|
The following written years ago
for my guide are copyright to WEV.
1) What is the difference between a dog and wolf?
A: Though a wolf is not a dog, a dog is considered a domesticated wolf.
There are no known behaviors found in wolves that cannot also be found in domestic dogs what may differ is the frequency,
intensity and in the context in which the behavior is expressed. Those differences
expressed can also differ depending on the breed and or breed type of dog. You can say through the domestication process
the behaviors have been watered down in domestic dogs, in some breeds more than
others. Some traits found in wolves and to some degree dogs as well are of the following.
Prey Driven: All
canines are predators and have a certain degree of prey drive, some much more than others depending on the type of canine. Prey Drive: meaning they will give chase to things that run, for example small animals. Once this drive(predatory/prey drive) is triggered via fast movement and the wolf gives chase, what once may
have started out as only a chase initially
can fast become a situation where the object becomes something to then kill.
Wolves, were built to be efficient predators and survivors, this predatorial instinct and drive is WELL developed
and extremely strong/intense. Which is but one reason wolves are not pets!
Dominancy issues: In the wild
wolves have a hierarchy and each one has a rank, each wolf has the instinct, drive, and incentive to climb the social ladder
of rank. Meaning they will eventually want to become the dominant leader in the pack, not every wolf however manages to do
this and a more dominant alpha leader may thwart attempts by a subordinate wolf.
This does not mean the current dominating leader cannot and is not challenged, and even taken out permanently
(killed) or driven out, by other subordinate wolves once they no longer are strong enough to maintain their alpha leader status. *Wolves will continuously
test each other starting as young puppies,and this continues throughout their lives. What may look like play
to us, may be in all actuality a test of leadership, or weakness.* (klinghammer)
| Female Wolf Asserting Dominance over young male |
|
Shyness: Wolves in the wild are inherently shy creatures, this
will serve to help keep them safe from potential dangers such as hunters in the wild. After around 14-16 weeks
the window of opportunity for a pups socialization to others
is already starting to close. Meaning anything they come upon not socialized to
prior they become wary of and shy away from. In captive situations to help with this issue, and so that wolves are
comfortable in a captive situation and not stressed, pups are socialized to as many people as is possible such as veterinarians,
young people, old people, doorways, umbrellas, different clothing such as winter jackets and mittens, hats, tractors, and
other machinery, etc, otherwise the pups as adults will view such things as something to be suspicious of, and may even freak
out in fear over.
Diggers: Wolves like to dig, they can dig holes so deep that a 6 foot tall man can completely disappear. Wolves typically will dig for
a few different reasons
a) to create dens for pups
to be born in the spring
b) To dig to keep cool in the
hot summer months, the colder earth serves as a sort of air conditioning.
c) *digging up roots/shrubs,mice/voles/rabbits
they may smell
d) digging out of boredom
Territorial: In
the wild wolves are highly territorial for good reason; it is a hard life and resources (food, mating rights of females) become
a competition. Wolves will thus drive out even kill other wolves or stray roaming dogs infringing upon their marked territories. Contrary
to popular belief that wild wolves mate with free ranging dogs, most dogs will be viewed as either a meal or enemy trespassing
to be killed.
Destructiveness: Having
raised quite a few wolves over the years from infancy to adulthood in captive situations, has given me a first hand seat
into their true destructive natures. Wolves are soo intelligent ,and sooo curious they like to take things
literally apart to see how they work. By the time pups are approx. 3 monthsof age they are destroying anything and everything
they can get their paws and teeth on, and they are ready to be placed outside. You cannot train this behavior out of
a wolf pup like owners do with domestic dogs, and it would be wrong to try to. In the wild parents and the other
family members *adults* within the pack allow the pups to explore and experience, they are allowed to grab anything they want
and chew it up if they want to. Pups are allowed to get away with a LOT, a LOT more than any domestic dog pup is allowed to in a domestic living environment, this is apart of growing up as a wolf, and
is completely normal behavior. Everything a wolf does is with intensity and exaggeration.
Howling:
Wolves love to howl, they howl to reunite their pack members when separated, they howl when mourning the loss of a
pack member, they howl when excited, they howl prior to a hunt and after eating in bonding sessions, they howl to alert other
wolves (wolf packs) they are in the area, and they howl just because they feel like it. I am sure there are reasons wolvs
howl, that humans are not even aware of.
| Pure wolf dharma |
|
| white wolves are not born white but phase over time to the white color you see here |
Possessiveness:
To a wolf possession is 100% of the law, once a wolf lays claim to an object, usually a high cost item (food) but not
always. It is theirs, and they will guard it religiously, until they are done
with it. In captive situations when the wolf pup has something in their possession that may not be good for them I play
the trading game, this game should be taught in case the wolf ever gets a hold of something they should not have. The
trading game is just how it sounds; you have something better in trade to give the wolf for what they have in exchange.
| Wolf Guarding Bones |
|
| courtesy Mike C. |
2) Can wolves be trained like dogs?
A: Yes
to some degree and no. I have always considered wolves very cat like in how they
move, and even act in some ways, training is one of those ways. Cats are highly independent and do not like to take direction
very easily, the same can be said about wolves. However give a wolf incentive to work and they will do it, some even
happily so, as it gives them something to do, and works their minds to problem solve.
They are capable of learning commands, however one
has to use positive reinforcement such as a clicker and food rewards. Young wolves
in the wild and in human captive raised situations, look to the leaders in their canine and human pack members, for direction
as they mature, however evolution has designed them, to break out of their dependence on others, and express their independence.
I have found that wolves are of the most independent creatures around. You
can train and teach wolves to do *some* things, however I would not consider wolves bomb proof when it comes to commands and
reliability in training no matter how much time is spent.
3) What are the physical differences
between a wolf and a dog?
A) There are quite a few
physical and biological differences and I will address them below:
1) Wolves’ nails on every foot are darkly colored
as in charcoal (dark grey) (dilute black) to dark black and in the case
of Arctic wolves a taupe color. (The *tips/ends*
of Arctic nails lack color.) Due to various definitions and spectrums of the color
taupe, ranging from light taupe which appears tannish/pink to a smokey brownish color, the color of
actics nails by stating taupe can confuse some people. They do lean more towards a lighter smokey tannish/pink color,
BUT arctic nails can also be a darker taupe, they just are not black. Some dogs can have dark nails
especially dark colored dogs, but wolves do not have clear /pink/ , white/pink , or white nails like the domestic
dog. PLEASE NOTE: That just because a white wolf may have arctic colored nails does not mean it's necessarily
pure canis lupus arctos, I have a pure wolf here that is predominantly arctic and 1/4 another subspecies, besides my pure
arctics and she has the arctic colored nail.
| Wolf's black nails |
|
| click to enlarge |
| PURE ARCTIC'S NAILS (light taupe) |
|
| Arctics nails can be a darker taupe however (Click pic to enlarge) |
| Example of darker taupe nails on arctic wolf's paw |
|
| EXAMPLE OF A CLEAR DOG'S NAIL |
|
| YOU CAN SEE THE PINK QUICK |
| Wolf pups nails are light/white when young |
|
| BUT by approx *8-10* wks will have started to transition, and BY 10 weeks at most have darkened up. |
| Black wolf pups nails also start off light/white |
|
2)
Wolves do not have blue eyes this is a domestic dog trait only. Blue eyes is a recessive gene, both parents
must carry this gene for pups to acquire it. Wolves do not
carry this gene. Some pale colors, especially pale greens can sometimes appear bluish in tone and mistaken as blue.
| Purebred Siberian Husky with blue eyes |
|
| courtesy Jill Porter |
3) Wolves have highly slanted almond shaped eyes with
heavy dark /black eye lining.
4) Wolves have extra large feet, with two very large protruding front toes.
Not smaller and or rounded feet like a dogs.
5) Wolves will not have sharply defined white tail tips like many domestic dogs. Most often one will view wolves that have black tail tips. Some tail tips have
more of a pronounced black tip than other's might have. Please Note however, that domestic dogs
can also have black tail tips *example* included here
| Note the black tip on this wolf's tail |
|
| click to enlarge |
| Picture of white tail tip on a purebred dog |
|
| Black tail tip on domestic dog |
|
| note the slight curl on dog in motion |
6) Wolves have a caudal mark/scent gland *often called precaudal gland* (a dark spot positioned approx. 3-4 inches down from the base of the tail,) it can tend to have a bluish tinge to it with
a few longer stiffer hairs that poke out of it. The spot can be
a few different shapes. Even Black phase wolves though it is harder to see have this spot on their tail. Some black phase
puppies have a few white or black stiff hairs poking out of this area. The spot looks a little shinier in appearance.
MOST Domestic dogs even *if* they have the mark itself on the tail (which still would not be all
that common, are most likely to be seen on dogs with wolf heritage or old working northern breed lines,) however it is
not a functioning/working precaudal gland. PLEASE NOTE HOWEVER : That there is a breed of
dog called the Rhodesian Ridgeback this older breed (often called the African Lion Dog Or African Lion Hound) surprisingly though classified as a sight
hound has a precaudal gland and it is said to be a functioning one at that. Wolves also have scent glands between the toes and on the face. (On cheeks close to the mouth, behind the ears and in the eyes) as well as a few glands
close to the anus (both sides as well as immediately below.) The wolves at AWA on a daily basis like to rub their heads/cheeks,
against objects, be it each other or even trees/fences, and even us their caretakers! This is away to let others know they
were there through scent marking.
| CAUDAL MARK ON ARCTIC WOLF |
|
| CAUDAL MARK ON BLACK PHASE WOLF PUPS TAIL |
|
7) Wolves’ canine teeth are very large and they are more curved and thicker
than the typical domestic dogs teeth are, they can reach lengths up
to just over a couple inches long. They are adapted to crush huge bones
in one crunch. Claws and Jaws work together to hold down the meat, (claws which also can rip up hide) and jaws to cut/slice,
shred, and break bone.
8) Wolves’ chests are so narrow their legs appear to be side by side causing their large feet to splay to the side
when standing still. Legs are long and lanky. Shoulders
& butts are narrow for faster acceleration.
| wolf front in summer appearance |
|
9) Wolves back legs have a significant cow hock look to them when at a standstill. The tail is slightly in the way in this picture of Tibet
Night Song, but cow hocked means the canines hocks turn in, which makes it's toes point /splay outwards.
| cow hock |
|
| click to enlarge |
10) Wolves have banded fur
and it lies differently than a dog’s fur does. Wolves have a banded pattern
of fur ticked with stiff black hairs approx 1 ½ inches long that outline a v shape draping down their backs, (dorsal cape) some capes are more readily noticeable than others. On black
wolves it is still there but harder to see. (Banded means each individual hair has a few different colors per strand.) See
pic. The dorsal cape starts behind the shoulders and comes to a point on the mid back.
| BANDED FUR |
|
| wolf dorsal cape on white wolf (click to enlarge) |
|
| though not ticked with black you can clearly see the longer guard hairs making up this dorsal cape |
| Dorsal cape on grey colored wolf, click to enlarge |
|
| look just behind the shoulder blades on the upper back down |
11) Wolves though they have (dew claws) a fifth digit on the front paws, they will not have rear dew claws like many dogs can and do have
12) Wolves’ tails when they walk will not curl up or
over their backs like a dogs tail will. Wolves’ tails are extremely straight.
Even dog breeds that have straighter tails (Like Geman Shepheds for example) will still have a slight curl to them
when they run or walk/prance. A Wolf's tail will however depending
on their mood, show a lot of different emotions, and can be held in various positions from straight out in a horizontal position,
to straight up in a vertical one, and everything inbetween.
| wolf at a trot |
|
| German Shepherds Tail Curling Up |
|
12) A
wolf’s
fur (pelage)changes color consistently as it ages. Some more drastically than others. A black phase wolf can be born pitch black, yet
phase so light they can appear almost solid white or bright silver by the time it is 6 years of age. Black dogs even though they may get a few white hairs as they get to
be seniors, stay black. Even grey/silver colored wolves change color, although may not appear as drastically to phase
as black wolves do over time.
| blackphase pure wolf pup |
|
13) Wolves can have many vocalizations, but do not bark like the typical domestic dog does. They have an alarm bark that sounds like a rapid
blowing, fast puffing like sound, or a high-pitched yip that can almost be coyote like and are alarm calls. Wolves can also scream when agitated/alarmed. Wolves are by nature very quiet shy animals, and unless you
live with them you would be hard pressed to ever hear them
alarm bark/scream, since wolves are not easy to view in the wild to hear such sounds.
14) Wolves howl, and though domestic dogs
can howl some being pretty darn good at it even, I have yet to hear this
howl mimicked by a domestic dog in quite the same way and range/pitch as a wolf’s howl. A wolf’s howl
is one of the most haunting beautiful sounds to ever hear. And for the most part unrivaled by domestic dogs.
15) Male
wolves testicles will be peanut sized all year round (and not fertile) until mating season once a year in the winter months
to correspond with a female wolf’s estrus, after mating they will once more shrink down so as to barely be noticeable,
unlike a male domestic dog whose testicles remain the same size all year, and is able to mate any time of the year.
16) Wolves will not have pink/black, pink reddish noses.
| Siberian Husky and Malamute cross |
|
| This dog has a pink and black nose seen often in northern breed dogs. NOTE: the open white face |
17) Wolves eyes can be various shades of amber from light to dark
( yellow orange- brown orange) various shades of yellow from pale lemon colored to a deep gold, various shades of
green, and yellowish green, in the case of arctics they have a brown looking eye when young which lightens up some over
time but will still not be light yellow,(in certain light and when photographed actics eyes can appear a lot lighter than
they actually are) What wolves won't have is blue eyes. (wolves do not carry the blue eyed gene which is
a recessive trait in domestic dogs) Wolves eyes are
characteristically marked with a heavy dark black eye lining. Wolf
pups eye's start off with various spectrums of blue from light to dark, they will go though a few different color changes
till their final color by a few months of age, although they will tend to lighten up a bit over the first year. Wolf
pups eyes transition from either blue to blue green/ blue to grey colored or grey green, or green to finally their
determined genetic shade one of the above colors.
18) A wolf’s nails/claws
are thicker and larger than the typical domestic dogs used for helping to rip open prey’s tough hides during hunting
and for then eating.
19) Wolf pups are not
born with distinct markings & masks like Siberian huskys, German Shepherds or Alaskan malamutes. Please look at the domestic DOG pictures provided,
CAREFULLY. PURE wolf pups including arctic wolves are born darker colors,with well-blended
fur. Not sharply defined white markings on their feet, on their noses, on their foreheads, or
have *large* white chest markings. Arctic wolves are NOT EVER
born WHITE please look at the photo of the young pups said to be arctic wolfcross pups, being born WHITE is a DOG trait NOT
a WOLF trait. Many white DOGS and crosses are sold as arctic crosses when they simply are NOT. Please go to legend
and ecos page on this site to see how true arctic wolf pups look like when young.
| wolfpups uniform in color |
|
| NO sharply defined white markings such as white booties, white stars on foreheads,open white faces |
| Purebred GSD puppy |
|
| courtesy Jill Porter |
| Purebred Alaskan Malamute Puppy |
|
| courtesy Jill Porter |
| PUREBRED registered Samoyed |
|
| Samoyeds are born white |
| Young Purebred Siberian Huskys |
|
| Few different color ranges. PLEASE look at the open white faces ,and masks these purebred DOGS have |
| Purebred white siberian husky (BORN white) |
|
| courtesy Jill Porter |
| Alaskan Malamute and Siberian Husky with blue eyes |
|
| NO ARCTIC wolf in this DOG puppy! being born white is a DOG Trait! |
20) Wolves skulls differ from domestic dogs the width, height
and length is larger, the orbital angle is different, (45 degrees for wolves compared to a dogs 53 degrees) The sagittal crest
(raised area of bone at the back of the wolf's skull is more pronounced.) This bump can clearly be felt on the wolfs head
when felt, some jokingly call this a brain bump. Please go here for a more indepth tour into a wolf's skull
| Comparison dog skull (left) with 3 wolf skulls |
|
| credit www.soappuppy.com/wolf |
| Wolf Skull Left Side View |
|
| courtesy www.soappuppy.com/wolf |
| Front view wolf skull |
|
| courtesy & thanks to Jess at www.soappuppy.com/wolf for the reprint permission of pics |
21) Wolves do not not *generally*
become sexually mature till approx their second winter (22 months of age to their third winter even) Where
as dogs sexually mature approx 6-8 months of age, and can produce offspring. BUT please keep in mind I used the
word general and being sexually mature does not mean because they have a first heat their first winter, they are mature.
I have personally seen verified pure wolves come into their first heat at 10 months of age (not any younger than that,) and
I should note that at wolf park www.wolfpark.org a study was done to check the viability of sperm in male wolves their first winter, and it was found to be *possible*
for them to mate their first winter. It is an old wives tale *myth* that wolves do NOT come into their first heat until
their second winter, there many cases of female wolves coming into heat (estrus) /(bleeding) their first winter,
although it is *possible*, it is still rare to observe female wolves acually mating their first winter,
even if they go through estrus. But anyone stating wolves absolutely *cannot* mate their first winter, male or female
this has proven itself to not be true.
*In Dr. L.D Mech's book {Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation} he states a case of a captive female
wolf it's first year, having given birth even.
22) Wolves single track; (as do coyotes and foxes) in the great outdoors
one can tell the difference between a wild wolfs tracks, and a large domestic dogs tracks
by their appearance. Single tracking is where the wolfs back paws, are placed in the front paws tracks when
moving as to form a straight line, dogs tracks are more *staggered*. (*Unsteady and uneven gait thus domestic dog tracks
will not be in a line.*) A dogs chest is proportionally wider than a wolf's is, thus a dogs rear hind foot
will be placed *beside* the front track.
| BACK PRINT PLACED IN FRONT |
|
| WOLF TRACK |
| SINGLE TRACKING |
|
| WOLF TRACKS |
23) Wolves are a territorial
predator, and will attack other animals that encroach on their territory, including other wolves, wild
canids, and dogs. If the coyote population is dense
in an area, you know wolves are not really around, as wolves would not share their territory, and would kill off any coyotes
they came upon.
24) Wolves have *webbed feet* skin that is attached
between the toes, this aids them not only like snowshoes in the winter but also to help them in swimming, and for better traction
and grip on slippery surfaces.
25) Wolves have thick double coats,
the dense undercoat acts as insulation to keep a wolf warm and cozy during frigid cold weather, and the coarse outer
coat /guard hairs act like an umbrella, when snow lands on a wolf's fur it will sit atop the fur and not penetrate through
the thick undecoat, it also helps to keep the wolf warm when it rains. A wolf's guard hairs act as insulators
due to the hair shafts being hollow.
| Snow resting a top the fur |
|
26) Wolves
have smaller, rounder, thicker, well furred ears, NOT larger, thinner, or pointier ears like German
Shepherds.
| Wolf ears (click on pic to enlarge) |
|
| NOTE the rounded tips, THICK smaller ears, and all the fur within the ears |
| White German Shepherd Ears |
|
| Please note the large size with not much fur within the ears |
| German Shepherd cross (Not an arctic wolf cross!) |
|
| This dogs ears are fairly well furred , rounded tips, BUT are TOO large |
| Purebred Sibe ears |
|
| Ears are more thinly furred and thinner than a wolf's ears, have more triangular tips/shape |
| German shepherd, malamute and wolf cross ears |
|
| Ears are too big!fairly well furred ears, BUT not furred enough,Can still see some pink within |
| Purebred German Shepherd ears |
|
| Malamute, Shepherd, wolf cross ears |
|
| Ears are too large to be a wolf's, some pink can be seen within, fairly well furred but not enough |
| Wolfcross ears |
|
| Ears are to thin, and not furred enough, can see some pink within, shape is too triangular |
27) Wolf
pups will NOT have pink or pink and black paw pads. Every single one of the paw pads on wolf pups will
only ever be black. They are born with solid black pads. (pic of just under
two week old wolf pup and pic of 2 weeks old canine pup with some wolf heritage) Even if the paw pads fade to all black
within weeks, the fact the pup has this trait to begin with at birth and any time period onward SHOWS dog heritage. NOTE: The pics in my presentation shown of pink/black paw pads, did turn to solid black, and did not stay pink
and black.
| black paw pads |
|
| Pure Wolf Pups will NOT have Pink & Black Paw Pads |
|
| young canine pup with pink and black pads |
28) Wolf
pups ears are erect/standing by 3 -3 1/2 weeks of age not flopped over till 4 or more.
| 21 day (3wk) old wolf pup |
|
| note the little round ears perked up, click on pic to enlarge |
29) a) Wolf pups will NOT be born
with larger white stars/markings on their heads and or noses, even if this fades out once the pup is quite
a bit older, it does not matter.
b) Wolf pups will NOT
have sharply defined white socks/booties.
c) Wolf pups will NOT
have flopped over ears till 4 weeks of age or more. PURE wolf pups ears WILL be standing BY 3 -3 1/2 weeks of age.
d) Wolf pups will not have large white chest markings
e) Wolf pups will NOT be born with pink, or pink and black
noses (even if the nose turns black fairly quickly.) A pink and black nose shows dog genes.
There are some places who state they have wolves in
captivity but have wolf crosses/wolfdogs/dogs with wolf heritage, not pure wolves, and such places
have NOT had DNA tests done to PROVE otherwise.
Wolves follow certain rules biologically and physically,
captivity does not change these rules. The following are pics that are of DOG
traits NOT PURE wolf traits, if you see photos with pups that are stated to be pure wolf, and they have these traits when
young, they simply are NOT pure wolf but have dog genes. Not any lab can do proper DNA testing either, the USFWC forensics
lab in Oregon is the leading lab *at the moment* set up for such testing. Please read further down for more info. on this
subject. PLEASE NOTE: That any of the following traits can be independant
of the other, or all combined. Each individual physical trait in the examples, shows dog genes.
| PICTURE OF DOG STAR AND FLOP EARS ON A 3 WEEK OLD |
|
| EARS ON PURE WOLF PUPS STAND UP ERECT AT AND BY 3 WEEKS OF AGE |
| WHITE SOCKS/BOOTIES ARE A DOG TRAIT |
|
| Traits NOT seen in pure wolf pups |
|
| NOTE THE *LARGE* WHITE CHEST MARKING SHARPLY DEFINED (THIS IS A DOG TRAIT) & PINK AND BLACK PADS |
| CANINE PUP BORN WITH PINK & BLACK NOSE |
|
| PAW PADS PINK AND BLACK (NOTE: PUPS NOSE AND PAWS PADS DID TURN SOLID BLACK BY 4 WKS) |
|
| PUPPY WITH LARGE SHARPLY DEFINED WHITE MARKINGS STARTING UNDER THE CHIN DOWN |
| NOSE/HEAD STARS |
|
| EVEN THOUGH BOTH MARKINGS FADED/BLENDED COMPLETELY AWAY THIS SHOWS VERY EARLY ON THE DOG GENES |
30) Wolves,
unlike dogs, lack sweat glands in their paw pads.
31) Wolf pups are ALWAYS born
in the early to late spring months once a
year.
(Whelping months/dates being Mid March leaning more towards the third week of March to the end of May.
Not June through Feb. In the wild, the month of birth depends on latitude, thus also the sub-species
of gray wolf. So a subspecies of wolf like an Alaskan Tundra, would have a later whelping date than a subspecies of wolf that
exists in a more southern area naturally, while still falling into the parameters of the whelping months/ dates listed. Wolf
pups are not
born in the summertime and fall/winter months! Captivity does not change wolves biologically.
Meaning, a pure arctic wolf in captivity in Texas for example, will follow the
same whelping date it would if it were living in the high arctic.
For reference please *click on link below which takes you to to Dr. Mech's
site and book listings, you will find verification of the above facts at the following book referral by A Wolf Adventure*
32) Wolves shed ONCE a year which starts in the
later spring/early summer (June and July) not twice a year like most dogs. Their under coat and guard hairs
come out in clumps. A Wolf's undercoat and guard hairs will shed out (Nature's haircut) and never matts up like dog's
fur does. By Fall the coat has completely regrown again. Unlike a dog that systematically sheds a great
number of hairs on a daily basis, (do you have a dog and peple KNOW you have one, due to wearing their fur to work ;0))
a wolf's fur does not shed on a daily basis to the degree dogs fur does. (I dont wear fur to work on my clothing!) There is
a reason you will not see calendars of wolves in summer coats, for they get quite ratty/mangy looking when their glorious
winter garbs initially disappear. By Mid summer however, they do return to being at least respectable looking in their shorter
sleek coats. :0)
4) How fast Do wolves run?
A).A wolf
running at top speed can reach speeds in short bursts of 35mph, thanks to their long and powerful legs that were built for speed
and endurance in
chasing prey.
5) How big are wolves feet?
A)
Wolves’ forefront (front paw) prints can be approx 4-5.5 inches in length and approx. 3.5 to 4 inches wide and are always bigger than the back feet. Their feet are well padded to help spread their weight over snow like canine snowshoes, it also helps them to
grip surfaces such as rocks and logs well.
6) How good can wolves hear?
A) Wolves ears are well furred inside and out, and are fairly short/broad with rounded
tips. Their hearing is extremely sharp and can hear sounds as far away as 6 –10 miles depending on terrain.
Wolves can hear sounds undetectable to humans ears, (high pitches) and sounds such as rodents knawing underneath the snow, as their furry ears are sensitive to lower frequencies.
If you ever watch a dog when a sound occurs you will notice they will cock (tilt) their heads, or their ears may turn in directions
independant of one another, this is kind of like antennaes trying to receive a better sound and tune in.
7) How well can wolves see, and
can they see in the Dark?
A)
A wolfs eye sight is quite keen; they detect even the slightest of movements so they
can find and follow prey. They have excellent peripheral vision even though their eyes are situated on the front of their
skulls. However, detecting details on the object of focus is not as good, wolves though they notice movement immediately,
no matter how slight, they have a harder time viewing details of the objects they may spot. The farther away the
object is the worse their vision gets, this would be called being near sighted in humans,or myopic. I have often
remarked during observation of my own wolves, how they almost seem to be blind in some instances, as they have mistaken
me, and even spooked thinking I was some stranger if they see me from a great distance approaching, till I speak to let
them know it is me. Wolves although they have binocular vision like humans (the fovea responsible for sharper focus is not as well developed as it is in humans) but despite this wolves see amazingly well
at night due due to having more night vision cells (rods) than we do, these rods react to lower light than cones. Wolves have a larger pupil than in humans which allows them to gather more light when it is scarce. A
Wolf's eyes also glow within the tapetum , though this helps a wolf's vision in dim light, it will also scatter some of that light which will degrade the canine's
vision significantly. Wolves rely on their eyes, but their other senses their hearing and sense of smell are
well honed, and very sharp to make up for what the eyes may lack.
8) How well do wolves smell?
A) The wolf’s
sense of smell is said to be 100 times greater than a human beings. They can smell their prey from
as far away as a mile and a half. A wolf's sense of smell is vital to it's very existence within a wolf pack structure, for being able to not only detect
smell sometimes from great distances, and to communicate with each other, but also interpret that smell which allows a wolf
insight into the animal that may have left the scent, (prey/enemy) even if the animal may be ill/dying. Whenever I have visitors
at the ranch, after the people leave the wolves will immediately go to every spot the visiting person (people) may have been
sitting/ standing to sniff, and gain infomation.
9) How many teeth do wolves have?
A) The wolf has
42 teeth, consisting of two canines, six incisors , eight premolars, and four molars,
in the upper jaw. Two canines, six incisors,
eight premolars and six molars in
the lower jaw.
10) How strong are wolves teeth?
A) Wolves have extremely powerful jaw strength. They can generate
pressure of 1500 pounds per square inch (psi), twice that of a a German
shepherd. Their teeth were made to eat meat, growing to seen lengths of up to a
couple inches. Their teeth are very thick
and large for tearing and and ripping into thick hide and skin of their prey.
11) How
far do wolves travel?
A) Wolves in search of food have been known to
travel 25 miles in a day or more.
12) What is
a wolf pack ?
A) A wolf packs consist of family members,
mainly offspring of the main dominant breeding pair. The omega wolf in the pack is the lowest ranking animal, and the
one the other wolves may take out their social aggressions, and stress on *beating the omega up*, the beta is the second in rank, with the alpha being considered the most dominant
and the leader(s) The omega actually plays a vital role in keeping stress, and animosity levels down within the pack. You
will often notice the omega within a pack as the one who most often shrinks down in size around some of the other wolves.
They accomplish making themselves smaller, and less threatening, by lowering their heads, tucking their tails, averting their
eyes, curving their backs, and lowering themselves even closer to the ground when approaching, or being approached by a higher
ranking wolf within the pack structure.
13)
How much do wolves eat?
A) Contrary
to popular belief wolves are not the most successful of
hunters, and must work as a family unit together to bring down large game animals. Their success rate is approx 1 in ten animals that are pursued, this means traveling sometimes great distance and testing many prey
animals before a success. Wolves work very hard *together* for what they do manage to kill. Wolves
survive in the wild under a feast or famine scenario, when they are successful with a hunt they gorge themselves and
eat as much as their bellies can hold, (feast) for they may not eat for a number of days there after, (famine) until a next
kill. Wolves can eat up to 20 pounds of meat or more in one
sitting.
14) How many pups do wolves have?
A) Wolves give birth to smaller litters on average. Wolves give birth to approx 1-7 pups with 3-5 being most common.
Pups are born after approx 63 days of gestation , and are born blind
, helpless, and well furred.
15) How big are wolf packs?
A) Wolf packs can consist of as little as 2 members all the way up to 25 plus members, it depends on the area they may
reside, (more isolated areas with less threat to their livlihood (food source, habitat and their physical lives, packs tend to be larger) packs in general however consist of approx 5-10 members.
16) Do wolves make good pets?
A) Absolutely not! Neither being raised in captivity, raised in a house, being trained, or raised with a *dog* changes
what a wolf is...a wild animal in a domestic situation. Some lines of wolves may have a higher tractability *easier to work
with due to selective breeding over many years* but even they are
STILL wolves, and come intact with all things that make a wolf a wolf. Captive wildlife do not lose their inherent nature,
or natural intensity, simply because someone raises it like a pet. If anyone/facility does share their life with
wolves there are a few things to be aware of in meeting ALL the *needs* of such high maintenance canids they are as follows:
1) Companionship: Wolves are
very social and complex animals, they require companionship in the form of another canine to meet their emotional needs. I
recommend placing them with another canine of the opposite sex around
it’s own size. This way they will not be lonely.
2) Not allowing wildlife
to run free: Never
allow a captive wolf to run free, like some farm dog. This is a sure,
and fast recipe for disaster and even a possible lawsuit. The wolf can be shot, come up against some wild canid (such as another
wolf or coyote), porcupines, chase, harass even kill other neighbors livestock
(chickens, small animals etc.) The wolf should be in an escape proof roomy enclosure to keep it and the public
at large safe.
3)
Socialization: Make
sure the wolf (wolves) are socialized heavily to a variety of people, places, objects, experiences. Wolf pups need to be hand raised (bottle-fed) from the age of
2 weeks and socialized to both sexes (male and female humans,) to ensure they will be adequately socialized to humans for life.
Even if the mother is social pups not pulled will be difficult to handle as adults (will be flighty). This poses problems
when the wolves require even routine medical care, let alone emergency
vet treatment. Please do not make wolves suffer for any short cuts taken in this process. Keeping wild animals unsocialized
in a captive environment can create great distress.
4)
Insurance: some licensing requires liability insurance, in case of any incidents involving
the wolves in your care. (Such as an escape or bite)
5) Health
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