Deep in the evergreenforest in North America, the moon glinting off the newly fallen snow, all is quiet. The solitude of the sable night is broken by the mournful howl of the wolf.The wolf pack is preparing to hunt.
This is the natural order of life not cry of a cold blooded killer.
The killer reputation came about many centuries ago during the European wars. People saw wolves eating those who were already dead from the war. This was interpreted as though the wolves had killed the people when in fact they were taking advantage of the food source by scavenging. Many people once, and still do think wolves are dangerous to humans and livestock. It is this reputation that has almost brought the wolf to extinction. Wolves are an endangered species. but are now protected by law.Efforts are already underway to re-eneter wolves into the ares where they have dissapeared.One of the rarest wolves in North America is the red wolf. Other endangered wolves are the Arabian, Persian, Chinese, Mexican, American and Euopean gray wolves, Tundra(artic) wolves and Indian wolves. Some wolf relitives are: in Africa Capehunting dog, Jackal and Hyene, In South and North America Red and gray foxes, Maned wolves and coyotes. In Europe, Asia and Australia the dingo, red fox, Artic fox, and Fennecfox.
Wolves are large carnivors. They belong to the group Canis Lupus. Wolves hunt caribou, fish, rabbits, mice, bison, deer, and birds.Wolves have a very structuredfamily groups called packs. The pack consists of an Alpha male and female (the leaders), betas ( second rank) and a omega( the scapegoat of a wolf pack).
The leader of the pack can be an Alpha male or female. The alpha leader is the " top dog". They keep the rest of the pack in-line and determine the social structure of the pack. The Alpha female is the only wolf allowed to have pups. The Alpha male is the only wolf that can sire the pups. The whole pack is in charge of raising the pups. The wolf pups quickly learn the rules of the highly structured pack. They also learn how much respect to show to each wolf. The young learn to hunt, howl, and survive the harsh wild, by watching the other wolves in the pack. The alphas are the first wolves to eat at a kill.
Betas are secondary members of the pack. Like alphas there are two betas. If the Alpha male happens to die the beta male will take his place.They are the second to eat at a kill.
The omega is the lowest rank. Even though the omega is picked on and is the last to eat it is very vital to keeping the pack together. if there was no omega the wolves would have no way to let out agrression in small harmless ways.
Wolves have extremely good senses.their most developed is their sense smell. They can smell the sent of another wolf six weeks after it had been there! They can also hear prey up to 8 miles away. Wolves have powerful legs that help them run as fast as 25mph.
Wolves use there whole bodies for communication. When wolves stare at each other it is a sighn of agression.They also use their tales for communication. If a wolf has it's tale held high it means it is the dominent wolf. Wolves also comunicate with their ears, voices, and teeth.
|
