and nuzzle and lick the older wolves' muzzles, causing them to regurgitate food for the pups. Like dogs, wolf pups chase and pretend to fight with each other.
Each wolf's howl differs from all others. When howling together, wolves will try to harmonize. They sometimes howl when they are lonely or grieving, as after the death of a mate. When separated from it's pack, a wolf will howl to let the others know where it is. The sound of a wolf howl can carry for up to seven miles.
Their are body languages in a wolf pack. This establishes relationships between wolves that will benefit the pack. A wolf pack has social order. The social order is called dominance hierarchy. Each member has a certain rank. The high-ranking members are called dominant wolves. The low-ranking members are called subordinate wolves. Every time they meet, the dominant wolf and subordinate wolf show their rank. Wolf communication can involve position of the ears, tail, and lips are important. the high-rank wolf stands erect, holds the tail aloft, and points its ears up and forward. The wolf may show its teeth and growl. The low-ranking wolf will hold its tail between the legs, crouches, and turns their ears down. The low-ranking wolf whines instead of growling. Alpha pair wolves will have their paw or head on the subordinates' shoulders or grasp the muzzle of the inferiors in an act of play. This is a reminder that she/he is the boss. A wolf that is submissive will avoid eye contact with the dominant members of the pack. This may turn them away from their betters. Inferior wolves will crawl to their superiors. They will mimic the cubs behavior of soliciting food by licking the muzzle of the dominant animal. The wolves will lie on the ground and expose their bellies to the alpha wolf. This will cause the alpha wolf to urinate to state their acknowledgment that the alpha is truly the top wolf. The alpha pair of a wolf pack shares leadership of the pack. Whimpering or whining conveys friendly intentions. Growling is a threatening noise while barks signal alarms (Retrun of the Wolf, 70, Grooms).
When wolves are affectionate, the adult wolves become more affectionate as the amount of daylight increases after December 21st. The daylight stimulates the pineal gland of the wolf which triggers their pituitary gland which releases hormones into their bloodstream. The heat timing depends upon latitude. The wolves in the southern regions breed before those wolves in the north. Wolf pups are born 63 days after the breeding of pair mates (Return of the Wolf, 84, Grooms).
The purpose of the scoial behavior will increase the hunting prowess and will ensure the survival of the pack and the wolf species. Wolves cooperate with each other when they go hunting. Two or three wolves will watch the prey will the rest of the wolves relaxes and preys. The hunt resumes, and some of the wolves will leave the pack and circle around a moose or elk ready to ambush it. Wolves may encircle an animal of prey floundering in deep snow waiting on it to tire and collapse. While chasing prey, wolves will chase their prey up to sppeds at 10-15 mph (16-24 kph) for long periods of time. Weaker members of the pack will not chase prey at the normal speeds. This behavior will judge the wolf as cruel or gentle and loving types of wolves. Wolves are animals that are equipped to survive in an environment that is harsh. The wolf is a shy animal. The wolf is a fierce animal that needs to fit into a pack of hierarchy and depending on the body language and facial expressions and on hunting for survival. The stare of a wolf is considered a challenge to the wolf that will bring on an attack if the animal cannot flee. The wolf's jaws are stronger than a domestic dog, and this will exert dominance over an animal.
