Wolf ordinary (gray). The wolf is a forest predator Why is the wolf called gray

European wolves generally have shorter and thicker coats than their North American counterparts. Their size varies by region, adults reach 76 cm and weigh 70-73 kg, and females are usually 20% smaller than males. The heaviest Eurasian wolf was killed in Romania and weighed 72 kg. The color range includes white, cream, red, gray and black, sometimes with combinations of all colors. The coloration of wolves in central Europe is richer than in northern Europe. Eastern European wolves tend to be shorter and heavier than those in northern Russia.

habits

Pair of European wolves.

Wolves are very social animals and despite the decrease in their territory, they form packs, although smaller than in North America. Social behavior seems to vary from region to region, exemplified by wolves living in the Carpathians, tending to hunt alone. Males and females mate between January and March. There are usually six cubs in a litter, born seven weeks later in a den dug among bushes or rocks. The male brings food to the den either by simply dragging it or by swallowing it whole and then regurgitating it back to feed others. While the cubs are growing up, the mother and other members of the pack help them feed.

Nutrition

The diet of Eurasian wolves varies greatly depending on their habitat. They usually prey on medium-sized ungulates like mouflon, chamois, saiga, wild boar, red deer, European roe deer, livestock. Wolves will also eat smaller prey like frogs and hares. In Europe, their largest prey is the bison, while in Asia it is the yak.

Due to the increasing shortage of natural prey, sometimes wolves are forced to abandon their usual pack hunting and rummage through food waste around villages and farms. Many rural settlements have open landfills where waste from local slaughterhouses is dumped. Wolves feed there along with wild or stray dogs.

Systematics

In a comparative study of the DNA of the mitochondria of various subspecies of wolves, the theory arose that the European line of wolves originally appeared more than 150,000 years ago - this is about the same age as the North American wolves, but much younger than the Asian subspecies.

North American domestic dogs are believed to have originally descended from Eurasian wolves. The first humans to colonize North America between 12,000 and 14,000 years ago brought dogs with them from Asia, and they probably became feral and mixed with the wolves found in the New World.

Story

Currently

Wolves constantly cross the border from Russia to Finland. Although they are protected by EU law, Finland has issued hunting permits based on past prevention; this resulted in the issuance of a regulation by the European Commission in 2005. In June 2007, the European Court of Justice ruled that Finland had violated the Environment Directive, but both parties failed in at least one of their claims. The number of wolves in Finland reaches approximately 250.

It is believed that the largest population of wolves, compared to other peoples, is in Kazakhstan. It is 90,000. For comparison, this is 3.5 times more than in Canada, where there are 60,000 of them. After the collapse Soviet Union hunting for wolves became less profitable. Approximately 2,000 are slaughtered annually for a $40 premium, and the animal population has skyrocketed. At the same time, poachers have reduced the prey of Kazakh wolves, such as saiga, from 1.5 million to 150,000 by selling the antlers to the Chinese, who use them in their traditional medicine. The large number of saigas contributed to the large number of wolves in Kazakhstan. Now, after the extermination of saigas, wolves are invading human settlements in winter period and attack livestock. In spring they return to the remote, slightly wooded hills of Amangeldy, where they breed and feed on small mammals.

The British government signed conventions in the 1980s and 1990s agreeing to consider releasing wolves into the wild and to promote public awareness of them. As a party to the European agreements, the British government is under an obligation to study the desirability of returning extinct species and to consider the reintroduction of wolves. Although there are signs that wolves are repopulating areas in Western Europe, they cannot return to their original habitats in Britain without the active help of people. The Scottish Highlands is one of the few large areas in Western Europe with a relatively tiny population, which provides a quiet life for wolves, which is usually hindered by human activity. A popular argument for releasing wolves to their former habitats is that the populations of red deer in the Scottish Highlands are too large, and the return of wolves would help to control their numbers, thus giving respite to the local flora. Other arguments include income generation and job creation in the highlands through wolf ecotourism, which could replace the declining and wasteful mountain sheep farming.

Crossbreeding with dogs

wild crosses

There is some concern that European wolf populations often interbreed with wild dogs. The scientists examined and analyzed reports of mitochondrial and biparental genetic markers in dogs and in wild populations of wolf-like canine species. Although wolf-dog crossbreeding has been observed in the wild, no significant fusion of dog and wild wolf populations has yet occurred. Scientific research has led to the suggestion that crossbreeding is not particularly important for the survival of even the small populations of wolves that live in close proximity to human settlements. The degree of physical and behavioral differences between dogs and wolves can be great enough to ensure that mating is unlikely and mixed offspring rarely survive to continue breeding in the wild. Attempts to re-import wolves into Germany were thwarted when dog hybrids were found among their offspring.

Czechoslovak wolfhound

In 1955, an experiment was conducted in Czechoslovakia, during which a German shepherd was mated with a Carpathian wolf. A decade later, the resulting offspring were selectively bred to improve the qualities of the dog and combine them with useful characteristic features wolf. The result of this was the creation of the so-called Czechoslovak wolfhound. The wolfhound is more loyal, but more stubborn and much more sociable, expressing his emotions in ways other than barking. The heritage of the wolf also gave him a longer lifespan than other dogs, allowing him to live about 12-16 years. In 1982, the wolfhound was recognized as the official national breed of Czechoslovakia and in 1999 it became the state standard.

Folklore

Fenrir, a giant wolf bound by the gods.

Significant appeals to the image of the ancestor wolf are made in many works of literature.

In Jiang Rong's semi-autobiographical novel Wolf Totem, the nomadic Mongols recount that from observing wolves they learned battle tactics that helped them build a vast empire, as well as an understanding of the importance of balancing the ecosystem in the plains.

Notes

wolf subspecies
Austro-Hungarian wolf Asian wolf Alexander wolf Alaskan wolf Alaskan coastal wolf Arabian wolf Baffin tundra wolf Benkov Island tundra wolf British Columbian wolf

What do people know about wolves? What qualities of a wolf come to mind first when it comes to these animals? Surely you think that they are dangerous and cruel, insidious and treacherous. However, those who know almost nothing about the life of these animals think so. In this article we will try to talk a little more about them. Perhaps some interesting fact about wolves will make you change your attitude towards them.

Genus Lupus (wolves)

This genus includes wolves, jackals, coyotes, and dogs. These are the largest representatives of the wolf. All arctic foxes, foxes, maned wolf and

Each wolf is endowed with its own character - there are individuals who are cautious, self-confident and daring, some of them behave naturally and freely in the company of their fellow tribesmen, while others prefer to stay in the shadow of their more active relatives.

Wolves live on the plains of the northern hemisphere, as well as in the mountains and forests. Unfortunately, in some countries they are completely exterminated. And in Antarctica, white wolves are on the verge of extinction. They are listed in the International Red Book. Hunting these animals is prohibited.

These predators live in various landscapes - in forests, tundra, mountains and steppes. Mostly they are sedentary animals, but at the same time they wander over very long distances in search of food. As biologists say, in the wild they occupy their niche. In habitats, wolves tend to be the largest group of predators that prey on large mammals.

External characteristics

A male wolf usually weighs about fifty kilograms, a she-wolf is five kilograms lighter. The height at the withers of an adult is 75 cm, and the body length can be up to two meters. This, of course, is an average.

Wolves have a thick and coarse coat with an undercoat. Color may be different. There are gray, black, red, red, white wolves.

Lifestyle

Wolves are animals that prefer to live in families. Any pack of wolves has its own “charter”, in which everyone has a role to play. Aggressive and strong young people rule, and those who need a firm hand obey them.

A wolf pack, in which animals are related, is led by a wolf and a she-wolf. The rest of its members, mostly their offspring (from completely unintelligent puppies to 3-year-olds), obey them. Sometimes strangers are nailed to the flock, for some reason they left their flock. Usually in such a family lives up to 15 animals.

Endurance and vitality of wolves

These qualities of the wolf deserve special attention. A hungry predator without food can remain active for up to ten days. A wounded animal leaves the hunters for several kilometers. Surrounded hunting dogs, it fiercely defends itself to its last breath. And the wolf, caught in a trap, gnaws off its paw to hide from its pursuers.

A case is known when a wolf, which broke its paw during a hunt, lay motionless on the ground for 17 days, after which it got up and continued to search for prey. The will to live of wolves is amazing.

But they have small weaknesses that experienced hunters know about. Surprisingly, these brave predators are lost at the sight of a rag that flutters in front of their muzzle. This feature of theirs served as the appearance with flags. Hunters, having discovered a pack of wolves, surround it around the perimeter with a rope with patches of any fabric hung on it. The wolves, seeing the waving flags, do not dare to jump over them, and the hunters shoot at the animals point-blank.

And one more fact. The wolf in the forest never attacks people first. He avoids a person, prefers to stay away from him.

wolf lair

The wolf's hole is arranged quite simply. As a rule, it has one entrance. In the forest-steppe regions of Siberia, they have a depth of about four meters, the diameter of the entrance is about 50 cm.

In Transbaikalia, researchers observed how wolves dig tarbagan burrows in autumn, and wolf broods were found in them in spring. One of these holes was more than five meters long, forty centimeters wide and twenty-five centimeters high. The nest inside the burrow was half filled with dry grass bedding. It contained the skins of a tarbagan.

In the Far North, these predators build burrows along the banks of streams and rivers. In these areas, the soil is well drained, there is no permafrost, so digging a hole is easy.

Many holes can be found near the summer pastures of deer. As a rule, wolves roam after herds of these animals. Before the pups appear, they move forward, closer to their burrows, where deer also come, but a little later.

wolf howl

Each hole is inhabited by one pair of wolves, and they gather in a pack using the means of communication available to them - howling. This is not just the voice of a predator, this is an encrypted message with certain signals. Howling can be attractive (especially during the mating season), calling. It can be heard when the leader calls the pack to hunt. Howling can be a response when members of the pack respond to the call of the leader. It can be dying and, finally, be entertainment. Oddly enough, wolves often howl for no apparent reason, probably their wolf soul asks for this.

Social life of the pack

The strongest wolf becomes the leader of the pack. A faithful friend, a she-wolf, helps him manage. In order for the members of the pack to obey them, the leaders must have a strong character. All decisions that relate to the life of the family, the wolf and she-wolf make together. In a pack where the leader keeps order, the males never fight among themselves. But strangers who violate the border of possessions are usually severely punished. The wolf pack goes out to hunt only on its own, limited territory. The owners very zealously guard and mark it. This is a warning to neighbors that it is better for them to stay away from this land.

Sometimes in large packs of a single wolf, for unknown reasons, all his brethren are poisoned. Sometimes it becomes difficult for a rejected animal to live in a family, and he leaves it. He becomes a wandering loner. True, he has a chance to create his own pack if he meets the same lonely she-wolf. If these animals want to rule the pack, they must completely subjugate all its members to their will and force them to comply with the laws of the family.

How does the leader govern?

A pack of wolves unconditionally accepts the leadership of the leader. He dominates the males, and his girlfriend keeps order among the wolves. The leader does not tire of reminding his subordinates who is the master in the pack - he growls at them, bites, even knocks them down, doing this in front of the whole family.

As a rule, one fixed and stern look of the leader or his she-wolf is enough for those whom he targets to submit. Grinning, and rather ingratiatingly, the wolves fall to the ground, and then, if they succeed, stealthily leave the place of punishment. Sometimes they lie on their backs, as if to say: "We agree that you are the most important."

An interesting fact about wolves is that the position of a predator in a pack can be judged by the way he holds his tail. At the leader, he is always held high. For ordinary "subjects" - omitted. And those individuals who are at the lowest level in the pack, tail is drawn in.

Family members show their love and respect to the leader and his mate in a welcoming ceremony. With flattened ears, crawling and with smoothed hair, they crawl up to them, lick and gently bite their muzzles.

Wild wolves are faithful animals

Perhaps not everyone knows that wolves are one of the most faithful animals. These strong predators are very attached to their packmates. They express their emotions and feelings through body movements and facial expressions. Thanks to the “wolf tongue”, the pack unites, acts as one. They express their tenderness and sympathy by licking each other, while they rub their faces.

Why does a wolf need a tail?

Not everyone knows that the wolf's tail is a kind of indicator expressing his feelings. If it is raised high, and the tip is slightly curved, then this means that the wolf is quite confident in his abilities. A friendly-minded animal lowers its tail, but its very tip is raised up. A wolf that tucks its tail is either afraid of something or reports its humility.

wolf family man

This interesting fact about wolves is known only to experts. These dangerous predators experience the strongest emotional attachment. They are monogamous - they choose their mate once and for life.

I must say that the wolf is an ideal family man. He does not make scandals, does not cheat on his she-wolf, does not disagree with her, does not get a young "mistress" on the side, he carries all the prey to the family.

Wild wolves love their cubs very much. Wolf cubs are taken care of not only by their parents, but by the whole pack.

The attitude of the ancients to the wolf

This beast is sometimes called mythical. In ancient times, he was revered and respected for his courage, endurance, ingenuity. Many warlike tribes perceived him as their ancestor. During the heyday of the patriarchy, he was compared to the groom, the kidnapper of brides.

For our ancestors, the wolf was, as it were, an intermediary between the gods and people. It was considered a talisman against evil. When the wolf became a faithful companion of George the Victorious, he began to be perceived as a solar deity.

Apollo, the ancient Greek god of light, was sometimes called Wolf Apollo. The ferocious predator was a sacred animal of the god Upuaut in Ancient Egypt.

In the myths of the Scandinavian peoples, wolves are called "dogs of Odin." Romulus and Remus, who founded Great Rome, were raised by a she-wolf sent by Mars.

During DNA research, it was found that there are about four genealogical lines of the wolf. African, which arose in the late Pleistocene, is considered the most ancient. All other lines belong to the Indian subcontinent. In the course of major geological and climatic changes, the Himalayan wolf line appeared. Indian separated from it about 400,000 years ago. Tibetan wolf - inhabitant of Kashmir - the latest line. Its other name is the Holarctic hoard.

The large Siberian wolf in the Pleistocene lived in Japan and on the Korean Peninsula. The Sangar Strait divided Hokkaido and Honshu during the Holocene, which caused climate change. They led to the extinction of large ungulates in this area. Lack of sufficient food has led to insular dwarfism in the Japanese wolf.

Hokkaido, due to constant food supply and genetic interchange with large Siberian wolves, was significantly larger than the Hondo Japanese wolf.

Due to the disappearance of large prey, the dire wolf died out about 8,000 years ago. This process was accelerated by competition for the remaining food with the appearance of an ordinary wolf.

In what regions does the wolf live?

Currently, the habitat of wolves has been significantly reduced. This is due to their uncontrolled extermination in the past. Most of the predators are located on the territory:

Russia;
Belarus;
Ukraine;
northern part of the Arabian Peninsula;
Afghanistan;
Georgia;
China;
Korea;
Iran;
Hindustan;
Iraq;
Azerbaijan;
Scandinavia;
the Baltics;
the Balkans;
Italy;
Poland;
Spain;
Portugal.

From Mexico to Alaska, animals are common in North America. In Russia, they live everywhere, except for the taiga, the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. In Japan, predators are completely extinct.

Wolves are able to live in different areas, but they give preference to places with a weak forest area. They often live close to humans. In the taiga, they accompany him and settle in the territory cleared by people from the forest.

In the mountains, predators live up to alpine meadows, where the areas have a weak ruggedness.

The wolf is a territorial animal. In the cold season, flocks live settled. The boundaries of the territory in which they live are marked with odorous marks. In winter, the area occupied by predators is up to 44 km2. However, with the approach of spring, the flock breaks up in pairs. The strongest representatives remain on their territory, and loners lead a nomadic life. Wolves often accompany herds of livestock and deer.

To breed offspring, animals arrange dens. Most often they are natural shelters - thickets of shrubs, depressions in the rocks. In some cases, wolves occupy the burrows of other animals - badgers, arctic foxes, marmots. It is extremely rare that they dig them on their own. The she-wolf is most attached to the den during the period of litter rearing. The male does not use it. Puppies grow up in well-hidden places: on hills, in ravines, near the banks of lakes covered with thick reeds, in dense bushes. Wolves never hunt near their lair. After the puppies get stronger for long transitions, the animals leave their shelter. For recreation, they are looking for new, but well-protected places every time. Wolf cubs outwardly resemble dog puppies, have a brown coat color.

How long does a wolf live?

Since wolves belong to the canine family, they live about the same as dogs. But the way of life of wolves in the wild is very harsh and wolves die from disease, injury or lack of food, before their time. In the wild, on average, wolves live 10-15 years. But with good care and proper nutrition they can live up to 20 years.

What does a wolf eat?

The wolf is a predator that hunts down prey. The main types of animals it feeds on are:

antelopes;
roe deer;
moose;
wild boars;
deer.

Single wolves catch mouse-like rodents, ground squirrels and hares. IN summer period waterfowl, representatives of black grouse, domestic geese become prey. In rare cases, the wolf attacks sleeping bears, raccoon dogs, foxes. Predators often attack injured or weakened animals.

Wolves often return to the remains of the animals they have captured. Also, in times of famine, predators do not disdain carrion: carcasses thrown onto the coastline, seals, and dead cattle.

In addition to meat, animals eat melons, watermelons, mushrooms, fruits, berries. More often than not, it is caused by thirst, not hunger. Wolves need frequent, plentiful drinking, which is sometimes difficult to find.

Cannibalism is a phenomenon found in the pack. Sick, wounded animals are often eaten by stronger relatives.

Wolves are most active at night. They communicate through vocal signals. The range of sound waves that a wolf is capable of emitting is many times greater than the capabilities of most animals. The only exceptions are bats and humans. Animals are able to bark, squeal, yelp, growl, grumble, whimper, howl. Absolutely every sound made by an animal has a wide range of variations.

Experts note that wolves react to the sounds given by relatives consciously. Thanks to the sounds, the flock transmits various messages to its members, indicate the location of the game. At first, wolves listen to the information received from their relatives, and then throw their heads back and howl in a vibrating voice. First, their voice is low, and then goes to high notes, picked up by the human ear.

Only the leader of the pack can signal the attack. This sound resembles the growl of an angry dog.

You can hear the howling of wolves at dusk or at dawn, but not every day. At first, the leader howls strongly, and then the rest of the pack members. Howling most often ends with a joint shrill bark. Wolf songs are a sign of the social life of wolves. They have an emotional basis and enhance the cohesion of animals. In addition, the howl allows you to find the lost members of the pack and communicate with representatives of other groups.

Wolves have a highly developed sense of smell. The sense of smell allows predators to detect prey at a great distance. Wolves can distinguish approximately 199 million scents. Through the sense of smell, animals receive most of the information. Marking, sniffing partners, transmitting and receiving information through smell play an important role in the life of predators. Feces, urine and saliva serve as sources for obtaining the necessary information from wolves. Cal indicates that the animal belongs to a particular species, about its gender. The number of tags increases significantly during the rut and the formation of new pairs. At the same time, the males leave their mark on top of the female's mark. Such behavior strengthens couples, enhances sexual activity.

Experts concluded that in 89% of cases, wolves detect their prey by smell, and not by hearing.

In the process of evolution, wolves have developed a number of physiological features that allow them to travel long distances in search of food. Animals easily run a path of several kilometers at a speed of about 9 km / h. During the chase, it increases to 66. At the same time, canines are able to jump up to 4 meters without stopping the run.

Physiological characteristics:

sloping back;
streamlined chest;
strong legs;
webbing between the fingers allows you to reduce the load on the surface. Thanks to this, the wolf can quickly move across the snowy ground.
Predators, when moving, rely solely on the fingers, and not on the entire foot. This method of movement makes it possible to balance the mass.
The hind legs are shorter than the front. They lack the fifth additional toe on the side of the metatarsus.
Dull claws and bristly fur prevent falls from slippery surfaces.
Special blood vessels keep the paws warm from the cold.
There are scent glands between the toes. When moving, the predator leaves traces of the smell. They make it possible to navigate the terrain and inform the members of the pack about the leader's movement.
The low thermal conductivity of the fur allows the animal to live even in harsh climates.

When a pack attacks a prey, wolves slaughter several animals at the same time. At the same time, they tear their throats or rip open their belly. First of all, predators eat the most valuable in the carcass, and leave the rest in reserve.

The wolf is a highly developed creature. He uses special tactics when hunting. Hunting for cattle, they wait for him in ambush. Some of the predators are waiting in the bushes, while the rest of the pack drives the prey there. When pursuing large ungulates, for example, an elk, they starve it out. Several wolves run after the prey, the rest of the pack minces behind. When the predators participating in the chase get tired, they are replaced by relatives full of strength.

Relations in the flock are altruistic in nature. Each animal completely subordinates its interests to common needs. Otherwise, the predator community would not have survived. Not only physical data, but also psychological characteristics affect the rank of the animal. This is explained by the fact that the leader must take over the organization of the hunt, share the food obtained among relatives. The older wolves are responsible for the younger ones. Juveniles unquestioningly obey the requirements of older relatives.

There are seven ranks in the pack. Management of community members occurs without power influence. A clear organization, distribution of roles, complete freedom of choice to be or not to be in the pack - all this makes the wolf family a highly organized, well-coordinated mechanism. The social status of wolves is related to the age and sex of the animals. However, these indicators serve only to fulfill the set goals. Having caught the prey, the wolves will never hunt again as long as they have food.

Division in the pack:

The dominant role is occupied by the leader. He bears full responsibility for the rest of his relatives. Its main tasks are a clear distribution of roles in the family, organization of actions, protection, choice of habitat, management of hunting. The leader has the right to start eating first, but this rule can be violated by him. In some cases, an adult animal shares prey with puppies. This situation often occurs when there is a shortage of food. Puppies are the future of the pack and the leader must take care of them.

The pack never disputes the right to the first bite of food. A weakened leader will not be able to ensure the safety of his relatives.

The leader has no right to protection. In times of danger, only he decides how to act, the pack always listens to him.

Warriors are the backbone of the pack. They provide food and security for their relatives. With an external threat, only warriors enter the battle. This rank can be occupied by wolves of both sexes. However, the female with puppies never participates in the protection and production of food.

The senior warrior can replace the leader if he dies or for some reason cannot lead the pack. He, along with the main wolf, organizes protection and hunting.

An adult female with experience in raising wolf cubs is a mother. Her main function is to take care of the puppies of the pack. A whelping female does not automatically occupy this rank. When attacking a flock, it is the mother who takes all weak relatives to a safe place while the warriors repel the attack.

The older female never competes with the main warrior, however, if necessary, she takes the place of the leader. When the head of the pack dies, the most worthy animal begins to play its role. At the same time, there are no duels to identify the best contender for the status of leader.

During the feeding and education of puppies, all mothers of the pack are under special care.

Reproduction occupies a special place in the life of animals. Once a year, the flock breaks into pairs to reproduce offspring. All members of the flock can breed. The main condition for this is the awareness of one's role in the pack. Those wolves who did not get a couple help their relatives to raise their young and hunt. Pairs are always created for life. If one of the pair dies, then the surviving wolf never again looks for a partner.

A guardian is an animal that controls cubs. There are two sub-ranks. Breeder - a young wolf, unable to become a warrior at the present time due to age, or young from a previous litter. These animals are completely subordinate to the mother, carry out her orders. So they learn to deal with wolf cubs. Caretaker is the first stage of training that allows you to acquire the skills necessary for life.
Uncle is a male with no family. Helps raise juveniles.
The signalman is the eyes of the pack. It is he who notifies her of the impending threat. The information received is analyzed by more experienced wolves. Only after that a decision is made on further actions.
The puppy is not responsible. Its main task is complete obedience. Adult animals show him special care and guardianship.
A disabled person is an elderly individual who has the right to protection and food. Wolves always take care of their old relatives.

wolf breeding

A couple once formed is never separated. If one of the partners dies, the second one never looks for a new one. Wolves always live in large families of up to 42 individuals.

There is a clear hierarchy in the pack. At the head of the community are alpha animals, followed by adult members of the family, lone wolves. The lowest rank is puppies. The pack often takes in other wolves. When the puppies reach the age of three, they leave their family and look for a mate outside of it. Animals from the same litter never mate.

The marriage period is the most stressful time. It falls most often in the winter and spring months. The dominant pair defends itself from encroachments on itself by other animals. Free females are surrounded by males. The fight for their attention begins. Fights often end in death.

As soon as a pair is formed, she begins to search for a lair. All necessary preparations are carried out before the onset of estrus. This time helps the couple to get closer.

A she-wolf bears offspring for about 64 days. Usually 3-12 puppies are born. They are born blind. Only after two weeks do their eyes open. After some time, the parents, along with the rest of the pack, feed the puppies with their belching from recently swallowed meat. When the young grow up, they are already caught prey for food. At the end of summer, puppies are already beginning to try their hand at hunting. At this time, pereyarki join the flock - last year's litter, driven away for the breeding season. In this form, the family lives until a new estrus in wolves. Then the perennials can already participate in reproduction. More than half of the litter dies in the first year of life.

Females reach sexual maturity at two years, males at three. The average life expectancy of predators is 16 years. The first signs of aging appear as early as 11 years old.

The offspring of wolves appears only in the warm season. This allows you to get enough food for puppies. In this, wolves differ from dogs, which have estrus twice a year.

People considered wolves to be dangerous animals. Therefore, they were mercilessly exterminated. However, predators play an important role in the ecosystem. They destroy sick weakened animals, thereby preventing an epidemic.

How much does a wolf weigh?

Wolves are the largest members of the canine family. Their size and weight varies greatly in the species composition of these predators. In length, depending on the species, the wolf can be less than a meter, and can reach two. And the weight ranges from 20 kg to 100.

Types of wolves

Experts have seven separate types of predators. In addition, the gray wolf has about seventeen varieties.

Arctic

It is the rarest subspecies of the common gray wolf. Habitat - Greenland, northern Canada and Alaska. The predator has preserved its natural habitat thanks to the rare appearance of a person in a harsh area covered with eternal snow.

The polar wolf is a large animal with a powerful physique. Males reach a size at the withers up to 99 cm. Weight can reach 98 kg. Predators show sexual dimorphism. Females are smaller than males by about 16 percent.

Predators have thick light fur with a slight red tinge. The tail is fluffy, the legs are long, the ears are short.

Animals are perfectly adapted to the long absence of the sun during the polar night. In search of prey, they travel considerable distances across the snow-covered plains. An adult wolf is able to eat eleven kilograms of meat at one time. There is no trace of what was caught during the hunt. Even bones are eaten. Predators never chew meat, but swallow it in pieces.

Like other wolves, the polar one can only survive in a pack. Most often, the group consists of 12 individuals. It is led by a male and a female. The rest of the community members are puppies from past litters and newly born. In some cases, the pack accepts a lone wolf, but at the same time he obeys the leaders.

Only the alpha female breeds in the group. When cubs from other she-wolves appear, they are immediately killed. Such severity is explained by extremely difficult living conditions, in which it is difficult to feed a large number of wolf cubs.

The survival of animals depends entirely on the size of the hunting grounds. Therefore, wolves protect their borders. With the onset of winter cold, a group of predators migrates to the south, where it is easier to get their own food. Most often they follow the reindeer.

The polar wolf eats absolutely everything that he manages to find. In summer, its diet includes beetles, frogs, birds, lichens, fruits and berries. In winter, predators eat mainly the meat of hares, lemmings, musk oxen, and deer.

The polar wolf pursues its prey by using ambushes and changing riders. best time hunting - spring. In warm weather, the crust thaws, it becomes difficult for deer to move in such conditions, and the predator easily catches up with them.

Healthy and strong herbivores are never in danger. The flock attacks only deer or sick animals. Having attacked the herd, predators break it. In this way, they isolate the chosen victim and kill. When the herd manages to regroup and surround its offspring in a dense ring, the wolves have to retreat. Wolves manage to achieve a positive result only in 11% of their attacks.

Female predators reach puberty by the age of three. In males, this period begins at two. Some time before giving birth, the she-wolf begins to prepare the den. Predators cannot dig a hole in the ice, so caves or depressions in rocks serve as a place for the appearance of puppies.

Pregnancy lasts 74 days. There are no more than three wolf cubs in a litter. The appearance of more puppies is extremely rare. Puppies that are born are blind and helpless. Their weight does not exceed four hundred grams. For a month they do not leave the lair. Only when fully grown do they begin to leave it. All this time the female feeds them with milk.

Caring for offspring lies not only on the she-wolf, but on the whole pack. When the mother leaves the den to hunt, the young look after the puppies. Even with scarce food supplies, adult wolves always feed babies. Thus, it is possible to maintain the population size. Due to the harsh climate, wolves are not in danger from humans. There are no hunters in the Arctic.

Upon reaching puberty, young animals leave the pack and try to create their own. They look for unoccupied territory and mark its boundaries.

The polar wolf is listed in the Red Book. Hunting for it is prohibited.

Ruffed

It bears its name because of the long fur that covers its neck and shoulders. The hair in this area resembles the mane of horses. Aguarachai is found in Northern Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil. However, its main habitat is South America.

The coat of the guar is red, the ears are large, the muzzle is elongated. Outwardly, the wolf looks light and lean. The mass of the animal does not exceed 24 kg.

The aguarachai has the longest legs of any other wolf species. A similar structure of the limbs allows the predator to find prey in tall grass. The wolf hunts alone. It feeds on reptiles, birds, pacu, agouti, plants, fruits. Often attacks sheep and poultry when in groups.

Guars live in pairs. Very rarely contact with their relatives. There are up to three cubs in a litter. They have black fur. The female gives birth to puppies in winter.

The species is listed in the Red Book. Today there is no threat of extinction. However, the animal is still very rare.

Japanese

In the international classification, two subspecies of these animals are distinguished:

Hokkaido or Ezo. These predators lived on the island of Hokkaido. Outwardly, they resembled an ordinary wolf.
Khonshu or Khondos.

The Meiji government has placed a reward on anyone who brings the head of a predator. This marked the beginning of the complete destruction of the subspecies. In 1889, the Japanese wolf completely disappeared.

Leary

Scientific studies have shown that wolves do not live in South America. Since 2009, an attempt has been made to spread the legend about the supposedly existing subspecies of predators. It is currently impossible to confirm or refute the information received. Therefore, Leary Wolf remains more of a fiction.

Newfoundland

The species officially became extinct in 1911. There lived a predator on the eastern shores of Canada. The color was light with a dark stripe along the spine. Feeds on rodents and caribou.

Because of his thick fur, he was constantly hunted. In addition, since 1900, there was a shortage of food, which led to sharp decline amount of caribou. All these factors led to the complete extinction of the Newfoundland wolf.

Ethiopian

The phenotype of this predator is similar to the fox. The species is on the verge of extinction. Because of the amazingly beautiful fur, the animal is constantly hunted.

Mackensensky

The most common wolf species in North America. Animals can reach a weight of up to 79 kg. Height at the withers - 89 cm. Feeds on deer, wapiti, musk oxen and elk, bison.

The Alaskan wolf has been relocated to Yellowstone Park. He adapted well there. Its number increased by 1290 individuals. Some of the predators eventually left the protected areas and settled in the border zone. In these places they are hunted.

An amazing animal is found in the mountains of Asia. Say exactly who it is one by one appearance extremely difficult. His body is folded like that of a jackal, his behavior is wolf-like, and his beautiful fur resembles that of a fox.

Red or mountain wolf is a smart and beautiful predator. The mass of the animal reaches 22 kg, the length of the body does not exceed a meter. The color is bright, the tail is long and hangs almost to the ground, the fur is fluffy and thick. The muzzle is shortened, the ears are large, rounded, set high.

Depending on the habitat, the red or mountain wolf has a different coat color. However, in most cases it is reddish. In the cold season, the fur becomes thick, dense and soft. By summer, the coat coarsens and becomes darker. Wolf cubs are brown at birth.

There are 10 subspecies of predators. Differing from each other in body size, color and density of fur.

Red or mountain wolf lives in various areas. However, its numbers are small. Experts cannot say for sure whether he currently lives in Russia. Mostly red or mountain wolf lives in Asia.

The predator lives in gorges and rocks, where snow constantly lies. On the plains and in the forests appears only in search of food or when moving from one territory to another. It is extremely rare for an animal to attack livestock.

Predators hunt in packs. Its size does not exceed 13 individuals. At the same time, there is no clear leader in it. They forage for food most often during daylight hours. The red or mountain wolf feeds on deer, antelopes, lizards and rodents. A large flock can kill a bull and a leopard. With a shortage of food, a red or mountain wolf does not disdain carrion.

Despite the fact that the predator's diet mainly includes meat, it does not neglect plant foods. Mountain rhubarb is always present in a den with newborn puppies. Experts believe that it is fed to young animals by belching the inflorescences of the plant treated with gastric juice.

The red or mountain wolf attacks the victim from behind. It never grabs the throat of its prey, unlike the rest of the canids.

The animal is secretive. It always hides from people. The lair is arranged in well-defended places. Burrows never dig. They swim and jump well. They have sensitive hearing.

Due to the secretive lifestyle, the biology of the predator has not been fully studied. Experts can only say with confidence that the red or mountain wolf creates pairs with one female. The male is responsible for raising the puppies. In captivity, the predator mates in winter. Pregnancy lasts 59 days. There are no more than 9 puppies in a litter.

In a warm climate, young are born throughout the year. A born puppy is outwardly similar to an ordinary wolf or german shepherd. Only after 13 days his eyes open. After half a year, the puppy begins to weigh like an adult. At two years, puberty occurs.

Ginger

Outwardly, the red wolf resembles a gray one. However, it is slightly smaller in size, its body is more slender, its coat is shorter, and its ears and legs are longer. The body reaches a size of 129 cm, height up to 79, weight no more than 39 kg. The color of the red wolf is not monophonic. The muzzle and legs are reddish, the back is black.

Predators live in the prairies, wetlands and mountainous areas. Flocks consist of animals of different ages. Aggression in groups is completely absent.

The red wolf eats not only meat, but also plant foods. Rabbits, raccoons, rodents most often become the prey of a predator. Very rare deer. Often animals eat carrion and berries. The red wolf sometimes becomes the prey of the lynx and alligators.

The breeding season lasts from January to March. She-wolves bring up to 7 puppies. Cases have been described when a female gave birth to 11 wolf cubs. Animals equip their lair under fallen trees or along the banks of reservoirs. At half a year, puppies become independent. A wolf lives in captivity for about 13 years, in natural conditions - 4 years.

The red wolf is the rarest canine. It is listed in the Red Book.

Marsupial

The last representatives of the subspecies lived until 1936 in Tasmania. The marsupial wolf had a body length of about a meter, a tail of 49 cm. Males aged could reach two meters in length.

The predator's skull resembled a dog's, but a thin tail at the end and a thick tail at the base, bent hind limbs spoke of its marsupial nature. The coat was coarse, short, very thick. The back had a brownish tinge. It had darker stripes on it. The belly was light, the muzzle gray. Ears erect, short, rounded.

The marsupial wolf had a kind of bag on the stomach, formed by a skin fold that opened back.

Initially, the animal lived on grassy plains and in sparse forests. However, with the advent of man, his habitat has changed. He moved to the mountains, where he made his lair in caves and under fallen trees. The marsupial wolf was a nocturnal predator, but sometimes went out to bask in the sun. The predator hunted alone, extremely rarely in pairs.

The marsupial wolf fed on lizards, birds, echidnas. After human settlement in Australia, the animal began to attack livestock. The marsupial wolf often ate animals caught in traps. The predator left the caught and half-eaten game and never returned to it. The marsupial wolf had a piercing, guttural, deaf, coughing bark.

The thylacine is a marsupial. The wolves had a bag on their stomach formed by a skin fold. In it, the cubs were fed and nurtured. After three months, the puppies began to leave the pouch, but returned to it until they were nine months old.

The marsupial wolf did not reproduce under artificial conditions and lived up to 9 years.

Forest

Depending on the habitat, the phenotype of wolves changes. The colder the climate, the more massive and large animals living in these conditions. On average, the proportions of a gray wolf are as follows:

weight 33-63 kg;
body length 104-161 cm;
height at the withers 67-87 cm.

These indicators make the common wolf the largest in the family.

One-year-old animals weigh 19-31 kg. In the third year of life 34-46 kg. The peak of development of the wolf reaches three years. In Alaska, animals reach a weight of 76 kg; in temperate latitudes, the figure varies between 51-61 kg.

Outwardly, the wolf looks like a sharp-eared large dog. His legs are high and powerful. The paw, unlike the dog's, is more elongated. The wolf's footprint is up to 13 cm long and 7 cm wide. The paw print is more prominent, unlike dogs. It is easy to distinguish it by the two middle fingers extended forward. The trail of traces resembles a flat line.

Description of the appearance of the wolf:

broad-browed head;
on the sides of the elongated wide muzzle are "whiskers";
high, heavy, large skull;
expanding to the bottom, wide nasal openings;
the thick long tail is always omitted. By his movement and position, one can judge the mood of the wolf and the position in the pack.
The structure of the jaw speaks about the lifestyle of the animal. Carnivorous teeth, which include the lower first molars and upper fourth premolars, participate in the section of the caught game. The fangs help the wolf to drag and hold the prey. With the loss of teeth, the animal is doomed to death.
The fur is long, thick, consists of two layers. Thanks to him, the wolf looks much larger than it really is. The outer hair, which is the first layer of wool, protects the animal from dirt and water. The undercoat - the second layer - is a waterproof fluff that allows you to keep warm. Closer to summer, molting occurs. During this period, the fluff exfoliates in small lumps. To speed up the process, animals rub their skins against various objects: tree trunks, stones.
The wolf puppy has a dark, uniform coat, which brightens after a while. Fur color can have mixed shades in representatives of the same population. The undercoat of wolves is always gray, only the color of the guard hair differs.

Many people think that the color of the coat is used for camouflage. However, experts say that the color of the fur increases the individual characteristics of each individual.

The eyes of animals up to 17 weeks of age are blue, then they acquire an orange tint. It is extremely rare that the eye color of adult wolves remains blue.

Thanks to long scientific experiments, a hybrid of a wolf and a dog was bred. Breeds such as the Sarlosa and the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog are considered recognized all over the world.
During the Middle Ages, the predator was considered a servant of the dark forces. Many legends, traditions and fairy tales were composed using his image. The most popular is the werewolf or werewolf.
Wolves almost never attack humans. If this happens, then the animal is most likely sick with rabies.
Many coats of arms of the European nobility were decorated with the image of a wolf. High-ranking officials believed that their family appeared thanks to werewolves.
In order for the battle to be successful, the Vikings put on the skins of predators before it began, and also drank their blood.
Wolf land. This is what Ireland was called in the 17th century because of the numerous wolf packs that lived on its lands.
Under favorable weather conditions, a predator is able to hear a sound on a plain at a distance of 17 km.
The wolf is extremely difficult to tame. The dream of having a predator in your house that will guard the territory is not feasible. Wolves are afraid of people, so they will hide from strangers rather than defend their territory.
"Lupus" in translation means "red wolf". Doctors in the past believed that this autoimmune disease appears after a bite from a predator.
The animal is an excellent swimmer. It is able to cover a distance of 14 km thanks to small membranes located between the fingers.
Hitler really liked wolves. He gave many of his military headquarters code names associated with the name of the predator.
The dire wolf is a prehistoric animal whose main prey was mammoths.
The crow is often referred to as the "wolf bird". This name was given to him due to his habit of following a predator. The bird eats the remains of the caught prey, and also uses canines as protection.
The Aztecs pierced the chest of a dying man with a sharp wolf bone. It was believed that death could be prevented in this way.
The powder from the liver of a predator was used in medieval Europe during childbirth.
Eating wolf meat can turn you into a vampire. This is exactly what the Greeks thought.
The Cherokee have never hunted this predator. They believed that the weapon with which the animal was killed would "go bad." They were also afraid of revenge from the brothers of the dead wolf.
The predator has well-developed facial expressions. He uses it to communicate with relatives.
"Great god" is the translation of the word wolf from Japanese.

In India, primitive traps in the form of a pit with pointed sticks at the bottom are used to capture a predator.

Wolf (lat. Canis lupus) is a predatory mammal from the Canidae family (Canidae). Along with coyotes (Canis latrans) and common jackals (Canis aureus), as well as some other species and subspecies, gray or common wolves are included in the genus Wolves (Canis).

Description of the gray wolf

According to the results of genetic studies and gene drift studies, wolves are the direct ancestors of domestic dogs, which are usually considered as a subspecies of the wolf. Canis lupus is currently the largest living member of its family.

Appearance

The size and body weight of the wolf are characterized by pronounced geographical variability and directly depend on climatic conditions, some external factors. The average height of the animal at the withers varies from 66 to 86 cm, with a body length in the range of 105-160 cm and a weight of 32-62 kg. A profitable or one-year-old wolf has a weight of no more than 20-30 kg, and the mass of two- and three-year-old wolfs is no more than 35-45 kg. A hardened wolf becomes at the age of three years, when the minimum body weight reaches 50-55 kg.

In appearance, wolves are similar to large, pointed-eared dogs with high and strong limbs, large and more elongated paws. The two middle fingers of such a predator are characterized by a noticeable extension forward, due to which the footprint acquires a very peculiar relief. Wolves have a broad-fronted head with a relatively wide and fairly elongated, massive muzzle, which is characterized by increased expressiveness, which makes it possible to distinguish more than a dozen facial expressions of a predator. The cranial part is high, massive and large, with a wide nasal opening, expanding at the bottom.

This is interesting! Significant differences between the wolf track and the dog track are represented by a large backlog of the lateral fingers, as well as keeping the paw "in a lump" and a more direct "path" left by the animal.

The tail section is "pole-shaped", thick, always lowered down. An important characteristic of a wild predator is the structure of the teeth. The upper jaw of a wolf is equipped with six incisors, a pair of canines, eight premolars and four molars, and the lower jaw has a couple more molars. With the help of fangs, the predator not only holds the prey well, but also drags the prey, so the loss of the dentition becomes the cause of hunger and a rather painful death of the wolf.

Two-layer wolf fur is distinguished by sufficient length and density. The coarse guard hairs are water- and dirt-repellent, and the undercoat is needed to keep warm. Different subspecies differ in coloration corresponding to the environment. Forest predators have a grayish-brown color, tundra - light, almost white color, and desert individuals are gray-reddish. Wolf cubs have a monochromatic dark color, which becomes lighter as the animal grows older. Within the same population, the coat color of different individuals can also have noticeable differences.

Character and lifestyle

The predominant activity of wolves is carried out at night, accompanying their presence with a loud and drawn-out howl, which serves as a communication tool even at very considerable distances. In the process of hunting for prey, the wolf, as a rule, does not make unnecessary sounds and tries to move as silently as possible.

This is interesting! The habitats of the gray wolf are very diverse, due to the confinement of such a predatory mammal to almost any landscape. .

Predatory mammal has a very well-developed hearing. Slightly worse in such an animal, sight and smell are developed. Thanks to well-developed higher nervous activity, strength, speed and dexterity, the wolf's chances of survival are very high. The predator is able to run at speeds up to 60 km/h and cover a distance of 75-80 km in one night.

How long do wolves live

The general indicators of the life expectancy of the gray wolf in natural conditions in most cases depend on the activities of people. The average life expectancy of such a predator in nature is fifteen years or a little more.

Range, habitats

Wolves are found in most parts of Europe and Asia, as well as in North America, where they have chosen the taiga, coniferous forest zones, icy tundra and even deserts. At present, the northern boundary of habitat is represented by the coast of the Arctic Ocean, and the southern one by Asia.

As a result of active human activity, the number of predator distribution sites has significantly decreased over the past few centuries. People often exterminate wolf packs and force them out of their inhabited places, so such a predatory mammal no longer inhabits Japan, the British Isles, France and Holland, Belgium and Denmark, as well as Switzerland.

This is interesting! The gray wolf belongs to the territorial animals, occupying from 50 km 2 to 1.5 thousand km 2, and the area of the family territory directly depends on the landscape features in the habitat of the predator.

The distribution zone of wolves is determined by a sufficient amount of prey, regardless of the time of year. The predator tries to avoid with the onset of winter snowy places and a continuous forest. The largest number of individuals is observed on the territory of the tundra and forest-tundra, forest-steppe and alpine zones, as well as steppes. In some cases, a wild predator settles in close proximity to human habitation, and the taiga zones are currently characterized by the spread of wolves following the clearing of the taiga, which is quite actively carried out by people.

Gray wolf diet

Wolves feed almost exclusively on food of animal origin, but on the territory southern regions Predators often eat wild fruits and berries. The main diet is represented by domestic and wild ungulates, hares and small rodents, as well as birds and carrion. Tundra wolves prefer calves and females, geese, and lemmings. Sheep and tarbagans, as well as hares, often become prey for predators inhabiting mountainous regions. They can also become food for the wolf.

The wolf is a normal gray wolf.

wolf common, gray wolf- the animal is incredibly hardy. In order to survive in places with a harsh climate, the gray wolf has acquired some qualities that increase the level of vitality. For example, wolves inhabiting the territories of the Arctic latitudes have adapted to endure long polar nights and harsh weather conditions.

After all, even in February, when the sun rises again over these harsh lands, temperatures of -40 and a piercing icy wind are a frequent occurrence here. Other types of wolves have adapted perfectly to life in the desert or on the wet marshy shores of the Gulf of Mexico.

The domestic dog is considered a relative of the wild wolf, more precisely, wolves are the distant ancestors of dogs. Indeed, despite the fact that wolves are larger, these animals can find a lot in common. However, it is difficult to imagine that a dog of any breed, be it a pug or a Doberman, is a descendant of this predatory animal.

Characteristics of a wolf.

Wolf ordinary has a well-developed intellect. This could not but be reflected in the appearance of the animal: first of all, the intellect of the wolf is reflected in his penetrating gaze.

The weight and size of the animal varies over a fairly wide range and depends on the species. The height of the animal at the withers ranges from 0.6 to 0.95 m, and the weight is from 20 to 62 kg.

Gray wolf- the largest representative of the canine family. Male wolves weighing over 77 kg have been recorded in Alaska and Canada. But wolves of such gigantic sizes are extremely rare.

The world's largest wolf was killed in Alaska, the animal weighed 80 kg. And the representatives of the subspecies of the Arabian wolf are considered the smallest, the adult female of this subspecies weighs no more than 10 kg.

The weight of the female is always less than the weight of their male compatriots by approximately 22%. The length of the body of a wolf, measured from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, ranges from 1.3 to 2 m, while the tail occupies about a quarter of this length.

As mentioned above, the common wolf is incredibly hardy. The narrow chest, powerful back and paws of this animal endow it with the ability to overcome long distances. The wolf is able to overcome many kilometers, moving at a speed of 10 km / h. It is also known that during the chase, the wolf is able to reach speeds of up to 65 km / h. At this speed, he can run a distance of no more than 5 km.

The social structure of wolves.

Wolves usually live in packs. The flock begins its formation when the male connects with the female. The couple is looking for a suitable place to settle down and raise offspring. The pups stay with their parents until they are old enough to leave the pack.

This usually happens at the age of 3 years, while the presence of favorable conditions that allow the young wolf to start a family plays an important role. The structure of the pack can be represented as follows: the unchanging core is a pair of wolf and she-wolf, the rest of the pack members are their offspring, they can often change, leaving the pack to start an independent life.

There is a clear hierarchy in the pack, headed by an alpha male and an alpha female. Their influence, to a certain extent, extends to all processes occurring in the pack. In larger flocks, in addition to the main hierarchical branch, two more independent ones are added.

The first hierarchical branch exists among males and is headed by an alpha male, the second - among females and is headed, respectively, by an alpha female. In this case, the alpha male occupies a dominant position in the entire pack. However, there are situations when the female takes the dominant position inseparably.

This usually happens during the breeding season. The female single-handedly chooses a place for the lair and also receives help from the rest of the pack in feeding offspring. This primarily means that the pack hunts to feed the she-wolf or her cubs.

The female and male branches of the hierarchy exist independently of each other and require constant confirmation through aggression and demonstrations of dominance and submission. Breeding control is one of the primary privileges of the pack's alphas.

The alpha pair usually has the exclusive right to breed, while they actively and quite aggressively prevent the reproduction of other adult members of the pack. To form their own family, they need to leave the pack.

Another privilege of the alpha couple is access to food. If the flock has caught a large prey, then the alpha pair and their offspring are the first to approach it. Therefore, in times of famine, it is more profitable for the rest of the flock to separate and try to feed themselves. However, when there is no shortage of food, the meal of the wolves is quite amicable.

In a large pack of wolves, there is always a second place in the hierarchy. Wolves that occupy this stage are called beta males or beta females. They often take on the role of educators of offspring, during the absence of parents of wolf cubs.

As a rule, sooner or later the beta male or female will challenge the leader to take his place, although some of them are quite satisfied with the second place. In this case, beta males or females even allow lower-ranking wolves to take the place of leader in the pack under certain conditions, for example, in the event of the death of the alpha male.

The more ambitious betas, however, are unwilling to wait long and challenge rather soon or split off from the pack to form their own. It happens that the alpha male, being in advanced years, voluntarily gives way to the beta.

Stronger alpha males will fight to the last to maintain the dominant role, such fights often end in serious damage to both. The loser is usually expelled from the pack or killed if aggressive wolves join the opponent. Such dominance battles are most common during mating season.

A hierarchy within the wolf pack is established and maintained through a series of "ritual fights" and demonstrations. Wolves prefer a psychological duel to a physical skirmish, which means that personal qualities more important than size or physical strength in the struggle for high rank.

The order in which the hierarchy is established may differ from pack to pack, for example, if there are many non-aggressive males in a large pack, then the hierarchy in the pack will constantly change, the same situation will be observed in a pack of young wolves.

Feeding and hunting of wolves.

Wolves can hunt as a pack or on their own. However, wolves hunting in a pack have a greater advantage, since acting together they are able to kill an animal that surpasses them both in strength and size.

The wolf is a strict predator, so not all food is suitable to support his body. He rarely finishes his prey. Hunting for a wolf is not a sporting interest, but necessary condition survival.

Wolves can not only hunt, they can also eat carrion. Any animal from a large mammal to a small rodent can become their prey. Here are some of them: deer, moose, caribou, elk, bison, musk ox. From medium-sized animals, these are beaver, hare and other rodents.

The wolf has a large stomach volume, which allows him to eat up to 9-11 kg of food at a time. This same feature gives the wolf the ability to go without food for up to 2 weeks or even longer, under adverse conditions.

Their digestive system is very well thought out, because in addition to large pieces of meat that the wolf's stomach can digest, which make up 5% of the total food volume, large bone fragments and wool enter the wolf's stomach.

Due to the fact that the bones that have fallen into the digestive system of the wolf somehow turn into tufts of undigested wool, the animal manages to avoid injury to the intestines.

Wolf cubs feed on food regurgitated by an adult wolf from the stomach or on pieces of meat that adult wolves bring to the den after a successful hunt.

Wolves play an important role in the ecosystem. During the hunt, they kill only weakened animals, thus improving the herd's gene pool and ridding it of burdensome animals.

For example, a sick animal lives among a herd of deer, which not only poses a threat of infection to other members of the herd, but also eats food that could feed the growing young. By destroying such an animal, the wolf performs its useful functions.

Wolves live and hunt mainly in their own territory. Members of the pack control and protect their possessions from invading outsiders. The size of the pack's possessions depends on the abundance of food.

During the period when conditions are not favorable, the area of the territory can decrease to 65-78 sq km, with best conditions the territory occupied by a flock can cover up to 208 -234 sq km.

Before the start of the hunt, wolves gather together to greet each other and howl to scare away strangers from their territory. Then the wolves comb all their possessions until they find a victim.

The wolf approaches the victim against the direction of the wind, so that the animal does not run away, smelling the scent of a predator. The flock slowly approaches the prey, often lining up in a row one after another. As soon as their prey realizes that a predator is chasing it and tries to escape, the wolves give chase.

Having overtaken the prey, the wolves try to bite it on the back or sides. Most often, large horned animals are attacked in this way in order to prevent him from defending himself with horns and avoid possible damage. As soon as the victim falls, they kill him with a bite in the throat or muzzle. Then the carcass is dragged aside and they start eating.

The hunt for wolves can be over in a few minutes, or it can take hours. The more successfully the attack is built, the greater the chances of a successful completion of the hunt. If the attack fails, then the wolves continue to hunt until they catch the prey. After all, it is a matter of survival.

Reproduction.

The mating season for wolves is from January to March. According to pack laws, only the alpha male and alpha female mate, which helps control the population.

During the mating season, the alpha couple lives in seclusion to prevent interference from the rest of the pack. Mating attempts between other members of the pack are met with aggression from the alpha pair, the alpha male usually expelling the offending male from the pack.

Two broods in a flock are rare. To prevent this, the alpha female shows aggression towards other females and tries to physically protect the alpha male from them during the mating season.

Unlike dogs, in which estrus occurs twice during the year, estrus in a she-wolf occurs once. Wolves do not lose their reproductive abilities until 10 years of age.

The gestation period of the female lasts 60-63 days. Wolf cubs are born absolutely helpless: blind and deaf. In the litter of the female, on average, from 4 to 6 puppies are born, however, it may happen that the female will give birth to 1 cub or 14. The puppies spend the first 8 weeks of their lives in the den.

The lair is most often located on a hill near the reservoir. This is where the cubs will take their first steps. At first, they explore the area in the immediate vicinity of the lair, and then gradually move away to a considerable distance, up to one and a half kilometers from their home.

At the age of 4 weeks, cubs develop milk teeth and begin to eat partially digested food, which is regurgitated by adults. During the first weeks of life, only their mother is present with the cubs, but after 6 weeks from the moment of birth, the cubs are partially weaned from their mother and the whole pack is involved in the process of education. Being under the supervision of the entire pack, the cubs are more likely to survive.

When the cubs are 2 months old, they are transferred to another safe place where they will stay when the pack goes hunting. Of course, they are not alone there: one or two adult wolves remain to look after them.

A few weeks later, the cubs may be allowed to join the hunt, but so far only as observers. Wolf cubs will act as active participants when they are strong enough, this will happen at the age of 8 months.

Despite their low rank in the pack, wolf cubs are the first to be allowed to prey. Fights for the right to eat first between the cubs form a hierarchy among them. So already at such a young age, wolf cubs learn to play dominant and submissive roles, which are very important for their future life in the pack.

Having reached puberty at the age of 2-3 years, the wolf can leave the pack at will, find a mate and organize its own pack on its territory.

The conservation status of the wolf.

Unfortunately, the wolf was mistakenly considered a pest for a long time, which led to the almost complete destruction of this predator. Today, people have become more educated in this matter, but nevertheless, there is still such an opinion among many farmers. Through the efforts of specialists and enthusiasts, many projects have been launched, the main task of which is to support the process of reintroducing the wolf.