| The Wolf: What You Should Know; General info + a few common myths... | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:02 pm (444 Views) | |
| Sawtooth | Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:02 pm Post #1 |
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Blacktooth Alpha
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This thread exists thanks to Keeta's knowledge and willingness to help Wilderness improve. Thank you, Keeta! This information may not be used elsewhere without Keeta's prior knowledge and permission. The Pack Packs can consist of numbers anywhere between 2-36 wolves, but there is always a dominant alpha or alphas. In larger packs, there may also be a beta wolf or wolves - a "second-in-command" to the alphas. In addition, one wolf typically assumes the role of omega, the lowest-ranking member of a pack. These individuals absorb the greatest amount of aggression from the rest of the pack, and consequently enjoy comparatively few individual privileges. While most alpha pairs are monogamous with each other, there are exceptions. An alpha animal may preferentially mate with a lower-ranking animal, especially if the other alpha is closely related (a brother or sister, for example). The death of one alpha does not affect the status of the other alpha, who will quickly take another mate. Usually, only the alpha pair is able to successfully rear a litter of pups (other wolves in a pack may breed, and may even produce pups, but usually they lack the freedom or the resources to raise the pups to maturity). All the wolves in the pack assist in raising wolf pups. Some mature individuals, usually females, may choose to stay in the original pack so as to reinforce it and help rear more pups. Most, males particularly, will disperse, however. Rank order is established and maintained through a series of fights and posturing best described as ritual bluffing. Wolves prefer psychological warfare to physical confrontations, meaning that high-ranking status is based more on personality or attitude than on size or physical strength. Rank, who holds it, and how it is enforced varies widely between packs and between individual animals. In large packs full of easygoing wolves, or in a group of juvenile wolves, rank order may shift almost constantly. Loss of rank can happen gradually or suddenly. An older wolf may simply choose to give way when an ambitious challenger presents itself, yielding its position without bloodshed. On the other hand, the challenged individual may choose to fight back, with varying degrees of intensity. While the majority of wolf aggression is non-damaging and ritualized, a high-stakes fight can easily result in injury for either or both parties. The loser of such a confrontation is frequently chased away from the pack or, rarely, may be killed as other aggressive wolves contribute to the insurgency. This kind of dominance encounter is more common in the winter months, when mating normally occurs. Wolves will defend there territory; they work as a pack to harass larger animals like bears. Although a pack of 12 were once known to kill a grizzly bear, most times if the animal runs away the wolves will not attack. Animals the wolf may come in contact with are: Coyotes - They will avoid wolves most times. but when encounters occur they are aggressive. Grizzly bears - Are known to eat wolf pups, wolves will chase away bears from the den area. Cougars - Although rare in nature, the cougar being a lone hunter is at a disadvantage in a fight with a wolf pack. Foxes - Foxes have been observed stealing from wolf kills, wolves have been know to steal fox dens, wolves have been known to kill foxes, though it is rare, more often than not they ignore these tiny predators, the exceptions is in the arctic region where wolves will usually kill a fox on sight. Ravens - One of the most fascinating relationships between animals is the one that seems to exist between wolves and raven. The raven, scavenger of food of all types, will often follow wolf packs in hopes of morsels of food, and wolves have learned to watch for circling ravens as a sign of possible food below. Dogs - Although wolves are physiologically capable of breeding with dogs, such crossed usually happen in captive situations, trappers tales of wild wolves mating with dogs is usually a campfire myth. Most encounters between wild wolves and dogs are aggressive in nature, it is only natural a dog would be a trespasser in a wolf's territory, small yapping dogs may be attacked as nuisances. Physical Appearance Height, Weight, and Length The average wolf is between 85 to 125 pounds, 50 to 60 inches long (quarter of which is the tail length, making wolves with shorter tails generally shorter wolves) and between 27 to 31 inches. A table here will show you the rough estimates, with females almost always on the lower scale. Tiny: 24 inches to 26 inches - 44lbs to 55lbs - 3.5 ft to 4ft Small: 26 inches to 28 inches - 60lbs to 80lbs - 4.1ft to 4.5ft Medium: 29 inches to 32 inches - 85lbs to 115lbs - 4.6ft to 5.5ft Large: 30 inches to 38 inches - 115lbs to 140lbs - 5.6ft to 6.5ft Giant (US/Canada): 38 inches to 40 inches - 150lbs to 170lbs - 6ft to 7ft Giant (Russian): 38 inches to 40 inches - 170lbs to 220lbs - 6ft to 7ft However, it is unlikely that a pack will have any or more then one in the giant or tiny range, due to our lack of Russian or coyote mix breeds. Fur Coloration Wolves can range from any shade of grey, through browns, reds, blacks and whites. These colors are generally blended so that most wolves are normally not a solid color, but a mix. The most common is an undercoat of yellow-white or cream with black and grey peppering or streaks. [Examples are in the works...] Eye Color Almost always in the range of yellow and brown, including coppers and more orange shades. Yellows can appear green, and sometimes gray coloration may appear in adults that don't quite retain blue eyes, yet don't develop the yellow-brown shades. Blue is a particularly rare eye color among adults, as it is simply pup eye-color extending into adulthood. Anatomy [In the Works] Growing Up Wolves change a considerable amount from the time they are pups. 0 - 9 days: Deaf and blind. 10 - 13 days: the eyes open 3 weeks: the milk teeth appear, they start to explore the den 4 - 5 weeks: short trips outside the den, begin to eat meat 6 weeks: moving up to a mile from the den (with adult wolf) 6 - 8 weeks: pups are weaned, traveling to rendezvous site. 12 weeks: begin to travel with the pack on hunts (with adult wolves) 15 - 28 weeks: milk teeth are replaced 7 - 8 months: begin to hunt with the pack In a few weeks (4-5 weeks), the pups start eating meat. This is brought to them in the stomachs of the adult wolves. The pups lick around the mouth of the adult, and the food comes back up into the adult's mouth. All the wolves in a pack help take care of the pups. When the pups are very small, other pack members bring food to the mother so she does not have to leave the den. When the pups are a little bigger, pack members "take turns" bringing them food, playing with them and even "baby sitting." Once the pups are about eight weeks old, they leave the den and start using "rendezvous sites." These are meeting places where the wolves gather to sleep, play and just "hang out." Until the pups are old enough to go with the adults, (when pups are six months old, they look almost like adult wolves. Around this time, they start hunting with the rest of the pack) they stay at the rendezvous site. Often, one of the adult wolves stays with the pups to watch over them. Wolf pups love to play. They chase each other and roll around the way dog puppies do. Many of their games appear to be a sort of practice for the things they will do as adult wolves. Pups have been observed playing with "toys" like bones, feathers or the skins of dead animals. They "kill" the toys over and over again and carry them around as "trophies." As they get bigger, they begin to hunt small animals, like rabbits. This is all good practice for the day they join the pack for their first real hunt for large animals. Communication Dominance - A dominant wolf stands stiff legged and tall. The ears are erect and forward, and the hackles bristle slightly. Often the tail is held vertical and curled toward the back. This display shows the wolf's rank to all others in the pack. A dominant lupine may stare penetratingly at a submissive one, pin it to the ground, "ride up" on its shoulders, or even stand on its hind legs. Submission (active) - In active submission, the entire body is lowered, and the lips and ears are drawn back. Sometimes active submission is accompanied by a rapid thrusting out of the tongue and lowering of the hindquarters. The tail is placed down, or halfway or fully between the legs, and the muzzle often points up to the more dominant animal. The back may be partially arched as the submissive wolf humbles itself to its superior. (A more arched back and more tucked tail indicate a greater level of submission.) Submission (passive) - Passive submission is more intense than active submission. The wolf rolls on its back and exposes its vulnerable throat and underside. The paws are drawn into the body. This is often accompanied by whimpering. Anger - An angry lupine's ears are erect, and its fur bristles. The lips may curl up or pull back, and the incisors are displayed. The wolf may also snarl. Fear - A frightened wolf tries to make its body look small and therefore less conspicuous. The ears flatten down against the head, and the tail may be tucked between the legs, as with a submissive wolf. There may also be whimpering or barks of fear, and the wolf may arch its back. Defensive - A defensive wolf flattens its ears against its head. Aggression - An aggressive wolf snarls and its fur bristles. The wolf may crouch, ready to attack if necessary. Suspicion - Pulling back of the ears shows a lupine is suspicious. In addition, the wolf narrows its eyes. The tail of a wolf that senses danger points straight out, parallel to the ground. Relaxedness - A relaxed wolf's tail points straight down, and the wolf may rest sphinxlike or on its side. The wolf's tail may also wag. The further down the tail droops, the more relaxed the wolf is. Tension - An aroused wolf's tail points straight out, and the wolf may crouch as if ready to spring. Happiness - As dogs do, a lupine may wag its tail if it is in a joyful mood. The tongue may loll out of the mouth. Hunting - A wolf that is hunting is tensed, and therefore the tail is horizontal and straight. Playfulness - A playful lupine holds its tail high and wags it. The wolf may frolic and dance around, or bow by placing the front of its body down to the ground, while holding the rear high, sometimes wagged. This is reminiscent of the playful behavior executed in domestic dogs. Popular Myths - Solid colored fur is not rare, simply uncommon. In fact, in the more arctic regions wolves are nearly always white, while in places like Italy 25% of the wolf population are solid black. Color is genetic. - Death may be more common with wolves then with humans, but the death of a wolf they bonded with will effect them forever. - Wolves in the wild normally live for up to thirteen years, and, if not killed by then, their actual life span is nearly twenty, before they actually die of old age. - Male wolves are no more dominant then female wolves, and both matriarchy and patriarchy can be found among packs, though this is more to do with the more dominant alpha leading. - Small does /not/ equal fast. Speed requires muscle. A very light, tall wolf would be very fast, but lack stamina and strength. A short, very light wolf is not any of the above. I will make a table so people have a better idea. - Wolves claws are blunt and their legs too stiff to actually cause any damage by scratching. - It is wolfen, not wolven. Edited by Fate's Gambit, Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:01 pm.
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