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A wolf is a predator, which hunts and eats other animals and belongs to the same genus as the dog, Some believing it to be actually the parent species of the dog, It is a fact, that wild dogs often look more like wolves, than they do their domestic brothers. Actually, Wolves will sometimes breed with dogs, or coyotes, when the wolf population is reduced, for one reason, or another.
The greatest number of wolves are found in northern Europe, North America and northern Asia and are members of the Canidae family - canis lupus.
The wolf whose habitat is in Europe, also northern Asia is more of a grayish yellow colour, It has fairly long, coarse hair and a bushy tail. It moves very swiftly, often in packs when hunting deer and other animals. Rarely attacks mankind unless driven to it by extreme hunger.
In the north-western states of America the dusky wolf is the most obvious species. The black, white and rufous wolves are mostly seen in the south.
The black wolf is the more common variety, found in the Pyrenees, Spain areas. Was quite common in Russia. Canada is home to the grey wolf, and is occasionally seen in the forests of the New England area.
The coyote, sometimes referred to as 'the prairie wolf', is not really a proper wolf at all, but a creature similar to the jackal.
To survive, the wolf has to be very cunning and thankfully, are not easily trapped. They have even been known to bite off the trigger, close to a set-gun and then eat the bait. They have even been known to actually drag up a set fishing line from out of ice holes and eat the catch. Wolves survive anywhere that has sufficient food, plus human tolerance. Humans should learn to share this planet with all creatures. After all, wolves are simply animals trying to survive here, the same as us.
Wolves have very social instincts. They have a complex facial and body language. It helps them to interact with each other. Their howl, is used to 'talk' with other wolves.
Packs of wolves are great travelers, often covering more than 30 more miles in a day, while seeking food, during the cold season.
But at any time they are territorial creatures and need extensive areas in which to hunt for their food. What is not well known, is in truth, the fact that wolves are are not an efficient killing machine, when it comes to dragging down big and healthy prey, which have a capable defence. In fact, the kill rate, under those conditions can be as low as only one in five.
The wolf is a very mobile animal. Many years ago when the wolf population had dropped a pack left Yellowstone Park each winter and travelled 300 miles, in a circuitous journey up to the Crazy Mountains, Yellowstone National Park has long been the in the middle, of debates over the wolf.
There have been documented cases of wolves killing cougars and vice versa in and around Yellowstone National Park. When staying at parks, such as Yellowstone, remember that Wolves are wild animals and should be treated as such. In other words, treat them with respect and do not feed them. Wolves are an endangered species Happily though they seem to be making a comeback in some several National Parks and the northern Rockies.
Sadly, outside the parks protection, there are some places in which wolves are cruelly trapped. This occurs in areas mostly where it is legal, using cruel snares, or inhumane and despicable leg traps. This causes unimaginable suffering to these noble animals and should be outlawed, as it has been, for many years, in more civilized areas of the world.
In Alaska, the so called, cowardly 'sportsmen', have once again taken up hunting and killing wolves from aircraft. Often, they only injure the poor creatures and just fly away, leaving them to die a slow, lonely and painful death. This abomination, which they call 'sport', has the blessing of the governor of Alaska, a particularly odious and cruel person. The citizens of Alaska have what they deserve - a despot, but certainly not a man of honor - or even one worthy of the name, 'man', in charge.
Hopefully, mankind will learn to share this world with wolves and all other sea and land creatures, thus allowing our future generations to be able to see wild creatures living in their natural habitats. Not only through the pages of books, or at zoos.
Category: Reference and EducationInteresting facts and stories about the wolf. was written by:Author:Ray CunninghamAdded: Fri, 04 Jan 2008 22:58:36 -0500 This Article Has Been Read 669 times View all Ray Cunningham's articlesAbout the Author: About the author: Ray Cunningham, has used and is still using Keyword Elite and some other Brad Callen software, for his nicely optimized websites, which are starting to bring in an increasing income from his on line activites. Go to his web site. Look at his page at: http://newkeywordelite.com/Keyword_Elite_Offer.html to read more. Don't forget to watch the really great videos. You won't be sorry if you do. His unique bonus is so very different from the usual bunch of junk offered by some others. It is beautiful, exclusive frameworthy and has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Keyword Elite, or any other software, for that matter! |
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