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Annual Cycle of the Wolf
WINTER
In winter the wolf's thick coat keeps them warm even on the coldest nights, they have practically no body heat loss through their fur (snow will not melt on a wolf's fur). At night the wolf curls up, it covers its nose with its long tail. What this does is hold the warm air exhaled over the feet and nose, warming them. When the wolf inhales the air is filtered through the tail and is warmed by the exhaled air before it is breathed in.
The Wolf will feed heavily in the fall, just before winter. Hunting is difficult in the winter, The pack may have periods of inactivity and extra stores of fat, will help a wolf survive in these times. When spring finally comes the wolves emerge, this is a time of great excitement for the pack, often they run and round and play with each other, but after this short interaction it is time to feed.
Depending on the depth of the snow, wolves will choose a path that is easiest to follow, The alpha wolf will form a single file line, the rest of the pack will follow, with the pups last. They will follow old game trails, frozen lakes and other paths of least resistance.
When hunting in winter the wolf will conserve energy when ever possible, by following the same trail as the prey animal, staying upwind, and staying out of sight of the prey as long as possible. When it is time to strike the wolf will start wagging their tails with excitement. Some times when young pups are with the hunt they may dash after the prey in the excitement and spoil the hunt.
Wolves will more likely prey on young, sick or older animals past there prime, but the wolf being an opportunist will hunt a strong healthy animal.
In late December the female wolf will go into heat, at this time the alpha pair will start a courtship or bonding, within five to seven days the pair with copulate several time. As with the dog, the bulb at the end of the males penis expands in the female vagina, locking the two for a period of up to thirty minutes.
SPRING
In the spring the wolf devotes it time to digging or remodeling an existing den (both male and female wolves take part in
making the den). The den is only used for birthing and rearing the young; all wolves sleep outside all year long. The den is usually on an elevated area, on a hill, or high on a riverbank, also important is proximity to water. The den is usually oval shaped, the opening is about 3 feet wide by 2 feet high, the den is about 10 to 15 feet deep ending in a 4 foot chamber.
Birthing: The wolf's gestation period is sixty-three days. She will hunt with the pact up to the birth. at this time the den become the focal point for the pack. A week or two before the birth, she will stop hunting and spend her time in or around the den. Around twenty-four hours before she will remain in the den.
(See Reproduction and Pups)
SUMMER
The summer is a time of growth; the winter coat is long gone, replaced by a short summer coat. This is a time the pups are still using the den, the mother will again start hunting with the pact, and the pups are never left alone. this is a time of play and fun for the pups, the adult
wolves put up with a lot of puppy abuse! At about eight weeks of age they abandon the den and move to a 'rendezvous' site. these areas are more centrally located to the area that the pack is hunting. This is a time the young wolves learn to hunt, eventually
they will be part of the hunt, their place in the pack will also start to be determined. Most of the wolves' activities take place at night, avoiding the heat of the day. The wolf will follow the gravel bars and riverbeds; they will also keep to the high ridges for a good view of possible prey. They way wolves hunt in the summer is similar to winder hunting, but they are not hampered by the elements.
AUTUMN
The wolves now begin the winter preparations; the wolf's coat becomes deep and dense. Wolf pups at this time know about snow instinctively, yet the first experience with snow is an exuberant experience for them.
The pup have now been on the packs hunts, they still have much to learn. At this time the young wolves are around 50 pounds, they will not reach their full size for months to come. The pack will now have to migrate with their prey, for the predator must stay close to the prey species. The fall is a natural dispersal time for most wild animals. Some wolves (those at two and half years) may leave and find mates and to start their own pack.
Far across the tanana, a mile or two to the south of us, a group of wolves were singing. I call it singing, not howling, for that is what it was like. We could distinguish three, perhaps four voices - wavering, ascending in pitch, each one following the other, until they all broke off in a confused chorus.
Their voices sank into distant echoes on the frozen river, and began again. A light and uncertain wind was blowing out there, and the sound grew and faded as the air brought it toward us or carried it away southward. It might have come across a thousand years of ice and wind-packed snow, traveling as the light of the stars from a source no longer there.
| Annual
Cycle | Pack
| Hunting | Reproduction
| Pups | Injuries
| Endangered
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| Origins
| Wolf Dog
Hybrids | General
Facts |
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