The WOLF

                    I have researched Wolves for many years, and what have I found?
                    The Wolf is a very social animal, mating for life usually. He will
                    protect  his mate, his cubs, and his pack with his life if need be. They
                    are playful to a degree of being comedians at times. The social status
                    in the pack is very strict, and a wolf usually can not rise above his or
                    her determined status. There is the Alpha Male... dominant male, and
                    total ruler of the pack.  The Alpha Female... mate of the Alpha Male.
                    From here, the "pecking" order goes down hill to the Omega wolf.
                    He/she is on the lowest rung of the social ladder.  Packs can reach as
                    high as 30 members.

                    Wolves are very muscular animals, with strong legs that enable them
                    to run up to 35-40 mph when chasing prey, or walk endless miles at a
                    steady 5 mph.  They have been known to cover over 20 miles a day,
                    Then, turning around and covering the same 20 miles back to their
                    dens after the hunt.  The average male wolf stands some 30
                    inches at the chest, and weighs in at over 100 pounds.  Some have
                    been known to reach as much as 175+ pounds.  The females is a bit
                    smaller, standing an average 26 inches at the chest, and weighing in
                    at 80-90 pounds.  When pups are born, they weigh about 1 pound,
                    but grow rapidly. By the time they are 9 months old, they are the size
                    of the other adults, and will run with the pack their first winter.

                    Wolves are classified as Predators. That means they eat other
                    animals as their food.  Depending on where they live, they feed on
                    deer, elk, moose, and buffalo. How can a wolf bring down an animal
                    as big as this you ask?  One of them can't... but working together, a
                    pack can easily subdue just about any animal in the wild.  They will
                    usually try for sick or injured, very old or very young animals first,
                    following Nature's Law of survial of the fittest.  This is not to say
                    that they won't try to tackle a full grown, healthy animal.. they most
                    certainly will.  A wolf eats between 3 to 10 pounds of meat per day,
                    depending on his activity level.  Since it is usually feast or famine in
                    the pack, they systems are designed to digest huge amounts of meat
                    at one time and to store this food for later use.  They may eat as much
                    as 20 pounds of meat in one day, not eating again for several days if
                    the hunt was not successful.

                    One of the most beautiful sounds in nbature is the howl of the Wolf.  I
                    was in Colorado several years ago Elk and Mule Deer hunting.  One
                    of our group bagged a huge Elk.  By the time we found him and the
                    Elk, it was dark.  We built a fire so we could see to butcher the Elk
                    for transport.  Suddenly, we heard the mournful howl of a lone wolf
                    far off in the mountains.  As we listened, there were at least six more
                    answering calls from as many directions.  The night was cold and
                    clear, the moon full.  For the next 30 minutes or so, we heard the
                    lovely seranade of the wolves, calling in the pack.  It literally gave
                    me goose bumps to hear this. To this day, I feel that I was given a
                    special treat.  It is something I will never forget.

                    How do Wolves communicate?  There are many way...howling is just
                    one of them. They leave scent marks on trees, rocks, shrubs... as a
                    warning to other packs..."This is OUR terrirtory... keep out".  They
                    use body language also.

               Howling:  Howling is just not talking to the moon... It lets other pack
                    members know where a wolf is.  They howl to let other wolves who
                    might be in their terrotory they are tresspassing.  This also helps get
                    the pack excited for the hunt.  It is a way to let other pack members
                    know of danger or a threat in the area.

                    Scent Marking.  Wolves use urine and fecal droppings to mark their
                    territory.  This communicates to other wolves or animals that this is
                    claimed territory... enter at your own risk.  Their territoy can range
                    as low as 25 square miles, or as much as 1000 square miles, depending
                         on the area in which they live.  In the more populated areas, their
                    territories cover an average of 25 to 150 square miles, while in the
                    wilds of Canada and Alaksa, it has been documented to be as much as
                    200 to 1,000 square miles.  Wolves have a very keen sense of smell,
                    and if they are down wind of their prey, can smell them up to a mile
                    and a half away.

                    Body Language.  Wolves use their tail, ears, paws and whole body in
                    general to communicate with other wolves.  If the ears are forward,
                    the tail is hanging somewhat limp, this is usually an indication that the
                    wolf is getting ready to attack.  If the ears are laid back in fear, and
                    submission, and he is looking at whatever is threatening him from the
                    side, he is in a defensive mode.  He will run if given the opportunity,
                    but if cornered, will stand and fight.  When a wolf shows deference to
                    another, he will generally lower his head and expose his neck.  When
                    wolves are ready to play, their ears are erect and alert, showing that
                    they are ready for action.  It often look as as if the wolf is smiling, and
                    his tail is wagging.  He will lay his chest on the ground with is tail end
                    up in the air, sometimes making little "yipping" sounds.

                    Ok... what have we learned about wolves thus far?  They are a very
                    social animal, with strong pack and family ties.  Each cooperates for
                    the betterment of the pack.  There are certain hard and fast rules that
                    the pack lives by.  The Alpha Male and Alpha Female rule the pack.
                    The pack has a strict "pecking" order, with the other wolves being
                    submissive to the Alpha male and female.  There is very little fighting
                    among the pack.  If a disagreement breaks out then the dominant wolf
                    steps in, the others will "kow-tow" to him and back off.  Howling is a
                    strong method of communication.  The body language of the wolf is
                    very plain and understood by the other wolves.  Remember though, if
                    you see a Wolf in the wilds, LEAVE IT ALONE!!  It is NOT a dog,
                    and it can and will attack if it feels its pack or family threatened!!