Wolves are carnivores, or meat eaters. They are also hunters and eat their own kill Their main prey are the large hoofed mammals like moose, deer, caribou, elk and sheep.
Hunting is a collaborative effort, as the wolves prey is often ten times larger than the wolf, and it take several members of the pack to bring the prey down.
The identifying, pursuing, and capture of the prey is a multi step process. A wolf pack will pick up the scent of the prey. This is done either by following tracks on the ground, or by picking up the airborne scent. After picking up the scent, the wolves move as a unit towards their quarry. This must be done quietly, so as not to alert their prey. Once the quarry is found, the wolves will surround the animal, biting it around the backside, sides, neck and head. Once the wolves have successfully attacked, death comes very quickly.
Quite often the pack is not successful in its hunt. Either their intended prey will pick up the scent of the wolves and run, or in the case of the much larger prey, such as the moose, the prey will try to fight the wolves off. If the prey is fleet of foot, or if the prey fights well, the wolves will leave in search of easier game. The wolves seem to know when to give up and search for something new.
Wolves often have to go for long periods of time without eating. They can go without food for as long as two weeks. When food is available and plentiful, the wolves will eat more to make up for the weeks without food. An adult wolf cane at as much as 20 pounds at one killing.
Another factor in the wolves hunting and eating schedule is the seasons. In the spring and summer, the wolves have an abundance of baby mammals that do not have the ability to take flight or fight to eat. In the leaner months of the fall and winter, the wolves must rely on the order of nature and feed on prey that is old or sick. Employing the law of nature in the strong survive.
The hunt is also affected by the wolves’ offspring. In the spring and summer months, the wolves' actions are dictated by the litters in the pack. Hunting is usually done at night and the pups are attended to by a beta member, or "puppysitter". |
