Wolves are some of the most intelligent animals with a long lineage. With their numbers making a resurgence across the United States, interest in them has also risen. We’ve had a long history with the wolf and have had conflicts throughout history. Thankfully, we’re now trying our best to conserve their population.
The Attention They Deserve
Think about it: how much do you actually know about wolves? They are normally glossed over in biology classes in high school and don’t get the attention they deserve. Here are some amazing wolf facts that weren’t taught in school.
A Lot Of Subspecies
Gray wolves are the most common breed of wolf that evolved from an ancestor when glaciers covered a lot of the world. Today, the gray wolf has dozens of subspecies throughout the world. Some are rarer than others, with the Mexican red wolf being one of the most endangered wolves in the U.S.
All Around The World
Despite wolves making a resurgence now, it’s nothing compared to how widely distributed the animal was thousands of years ago. Humans and other factors have reduced wolf numbers significantly in their long history on the planet. Before their numbers dwindled, they were one of the most widespread animals on the planet.
They Rely On Others
Wolves aren’t solitary animals and are highly dependent on roaming in a pack. Once a wolf becomes an adult, they will search for a mate to start a new family, increasing the size of the existing pack or creating a new one. If they can help it, they will try not be be alone for very long.
Leaders
Wolf packs have a hierarchy, with a dominant and respected male and female wolf making decisions for the rest of the pack. Their rule is almost never brought into question and when it is, infighting occurs to determine the new leaders.
Communication
Wolves have a wide range of ways to communicate with their pack, which has created misconceptions about howling at the moon, which they do not do. Wolves separated from their pack will howl to maintain communication, but through other body language, they can portray a lot of emotion to each other.
Strong in Numbers
Wolves may be able to hunt small game by themselves but excel in numbers. A pack of wolves can go for much bigger animals that would otherwise be dangerous to go for alone. Wolves have been seen hunting elk, caribou, and even moose. If they can successfully bring down a big herbivore, they will eat nearly three-quarters of the entire carcass.
Wolves Are Scared Of People
Wolves may be ferocious apex predators that aren’t to be messed with, but they are quite afraid of people. Wolves tend to avoid humans and will rather run away than attack. It may be an adaptation from human encroachment, and normally, they only get close to people because of their livestock.
Most Red Wolves Are Extinct
Red wolves have been hit hardest by habitat loss and other factors that have led to their endangerment and, in some cases, extinction. The Mexican red wolf has come back from the brink of extinction, which is more fortunate than its two cousins, the Florida black wolf and Gregory’s wolf, which are both extinct.
Great Hunters
Wolves are equipped with many tools that make them great hunters, including long fangs with a bite force of 1,500 PSI (pound per square inch). They have a lot of endurance and can track prey for miles, and when they finally do take down their prey, they can indulge in their meal and eat up to 20 pounds of meat.
The Kings Of Their Kind
Wolves share the same family as other canines, like jackals, coyotes, and dogs. They are the kings of this family, being the largest of the canines. They sometimes have conflicts with coyotes but generally scare them off of their turf. Recently, coyotes and wolves have been seen getting along.
Interbreeding
With the wolf population far from ideal, they’ve been seen adapting to their situation and looking for alternative ways to survive genetically. Coyotes, who would once stay clear of wolf territory, are now allowed in. The wolves will interbreed with the coyotes create a hybrid animal called a coywolf.
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