Post by ~Master William~ on Jan 8, 2009 23:28:02 GMT -5
The Grey Wolf
The Grey Wolf (Canis Lupus) comes under many different names. In some places it’s called the Timber wolf, in others it’s called the Arctic wolf, and in others still it’s called the Tundra wolf. But all these different names cover the same species of animal, the Grey Wolf.
To start us off, let us first look at the animal. It can be identified by its grey fur, long tawny-colored legs and narrow chest. Though the males are larger then the females, they both have excellent hearing and amazing senses of smell. And yes, the common house dog is indeed related to these majestic animals, in many ways in fact.
The grey wolf has adapted to almost any climate in the known world. From the arctic to the tundra to rural areas to the eastern woodlands, grey wolves can survive there. In fact, the rainforest and true desert environments are the only places that grey wolves have not adapted to in their entire history. Other than humans, the grey wolf had the greatest natural range of any living terrestrial mammal!
Wolves generally have a very tight-knit community. When hunting, they will communicate with members of the group by howling and barking. Packs of wolves will hunt for larger game like moose, elk, bison, deer, etc., while a lone wolf will hunt smaller prey like rabbits, beavers, hares and mice. They hunt by scent and will often travel 30 miles in a day just to hunt for the weaker, older or slower prey. The pack leaders, which are called the alpha male and female, are the wolves responsible for the hunting and tracking of prey, while also establishing the packs territory and den sites. The other wolves and their alphas will create strong social and affectionate bonds with one another, and stronger wolves may even sacrifice themselves for their family unit.
The largest of these threats that could harm a family pack include hunting, poisoning, persecution, loss of habitat, and being shot to protect livestock. When the first settlers came to North America, the grey wolf was seen as a ruthless killer, insatiable and monstrous. In the United States, during the last half of the 19th century, 2 million or so wolves were shot, trapped or poisoned. A kill-or-be-killed monster. It is not this at all. The grey wolf is a beautiful predator, acting simply on instinct as all organisms do on this planet. It has the right to live just as all species, including humans, do.
Sources:
www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/wolf,_gray.php
library.thinkquest.org/11234/graywolf.html
www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/Endangered/wolf/wolf.html
www.treehugger.com/gray_wolf.jpg
The Grey Wolf (Canis Lupus) comes under many different names. In some places it’s called the Timber wolf, in others it’s called the Arctic wolf, and in others still it’s called the Tundra wolf. But all these different names cover the same species of animal, the Grey Wolf.
To start us off, let us first look at the animal. It can be identified by its grey fur, long tawny-colored legs and narrow chest. Though the males are larger then the females, they both have excellent hearing and amazing senses of smell. And yes, the common house dog is indeed related to these majestic animals, in many ways in fact.
The grey wolf has adapted to almost any climate in the known world. From the arctic to the tundra to rural areas to the eastern woodlands, grey wolves can survive there. In fact, the rainforest and true desert environments are the only places that grey wolves have not adapted to in their entire history. Other than humans, the grey wolf had the greatest natural range of any living terrestrial mammal!
Wolves generally have a very tight-knit community. When hunting, they will communicate with members of the group by howling and barking. Packs of wolves will hunt for larger game like moose, elk, bison, deer, etc., while a lone wolf will hunt smaller prey like rabbits, beavers, hares and mice. They hunt by scent and will often travel 30 miles in a day just to hunt for the weaker, older or slower prey. The pack leaders, which are called the alpha male and female, are the wolves responsible for the hunting and tracking of prey, while also establishing the packs territory and den sites. The other wolves and their alphas will create strong social and affectionate bonds with one another, and stronger wolves may even sacrifice themselves for their family unit.
The largest of these threats that could harm a family pack include hunting, poisoning, persecution, loss of habitat, and being shot to protect livestock. When the first settlers came to North America, the grey wolf was seen as a ruthless killer, insatiable and monstrous. In the United States, during the last half of the 19th century, 2 million or so wolves were shot, trapped or poisoned. A kill-or-be-killed monster. It is not this at all. The grey wolf is a beautiful predator, acting simply on instinct as all organisms do on this planet. It has the right to live just as all species, including humans, do.
Sources:
www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/wolf,_gray.php
library.thinkquest.org/11234/graywolf.html
www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/Endangered/wolf/wolf.html
www.treehugger.com/gray_wolf.jpg