Wolves are predators. They hunt to obtain their food. Their main prey are moose, buffalo, deer, and elk. They will also eat rabbits and mice on occasion. And no predator would pass up a free meal so sometimes wolves will scavenge (eat already dead animals).
Wolves hunt in packs which allows them to take down prey much larger than themselves.. When they hunt, wolves look through the entire herd of animals looking for a weak animal. Once they find one, the whole pack starts a relay race. One wolf gives chase until it gets tired. The next animal takes over and so on until the prey animal is too tired. Once the animal collapses from exhaustion, the pack closes in and begins their feast. Wolves do not have the means to give thier prey a quick end (by biting their throat, etc.) so they eat the animal alive. However, it is believed that the prey has a internal mechanism that shuts down their nerve impulses so they don't suffer. About 1 in 4 hunts is actually successful.
When the pack eats, the alphas eat first. After they have had their fill, the betas eat. Finally, the omega eats after everyone else. Wolves must eat at least 5 pounds of food a day but can eat up to 20 lbs. of flesh in one sitting. They can go a week without eating. |
