Wolves

A wolf is a carnivore (meat-eating animal) that is related to the jackal and domestic dog. All wolves are known for their powerful teeth, bushy tails, and round pupils.

There are two main types of wolves: the gray wolf and the red wolf. The gray wolf or the timber wolf once lived in many areas of the world, but now is found only in Canada, Alaska, northern Europe, and Russia. The adult gray wolf can grow as long as 6'6" (including the tail which is less than half the body length). The fur is red-yellow or yellow-gray with black patches on the back and sides, and white on the chest and abdomen. Black and brown gray wolves that live far in the north can be pure white.

The red wolf is found only in Texas and the southwestern part of the United States. The red wolf is smaller than the gray wolf and the fur is darker.

Wolves can live on prairies, in forest lands and on mountains. They travel in packs looking for food in the winter. They eat birds and small animals uasially. But sometimes a pack may capture sheep, caribou, reindeer, or other large mammals. Wolves also eat berries.

A home for a wolf is called a den or a lair. It can be a hole in the ground dug by the wolf, a cave, hollow tree trunk or a thicket.

Female wolves have their babies in the spring. The litters may be one to eleven pups. The pups usually stay with their parents for almost a year, but some may say much longer. The wolf family marks and defends it's territory.

The packes that form usually during the winter have a leader called the alpha maleand his mate is calledthe alpha female. The behavior of wolves in a pack shows that they live in the dominace/submission roles. The howling of a pack can be communication with each other or communication with another pack.

Wolves are an interesting and valuable part of our world.