Wolf Facts
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The
scientific name for Gray Wolves is Canis Lupis. The wolf is highly
intelligent and socially evolved. A wolf pack can consist of as few as
two wolves, to as much as twenty wolves. There are two hierarchies in a
wolf pack, one for females and one for males. The "Alpha" wolf is the
highest ranking individual within the hierarchy. The "beta" wolf is the
second ranking individual within the hierarchy. The "omega" wolf is the
lowest ranking individual within the hierarchy.
The pack depend on each other for food and protection; the adults in
the pack share mutually raise and care for the the cubs of the pack.
Wolves have a vast communication repertoire including scent marks,
vocalizations, visual displays, facial and body postures and rituals.
The range of a wolf pack's territory can spread up to 60 miles, even
more.
The primary function of the wolf in the wild is to hunt the weak
members of other species, allowing the strong members to reproduce. The
wolf is built for tracking and hunting prey. Wolves use direct
scenting, chance encounter, and tracking to locate prey. Contrary to
popular belief, the wolf has a low hunting success rate. In hunting, a
wolf spends up to and over one third of it's time moving. A wolf can
achieve speeds from 28 to 40 miles per hour, and keep up this pace for
at least 20 minutes.
Despite myth, there has been no documented case where a healthy wolf
has attacked a human. Wolves rarely approach human beings. Wolves are
generally very peaceful.
By Orion Cooper
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