What does a wolf like to eat? The wolf is a wild predatory animal. Description and photo of the common wolf. Diet at home
, extermination and urbanization. There are areas where wolves are on the verge of extinction. In the north of the mainland, their population remains stable. Although there are fewer wolves, there are places where these animals pose a danger to livestock and village residents. Therefore, hunting such animals is still permitted.
Ancient predator - wolf The animal's mating season begins at the end of winter, around February. Often married couples
wolves are preserved for life. The duration of pregnancy is on average 65 days. The she-wolf gives birth to two to fourteen cubs. On average - five kids. For the first months, the father feeds the family. He brings food, regurgitates half-digested food to feed the mother of the family and cubs. At first, of course, babies feed on milk, but from 1.5 months. start eating regular food. By August they weigh about ten kilograms, and from September they go hunting with their parents.
Diet
What do wolves eat? As a rule, they eat animals, both domestic and wild. These can be deer, hares, wild boars, marmots, horses, beavers, as well as moose, muskrats, and cows. If he cannot find such food, then the wolf feeds on frogs and lizards. On average, one such predator eats about two kilograms of meat per day. A very hungry wolf can eat 12 kg of meat in one sitting. He hides everything that he hasn’t finished eating in a secluded place. If he gets hungry, he always comes to his hiding place and eats the leftovers. The predator navigates the area using smell and hearing, since the wolf has poorly developed vision, although at night it sees better than a dog.
So what do wolves eat? Their diet depends on their habitat. These can be lemmings, voles, as well as larger animals: deer, wild boars and moose. By the way, predators hunt large prey in groups.
What does a wolf eat in the forest, besides meat? This predator happily eats berries and nuts, as well as some plants. Wolves also search for and eat bird eggs.
Since such a predator has well-developed muscles, it quickly adapts to any situation.
What else do wolves eat? Usually these predators hunt only wild animals, but due to lack of food they can also attack domestic animals - goats, sheep and calves. If the wolf is already old and sick, then he chooses easier prey. For example, running into a village, he lures local dogs, and then pretends to run away. The dog, of course, runs after him, and he turns around and attacks it.
What does a wolf that lives in the steppe eat?
Its diet consists mainly of meat, although it also sometimes consumes plant foods. But, living in the steppe, these predators raid melon and watermelon fields, satisfying not so much hunger as thirst, since wolves need regular, and quite plentiful watering. Of course, such an animal also has its favorite food in the steppes - goitered gazelles and saigas, and in the forest-steppe - roe deer.
What does a wolf eat in winter? Note that during this period of the year such predators become especially bloodthirsty. As a rule, their diet does not change, but it becomes more difficult to obtain food. In winter, in the forest in flocks, they mainly attack roe deer, wild boars and hares.
Wolves are often found in hunting areas, because here you can always feast on a wounded but not shot animal, or even the remains of prey caught by people.
These predatory animals are more active at night. During the hunt, they show incredible cunning. The flock is divided into two groups. One hides in ambush, and the second attacks. The attackers run on the heels of the prey, and the second group rushes across.
We looked at what common wolves eat. Now let's look at other predators of this species.
Polar wolf nutrition
This predator lives in the Arctic, except in places where there is ice. As a rule, such an animal lives in packs of ten individuals. What does it eat: hares and other small animals.
What do red wolves eat?
These animals live in the mountains. They hunt in packs during the daytime. As a rule, they attack large animals, but small ones are also sometimes included in their diet. Their food includes small rodents, antelopes, bulls, deer and lizards.
Hunting of red wolves is prohibited, as they are on the verge of extinction, so these predators are listed in the Red Book as an endangered species. The exact cause of their death is unknown. But scientists say it's all to blame Gray wolves. They live where the red ones do, but are much stronger than them. Therefore, the latter could not stand the competition with the former. This is just an assumption, there are no exact facts about this.
Diet of maned wolves
These predators are the largest of the Canidae family. They live in Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil and Bolivia. Such predators do not live in packs, but in pairs. They also hunt in pairs. Their diet consists not only of animal foods, they also eat various plants. Most often, their victims are reptiles, small rodents and insects.
They also eat snails, birds and bird eggs. In addition, maned wolves eat guava and bananas. By the way, there were cases when these predators attacked domestic animals (sheep, pigs and others).
Red wolf and wildlife
These wolves are the rarest of all canids. They are listed in the International Red Book. Their lifestyle is similar to that of ordinary wolves. They live in prairies, wetlands and mountainous areas in the eastern United States. They live in packs slightly smaller than a pack of gray wolves. Their diet also consists not only of food of animal origin, but also of plant origin. As a rule, their victims are animals such as rabbits, raccoons, rodents, and occasionally deer. In addition, they feed on carrion and different fruits. Note that these predators themselves can become prey or alligators.
In the article, we described in detail what a wolf eats in the forest and other habitats. The more we know about the world around us, the more careful we treat it.
For most people, the wolf is not just a wild animal, but an archetypal image familiar from childhood. It is no coincidence that he became a character in fairy tales. People have long feared and revered this beast. They frightened naughty children with a wolf, called him a man’s elder brother, and composed fairy tales and legends about him.
In languages different nations peace, the word wolf is consonant. It is worth noting that it was born in the ancient Slavic language and means “drag” or “drag.” Apparently, the name comes from the manner of moving prey by dragging (dragging in front of you).
Habitat and distribution in the world
In past centuries, the wolf was the most common animal on earth. Today, the habitat has been significantly reduced. The reason for this is the widespread extermination of animals by humans. Nowadays, most of the species lives in the territory of the following countries: Russian Federation, Belarus, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Georgia, China, Korea, Iran, Indonesia, India, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Scandinavian and Baltic countries, South American countries, Italy, Poland, Spain , Portugal, Mexico, USA, Canada.
The wolf adapts to life in any terrain, but tries to settle in places with few trees. Often lives in close proximity to human settlements. In the taiga, for example, it invariably follows people, choosing places to live that are cleared of trees.
In mountainous areas they live up to the border of meadows, choosing weakly rugged areas.
The wolf is one of the territorial animals. IN cold period the packs lead sedentary image life. The flock's habitat is marked with tags. The area of such a territory can reach up to 44 km. With the onset of warm months, the animals form pairs.
The strongest individuals continue to live in their territory, while the rest scatter. It is worth noting that wolves accompany herds of deer and domestic animals.
Ancestors of wolves and evolution
The probable ancestor of the modern wolf is Canis lepophagus. This is a representative of the canine breed that inhabited North America during the Miocene period.
The first true wolves appeared during the early Pleistocene. Among the species was Canis priscolatrans, characterized by its small size. This species is believed to be the ancestor of the red wolf, which migrated to Europe and Asia.
Subsequently, Canis priscolatrans modified and evolved, which led to the emergence of C. Mosbachensis, a species that has many things in common with modern representatives. Over time, C. mosbachensis evolved into Canis lupus.
Types and features of each type
Science knows about 32 species and subspecies of wolves. The most interesting species will be described below.
Arctic (polar)
The rarest subspecies of the gray wolf. Distributed in Greenland, northern Canada and Alaska. The absence of humans in the cold, snowy area made it possible to preserve the habitat in its original form.
The Arctic wolf has a large and powerful body build. The male at the withers can reach 1 m, weighing 100 kg. This species is characterized by sexual dimorphism (males are 15-16% larger than females in size).
The animal is ideally adapted to life in the conditions of the polar night, covering vast distances across the snowy plain to search for prey. An adult can eat up to 12 kg of meat at one time. Often nothing remains of the prey, since polar wolves do not chew the meat, but swallow it along with the bones.
Representatives of this species live in flocks of 12-15 individuals. The head of such a group can be not only a male, but also a female. There are times when a pack accepts lone wolves (if they obey the leader).
Ruffed
The species is named because of the long fur that covers the neck and shoulder area. The skin resembles a horse's mane. The main place of residence is South America.
Maned wolf has a red color. A distinctive feature of the species are large ears and an elongated head. In appearance, the animal looks lean. The body weight of an adult does not exceed 25 kg.
The maned wolf is a solitary hunter. It chooses small livestock, birds, and reptiles as prey. It also eats fruits.
INTERESTING! Several years ago there was a threat of extinction of this species. Today the problem has been resolved, but the animal continues to remain in the Red Book.
Makenzensky
The most common species living in North America. The weight of the animal can reach 80 kg, and its height is 90 cm. The individual hunts deer, musk oxen, elk and bison.
Mountain (red)
The mountain wolf is beautiful appearance. Its fur is similar in color to fox fur. Weight is slightly over 20 kg. The length does not exceed 100 cm. The color depends on the region of residence. During the cold period, the fur becomes soft, fluffier and thicker. With the onset of warmth, it takes on a dark color and begins to become coarse.
Predators of this species live and get food in a flock of 12-15 individuals. Their community rarely has a clear leader. Deer, antelope or large rodents are chosen as prey. A strong pack can attack a bull and even a leopard. In case of food shortage, the red wolf can feed on carrion.
INTERESTING! A distinctive feature of the mountain wolf is its method of attacking the victim. Unlike other species (and all canids), it attacks prey from the back, without trying to bite into the neck.
The animal lives secretly and tries to set up camps away from human habitation. This hinders learning.
Ginger
The appearance of the red wolf is similar to the appearance of gray individuals, only red ones are inferior in size and weight, and also have shorter ears and fur. The body can reach a length of 130 cm and a weight of 40 kg. The color is not uniform, the muzzle and legs are red, and the back is dark.
Predators settle in swamps, steppes and mountains. There are individuals in flocks different ages. There is almost never aggression towards individual members in the group.
The red wolf eats not only meat, but also vegetation. Mainly hunts rabbits, rodents and raccoons. Very rare, but attacks large mammals. There are times when the predator itself becomes prey to a lynx or alligator.
common wolf
This type collectively called the gray wolf. It is the most common animal in the family. Body length reaches 160 cm, weight – 80 kg.
The animal lives in North America and Eurasia. Behind last years the total number has decreased greatly. The reason for this is extermination by man. And only in North America does the population remain stable.
What do wolves eat?
The wolf is a predator. Most often it chooses the following animals as prey:
- Roe.
- Antelope.
- Boar.
- Deer.
- Hare.
- Elk.
Small species, as well as solitary individuals, attack smaller animals - rodents, gophers, birds. Very rarely can choose a victim in the person large predator, although there are cases when packs attack wounded or sleeping bears and foxes.
During the hungry period, they can return to half-eaten carcasses. At such times, predators do not disdain carrion.
In addition to meat, they eat forest fruits, berries, grass, watermelons, and melons. This food allows you to get the required amount of fluid.
Reproduction and raising of offspring
A pair of wolves is usually formed for life. If one partner dies, the other does not look for a replacement. Animals live in packs of 12 to 45 individuals (depending on the species).
There is a clearly constructed hierarchy in the wolf community. The head is the alpha animal (this can be either a male or a female). This is followed by adults, lone wolves, and pups. Very often single individuals are accepted into the flock. The main condition is a tolerant attitude towards other members of the pack. When the puppies reach three years of age, they are driven outside the conglomerate. The time has come to find a mate on your own and start a family.
INTERESTING! It should be noted that puppies born in the same litter will never mate with each other.
The most stressful time in the life of a pack is mating season, when alpha males and females try to fight off other members. Often fights between animals end in death.
In one litter, a she-wolf has from 3 to 15 puppies. The offspring are gestated for more than two months. Puppies are born blind. The eyes open 10-14 days after birth.
Wolves in zoos - features of captivity
Wolves in zoos live longer than their wild relatives (the former live 20 years, the latter from 8 to 15). This is due to the fact that in the wild, old individuals, unable to obtain food, die or become victims of relatives.
For a full life in captivity must be created special conditions. The point is that the animal is natural environment walks up to 20 km daily. This is a normal and necessary load, so there must be an enclosure of appropriate size. It’s a good idea to recreate the conditions of the area in which the animal should live.
An adult should consume up to 2 kg of fresh meat daily. In winter, the norm increases to 3 kg.
Live food should be brought in periodically to maintain the hunter's instinct.
History of the domestication of the wolf into a dog
Very often small wolf cubs fall into the hands of hunters. They don't always hand over animals to the zoo. Some people bring them home, others sell them. Such a product is in demand; there are risky people who want to get their hands on the predator. And the desire to educate from wild beast the pet's excitement is heightened even more.
In most cases, such decisions are erroneous and unsafe. The wolf is primarily a predator. Starting it at home is like setting a time bomb. Sooner or later it will explode.
If such a predator appears in the house, then first of all it is necessary to create all the conditions that ensure safety. The wolf is an intelligent, freedom-loving and cunning animal, so everything free time he will spend trying to get out of the cage. In addition, he is able to learn primitive actions from humans. In other words, he can remember how a person opens the cage and do it himself.
Another point that everyone who wants to tame a wild animal should know. He will never perform the functions of a dog. The wolf is a predator, and man is his enemy, he will always be afraid of him. Consequently, when a stranger tries to enter the territory of the house, he will try to hide.
Video information
- Numerous experiments by breeders made it possible to develop mixed breeds of wolf and dog. Today, two mixed breeds have gained recognition - the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog and the Saarloos.
- In the Middle Ages he personified the servant of the devil. There were many stories, fairy tales, and legends in which the image of a wild animal appeared.
- Many coats of arms belonging to noble families of Europe had the image of a wolf. Representatives of ancient families claimed that their family arose from werewolves (a mixture of a human and a wolf).
- Before the battle, the Scandinavian Vikings wore wolf skins and drank the blood of predators. In their opinion, this ritual was supposed to bring good luck.
- In the 16th century, Ireland was called the land of wolves. The reason for this was the numerous packs of predators that lived on these lands.
- During a calm period, the animal can hear a sound at a distance of 17 km.
- Wolves are excellent swimmers. They are able to swim a distance of 10 km at a time.
- Hitler was an admirer of these animals. For this reason, many Wehrmacht headquarters had names associated with predators.
- Among the Aztecs, it was customary to puncture a dying person in the chest with a wolf bone. In their opinion, with the help of the ritual it was possible to escape death.
- On Japanese the word wolf means "great god".
Having watched wolves for centuries, man realized that the predator is a disciplined and intelligent animal, and not just a hunter and killer. The image of survival in the wild, life in pairs, building a hierarchical ladder in a pack, allows us to talk about the uniqueness of this mammal.
Wolf is carnivorous mammal canine family. He is the direct ancestor of dogs. In its family, the wolf is the largest animal. This wild animal serves as an important link in the balance of ecosystems. We learn from the article where the wolf lives and what it eats.
Description
The wolf has quite large sizes. Depending on the geographical location The habitat of the beast can vary within certain ranges. Average weight The predator's weight is about 50 kilograms, but in Alaska and Siberia it can reach 77 kilograms. In rare cases, their weight can exceed 90 kilograms. The smallest subspecies is the Arabian wolf, which can weigh only 10 kilograms.
In appearance, this animal resembles a large dog with pointed ears. The male is always larger than the female. The color of a wolf's fur may vary depending on what natural area he resides. Sometimes the color is mixed. The animal's fur is very thick with dense undercoat, which gives the wolf a visually larger size than it actually is.
The tail of this animal is thicker and longer than that of a dog. By its position one can judge the mood of the animal and what status it occupies in the pack.
Vision is the wolf's weakest sense organ. His hearing and sense of smell are most developed. Combined with good physical data, this makes him very dangerous predator.
Lifestyle
Wolves live in packs that have a strict hierarchy. They usually form groups of 10-30 individuals. The leader monitors discipline, distributes responsibilities and divides the spoils. Each pack is dominated by a dominant pair. Even the weakest members of the community can count on protection and a share of the spoils.
The wolf's voice has a wide range. Each sound has many variations. Thanks to this, wolves can transmit various information to each other over a very long distance. They are even able to warn their fellow tribesmen about the approach of a person. The signal for an attack is usually given by the leader. This sound is reminiscent of the angry growl of an angry dog. Some people living in close proximity to nature have learned to distinguish the language of wolves.
Habitat
In the past, the wolf's habitat was similar to that of humans. Today, their living environment has shrunk somewhat. Currently, the wolf can be found in North America, Europe and Asia. In Russia, this animal is distributed throughout the entire territory, absent only in Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.
The wolf can be found in any area, but it still prefers the steppe, forest-steppe, semi-desert and tundra. Often this predatory animal settles close to human habitations, avoiding dense forest areas.
Breeding offspring
During mating season males wage a fierce fight for she-wolves. These animals form a pair for life. The next stage of the mating season is the creation of housing.
To breed, wolves set up dens. For this purpose, mountain crevices and burrows of other animals are used; sometimes the wolf digs out the dwelling on its own. The female is constantly present here during the period of raising offspring. As a rule, in one season, wolves give birth to one offspring in the amount of 3 to 13 wolf cubs. Wolves prefer to hunt away from their lair. After the wolf cubs grow up, the family leaves their home and leads a nomadic lifestyle, setting up resting places in different shelters.
What does it eat?
The wolf is a typical predator. It obtains its food through pursuit and attack. What does a wolf eat in the wild? The basis of its diet are ungulates. In the absence of such, animals can attack livestock and dogs. They can also feed on small animals and rodents. Wolves hunt large prey in packs, and small prey alone. They prefer to attack weak and sick animals.
What else do wolves eat? Often these predators even hunt birds. In case of hunger, they can eat their wounded relative. They can also feed on animal carcasses. In times of hunger, they eat reptiles and even plant foods.
What do wolves eat in winter? During the cold season it is very difficult to find food. At this time, predators become especially bloodthirsty. So, what does a wolf eat in winter? Their diet does not change much in the cold, but they prefer to hunt in packs at this time of year. Weaker individuals try to get closer to a person’s home in the hope of getting livestock.
Hunting
Wolves forage for food mainly at night. They can chase prey for a long time until it becomes exhausted. The wolf is well developed mentally. This is expressed in hunting methods and methods of protection. Wolves approach their prey unnoticed. When attacking game, each member of the pack performs its own function.
They use various cunning tactics to do this. For example, they drive deer to a cliff, from which the animals are afraid to jump and fall into the clutches of a predator. They are trying to lure moose into snowy places or on bodies of water covered with ice. Here the victim falls through and cannot escape. A hungry wolf can eat about 12 kg of food at one time. He buries the remains of his prey and returns for it in times of famine.
Wolves gradually teach their cubs to forage for food. Initially, the wolf cubs watch their elders and learn from them all the subtleties and tactics of hunting. They first take part in this activity at the age of six months. Adhering to strict discipline, kids learn skills from their elders.
Currently, many are wondering whether it is possible to keep a wolf at home. This is possible if you follow certain rules. The living conditions of this predator in captivity may be different. For example, zoos, wildlife parks, or an aviary in a residential building. What does a wolf eat in such conditions? Depending on the environment in which it is kept, the animal’s diet is also selected.
The wildlife park is the closest to the wolf's natural habitat. Every week a carcass of a large animal is given out, part of which is immediately eaten by predators, and part of which is buried by them for later.
At the zoo, the wolf is fed daily, six times a week, and on the seventh day the predator goes hungry. The animal is given two to three kilograms of meat for bones, vegetables and protein-mineral food.
What does a wolf kept in an enclosure eat? His diet usually consists of dry dog food, cereal and meat. Feeding is done twice a day. The amount of food depends on the weight of the wolf. It is necessary to ensure that the animal always has pure water. You can diversify a wolf's diet with fermented milk products and eggs. It is advisable to enrich the diet with vitamins and minerals.
Wolves are unpretentious animals. They can eat whatever their owner provides. Nevertheless, you need to carefully monitor the condition of the animal, its well-being and health. In case of any deviations from the norm, the animal must be shown to a veterinarian.
If you want to get a predator, you need to keep in mind that it is better to take it from a nursery. You cannot take a wolf cub left without parents home after a hunt. This is a wild animal that is dangerous to humans.
We learned in detail about what a wolf eats in the wild and in captivity. Why is a meeting between a man and a wolf dangerous? Let's figure it out further.
Is a wolf dangerous for humans?
Usually this beast does not like to attack people, but this depends on many factors. Attacks on people are the exception rather than the rule. But don't underestimate the danger. If wolves are in a pack and are hungry, an attack on a person is inevitable.
A hunter is more likely to become a victim of a predator than an ordinary mushroom picker or tourist. This is due to the fact that wolves are excellent psychologists and feel danger to themselves. And the presence of a weapon behind a person’s back finally convinces the beast of his intentions. If wolves see a tired traveler, they immediately sense his vulnerability, form a pack and attack.
Taking into account the high degree of danger of a wolf for humans, it is worth thinking several times before deciding to keep a wild animal at home.
Wolves, which have long lived in the neighborhood of humans, have always been attributed with many “bad things.” For example, in the Middle Ages it was believed that the flesh of a wolf was poisoned because it feeds on insects and snakes, and its poisonous breath can deprive a person of his voice.
Alas, one should not think that with the development of science, myths about wolves have sunk into oblivion. And today our ideas about these animals are often far from the truth.
Five main misconceptions about wolves.
Misconception 1.
Many are convinced that, due to the status of a seasoned predator, the wolf does nothing but slaughter poor sheep, and in case of emergency, catches hares. In reality, everything is not so simple. Of course, wolves are carnivorous by nature, but at the same time they eat both fish and purely vegetarian food. In the southern steppe regions of Russia in the summer, wolves are regular visitors to melon fields, where they eat watermelons and melons. Moreover, they do not eat everything that comes under their paw. Sometimes a wolf chews more than a dozen watermelons until he finds the most delicious one. Wolves also consume pears and apples.
I wonder what most The diet of polar white wolves, which are traditionally attributed to feeding almost exclusively on reindeer, consists, oddly enough, of voles and lemmings.
Seasoned predators do not pay attention to reindeer as long as they hope to swallow a mouse, which makes up 90% of their menu from spring to autumn.
It is known that in England, France, Denmark, Holland, Belgium and a number of other countries, wolves were completely exterminated. So maybe we should also eliminate the “gray scourge”? ( Misconception 2) No, it’s not worth it! Nature itself provides many arguments in favor of the existence of wolves. The main one is that wolves hunt mainly the sick and weak and animals. By destroying them, the wolf “works for the benefit of nature” and it is not for nothing that he is called the “forest orderly.” Where wolves hunt, there are also many agile, fast and strong animals and birds. Otherwise, there will be too many living creatures in the forests, which simply will not have enough food. It turns out that the wolf, without knowing it, saves the fauna from hunger, disease and degeneration.
Other misconceptions about wolves
And a little about other misconceptions about wolves. In all fairy tales, the relationship between the wolf and the fox is usually more or less friendly ( Misconception 3). And although, being the wolf’s godfather, the fox often makes evil jokes at him, she still remains his “strategic ally.” Therefore, many children, and adults too, think that in real life The fox and the wolf are not at odds in any case. But this is a myth. In nature, there is antagonism between these animals. Moreover, wolves kill foxes quite often, but eat them very rarely. This feature of wolf behavior is scientifically called interspecific competition, and hunters have a sign: where there are many wolves, foxes disappear.
It must be said that foxes, if possible, “pay the wolves in the same coin.” If a fox comes across a brood of wolves and there is no adult wolf nearby, then she will immediately take the opportunity to destroy her enemies.
Misconception 4. Wolves and the full moon
But perhaps the most common misconception is about wolf howl on a moonlit night. In reality, wolves howl mainly at dawn, less often at night, and sometimes, especially after the death of one of the pack members, during the day. Experts consider wolf howls to be a fairly developed means of communication and distinguish between threat, melancholy, despair, sadness, messages about caught or found prey, love calls and much more.
There are single and group howls. Each of them has its own functions. Thus, a single howl is a means of communication between family members, warns about the occupancy of the territory, invites the female to mate, is a signal of prey, alarm, etc. A group howl is necessary to maintain the motivation for consolidation and the desire for unification in a family-pack.
Misconception 5.
And finally, the fifth misconception about wolves. For some reason, it is generally accepted that wolves hunt in packs. But is it necessary to form a flock in order to catch a mouse, a rabbit, or eat a watermelon or an apple? They hunt in packs only in winter, when there is a shortage of food and there are not enough mice. But these packs are rarely large (most often it is one wolf family. Wolves never gather together in large flocks, but live only in families, and if necessary they can live alone).
It is this predator that is the progenitor of dogs of all breeds.
Taxonomy
Russian name - wolf, gray wolf, common wolf, Eurasian wolf, etc.
Latin name- Canis lupus
English name-Wolf
Order - carnivores (Carnivora)
Family - canids (Canidae)
The genus is wolf (Canis), also includes the jackal and coyote. Some taxonomists distinguish separate species dog, others consider it a subspecies of the wolf - Canis lupus familiaris.
There are a lot of wolf subspecies, some of them have become extinct by now.
Conservation status of the species
The wolf is a common predator in Russia, its numbers are regulated. In many regions of Europe and North America it is protected by law.
Species and man
The relationship between man and wolf is very complex. At first they developed quite peacefully. Primitive people, paying tribute to the intelligence and strength of the beast, they often chose it as their totem, endowing it with mystical properties; in mythology, the wolf personified belligerence. Along with the fox and the bear, he was an indispensable character folk beliefs, fairy tales. True, in Russian folk art He, oddly enough, more often acts as an imbecile who is deceived by everyone.
The constant proximity and intelligence of the beast undoubtedly served as the reason for its domestication by ancient man. The domestication of this predator occurred several thousand years ago, most likely independently, in Europe, southern Asia, and possibly in Central America. Modern genetic research confirmed the origin of numerous dog breeds from the wolf.
As the modern civilization, especially in Europe, the man-wolf relationship became increasingly conflictual: the wolf was increasingly seen as an enemy, he was assigned the role of an evil spirit, a werewolf. The main reason was the use of the same food resources by humans and animals, primarily domestic ungulates. In England, for example, the development of sheep farming led to the extermination of this predator already in the 16th century. In Europe and North America in the 18th–19th centuries it was declared real war, the number of wolves began to decline rapidly everywhere. What saved the animal from complete destruction was its ability to quickly restore its numbers when the persecution became less active.
Attitudes towards the wolf began to change radically in the middle of the last century in connection with the modern understanding of the principles of organization natural communities. The wolf was recognized important role regulator of the number of wild ungulates, he began to be called the “forest orderly.” Indeed, after the destruction of predators, the reproduction of wild ungulates occurs so rapidly that the vegetation suffers, making it impossible for some tree species to regenerate. Artificial regulation of ungulate populations did not lead to the desired results, so it was necessary to call on a natural “regulator” - the wolf. In addition, the transition from natural grazing of herds to intensive livestock farming made domestic animals less accessible to the wolf, which means it ceased to be a competitor and enemy.
Currently, in some regions of North America and Western Europe, work is underway to return the wolf to wildlife. In such places it becomes a protected species.
A special relationship between man and wolf develops near large cities. First of all, it is attracted by permanent, easily accessible sources of food - cattle burial grounds and slaughterhouses. Wolves willingly settle next to them and cease to be afraid of people and technology. This does not cause any harm to the urban population, unless the wolves get rabies. However, these same places are often visited by stray dogs. Usually a dog is a desirable prey for a wolf, but it happens that large, strong dogs give birth to puppies from their wild ancestors. These wolf-dog hybrids are more daring predators than wolves; they are dangerous even to people, because they neglect the caution that makes a wolf stay away from a person. It is characteristic that mixed packs of wolf-dog hybrids, wolves and feral dogs most often arise where humans are actively exterminating wild predators: nature does not tolerate a vacuum and fills the ecological vacuum with a kind of “surrogate”.
This predator is the progenitor of dogs of all breeds
This predator is the progenitor of dogs of all breeds
This predator is the progenitor of dogs of all breeds
This predator is the progenitor of dogs of all breeds
This predator is the progenitor of dogs of all breeds
This predator is the progenitor of dogs of all breeds
This predator is the progenitor of dogs of all breeds
This predator is the progenitor of dogs of all breeds
Distribution and habitats
The wolf's distribution area is very large; most recently it covered almost all of Eurasia (except for its extreme southeast) and North America. Currently, due to direct persecution by humans, the beast has disappeared in almost all of Western and Central Europe, in many areas of North America, on the Japanese islands. In Russia, wolves are found almost everywhere. The wolf is one of the most ecologically flexible species; it can live in a variety of places. However, this predator is most common in open landscapes - tundra and forest-tundra, forest-steppe and steppe, subalpine mountain belt. It avoids dense, cluttered forests, and in winter, places with loose, deep snow cover. Everywhere the animal prefers to stay close to water.
The wolf is the largest animal among the representatives of the canine family, powerful, proportionally built. Body length is on average 105–160 cm, shoulder height 80–85, sometimes up to 100 cm, body weight 32–50 kg. The maximum recorded weight of a wolf from the natural population is 79 kg. Males are always slightly larger than females, with a thicker head. The wolf's legs are slender, tall, the paws are small and, unlike a dog's, the toes are tightly clenched, which allows one to distinguish the tracks of a wolf and a large dog. The head and neck are very powerful, the muzzle is very elongated and is framed on the sides by “whiskers”. The tail is quite long, thick and, unlike a dog's, always straight. The teeth and jaws are so strong that they can crush the largest bones. The wolf's fur is thick and quite long.
Contrary to the name “gray wolf,” the coloration, as well as the size of this predator, is subject to great individual and geographic variability. Light, almost white animals live in the far north of the range. Forest wolves smaller, gray-brown, medium size. Desert inhabitants are the smallest, their color has more fawn tones. In the highlands Central Asia The size of wolves is the same as that of forest wolves, but the color is bright ocher. In North America there are wolves that are almost black in color.
The wolf's senses are superbly developed. Well-developed higher nervous activity is combined with strength, agility, running speed and other physical characteristics that greatly increase the chances of this predator in the struggle for existence. If necessary, the wolf reaches speeds of up to 55–60 km/h, is capable of traveling up to 60–80 km per night, and on average travels more than 20 km per day (in the forest zone). A calmly walking or running wolf amazes with the ease of its movements - it seems to spread over the ground, as if flying over its surface. Apparently, this is why a group of wolves is more often called a flock, like birds.
Nutrition and feeding behavior
The wolf is a typical predator, obtaining food independently by actively searching for and pursuing victims.
Everywhere, wolves hunt large mammals, mainly ungulates. However, their preferences are determined by the degree of food availability, and the prey is the animals that predominate in each particular area. In the tundra these are reindeer; in the forest zone - elk or wild boar, in other areas - deer or roe deer; V steppe zone- antelopes. Along with large animals, small animals - hares, gophers, and mouse-like rodents - play an important role in the diet of wolves, especially during the years of their mass reproduction. In the warm season, wolves catch a lot of voles, lemmings and other small animals; on this food they fatten up well for the winter and even get fat. In summer, wolves do not miss the opportunity to eat a clutch of eggs, chicks sitting in a nest, or birds feeding on the ground. Sometimes foxes become prey for wolves, raccoon dogs, as well as domestic dogs, which wolves sometimes hunt on purpose, boldly abducting them on village streets, right from the yard and almost in front of the hunters’ eyes. They also eat carrion. Wolves hide the uneaten remains of their prey by burying them in the ground or covering them with branches, and when hungry, they return to them. During a period of mass locust invasion, predators happily feed on it.
Like other canids, wolves eat quite a lot of plant foods. In the south in the summer they visit melon fields, and in the forest zone they enjoy eating berries. When the fruits of wild pears and apple trees ripen, these predators large quantities eat carrion.
Wolves are skilled and resourceful hunters, and their behavior is very complex. Even when hunting together summer time, wolves often practice division of duties, when one becomes a beater, and the second hides in ambush. The first of them acts very carefully, gradually, step by step, directing the intended victim to his partner. In a pack chasing an elk or deer, often some predators run on the heels of the intended victim, while others run across them, or they coward slowly and, having rested, replace the leaders. At the same time, the animals display amazing tirelessness and perseverance. Still others sit in ambush and make a decisive attack at the right moment.
When choosing prey among large ungulates, wolves are guided by a special sense that allows them to evaluate physical state potential production. In the Canadian tundra, for example, they observed how wolves hunt musk oxen, having previously run a race with them. During such runs, predators mark their prey and then purposefully pursue only it. Scientists examined the remains of these victims: in many cases it was possible to establish that the animals were sick.
Vocalization
The vocal repertoire of wolves is very diverse: they growl, snort, whine, squeal, and even bark. However, the most famous is the wolf howl - a means of communication over long distances. Males and females, adults and young, howl differently, which corresponds not only to their different vocal characteristics, but also social status. An adult male sings in a bass voice, females usually start with low tones and gradually raise them, wolves of other ages sing in a treble, discordant, with a squeal. They howl both alone and in chorus. During a group howl, animals “adjust” to the “soloist” - the rhythm is synchronized, the tone is evened out. It turns out to be a real choir. The wolf howl serves as a means of consolidating the pack, which is why it is most often heard in autumn and winter.
In addition to the function of notifying neighbors that the territory is occupied, the howl carries a much greater information load. Thanks to the howl, the members of the pack always know where each of them is, and what he is doing, and they know where their neighbors are hunting. Moreover, wolves appear to transmit information to each other about the location of potential prey. Thus, researcher Farley Mowat observed in the Canadian tundra how wolves transmitted information over long distances along a chain that the caribou deer they were expecting had moved south and were in a certain place. In this case, the wolf first listens to information coming from another wolf, which may be several kilometers away. Then the transmitter throws his head back and howls a vibrating howl: low at first, but ending on the highest note still perceptible to human hearing. A check of the wolf's report of caribou confirmed the case. Wolves can also inform each other about the appearance of people.
Social organization, behavior
Throughout most of their lives, wolves live in family groups. The basis of each group is a breeding pair, which most often remains for life, unless one of the partners dies. During breeding (spring-summer) the pair stays isolated. Closer to autumn, adults and young yearlings are joined by adult non-breeding animals and young wolves from last year's litter - this is how a flock of 6–12 animals is formed. If the flock turns out to be too large, it splits into two, or individuals are forced out of it, who follow the flock for some time and then go in search of new places.
The breeding female is the leader of the group, and all other females obey her. Among the males, the main one is her “husband”, who is dominant among other males. Within the same family group, relationships between animals are very friendly. When they are full, they rest, lying close to each other, brush their fur, or simply take a nap.
Young people play a lot. The games are very active, they include running, ambush attacks, and power struggles. It is during play interactions that behavioral roles are distributed: some of the teenagers will become a good beater in the future, some are better at sneaking up than others, some have a lightning-fast throw. Fights often break out between young animals, which can even lead to serious injuries. This is how hierarchical relationships are built, which in adults are no longer supported by open aggression, but by characteristic demonstrative behavior.
Different groups of wolves do not often contact each other; each group marks its areas with urine, and neighbors know the boundaries well. When hunting and moving, groups avoid each other as much as possible. When meeting, the animals show wariness, but, as a rule, things don’t come to blows; the animals limit themselves to ritual poses. Under natural conditions, the areas of different families do not touch; between them there are quite wide buffer zones where young people can move, and which can be used by wolves from different families in turn.
The repertoire of demonstration poses and facial expressions that wolves use when communicating with each other is very wide. The position of the ears, head, tail, lips, coat is important - everything that the domestic dog inherited from the wolf. A wolf's tail is not as mobile as a dog's, however, its signal meaning is approximately the same: wagging means joy and greeting, tucked between the legs expresses submission and fear, extended at the same level with the back - a sign of strength and independence. The combination of different elements of postures is important: for example, if a wolf purses its lips and presses its ears with a growl, this is a threat, if the same thing, but with a squeal, it is a greeting. These are those expressive poses and actions that a person can notice. Researchers who have studied wolves note that wolves often communicate simply by looking: for example, the leader approaches one of the members of the pack and looks into the eyes, after which he goes and does what he was “told.” An outside observer can only be amazed at how members of the same family understand each other.
Reproduction and raising offspring
The rutting season for wolves occurs at the end of winter - beginning of spring and lasts about a month. From the very beginning of the rut, the couple tries to isolate themselves; the male drives away other family members who move away, but continue to stay in their native territory. The family often gets together to hunt, but when they have had enough, the couple leaves. Closer to the middle of the rut, wolves can form rutting packs: attracted by the smell of a she-wolf, the pair is relentlessly followed by 1-3 more males from neighboring territories. Feature rutting flocks - the presence of only one female. Such a flock is on the move most of the day. Despite the persistent pursuit, the couple manages to retire from time to time, and then mating occurs. Young animals that have formed a pair for the first time play a lot, chasing each other and gently biting their partner. Females participating in the rut for the first time can go far from the parental territory along with their “escort”, and often do not return, remaining in a new place and exploring new areas.
After the end of the rut, life returns to normal. The family unites, with the few exceptions of young wolves who left during the rut.
Puppies, usually 2–6, appear after 62–65 days in the den, where now the mother does not even allow the father. They are born blind, with closed ear openings, covered with sparse brown fur, and gain sight in 9–12 days. For 3 weeks, while the wolf cubs are in the hole, the mother practically does not leave them. All this time, the father brings and leaves food for his girlfriend at the entrance to the den. Meat food gradually appears on the menu of babies from the age of one month, and within 2-3 months they do not have enough enzymes, and their parents regurgitate semi-digested meat for them. Milk feeding lasts a long time, almost 4 months; at this age, wolf cubs already hunt rodents. Later, they begin to take part in group hunts for larger animals, but for another year they remain in secondary roles.
She-wolves reach sexual maturity in the second year of life, males only at three years of age, but, as a rule, at this age they have not yet found a mate.
Lifespan
In nature, wolves rarely live longer than 8–10 years; in captivity, their life expectancy is twice as long.
Keeping animals at the Moscow Zoo
Wolves are permanent residents of our zoo. As a rule, they come to us as puppies and live their lives to a ripe old age. Several years ago, wolves were kept not only in the exhibition area of the zoo, but also in the visiting section - they went to lectures along with other animals in schools, kindergartens, and lecture halls. Now there are no wolves among the “traveling” animals for several reasons. Firstly, no one believed us that these were wolves and not dogs - they behaved completely like dogs. Secondly, it turned out that wolves get terribly sick in the car, and the third reason, which follows from the second: the animals felt unpleasant sensations on the road negative attitude not only to travel, but also to the people who forced them to travel, and this is already very dangerous.
Now gray wolves live only in a special enclosure located opposite the Skating Circle. Animals are very happy about people who look after them, greeting them with wagging tails and smiles, just like dogs.
Sometimes they howl: more often at night, but sometimes in the evening. The wolf song is mesmerizing. Once upon a time, wolves, jackals and foxes lived in neighboring enclosures at the zoo. The wolves usually started the “singing”, the jackals picked it up, and then the foxes joined. Everyone sang in their own way, but the choir turned out amazing. For some reason, this coincided with the operation of the zoo’s loudspeaker, so it was possible to specifically “turn on” this choir.
A pair of wolves currently living in the zoo are young animals that arrived in 2013 from the Zoo Nursery, where they came from different places. The male was born in the Veliky Ustyug Zoo, and the female was picked up by people as a puppy and, when she grew up, was transferred to the Zoo Nursery. Rada (that’s the female’s name) turned out to be very calm and friendly, the male, on the contrary, was afraid of everything and tried to avoid contact with people. He was called Tarzan for his high jumps. After the required quarantine, they were introduced, and Tarzan was replaced. The panicky behavior disappeared, and from being distrustful the animal became simply cautious. Soon the animals were released into the exhibition enclosure, where they became perfectly accustomed.
The couple is very friendly; if one of the partners has to be separated, the other gets bored: he doesn’t eat well, doesn’t go out for walks much. It is very easy to distinguish a wolf from a she-wolf: Rada is smaller, more graceful, and the very tip of her right ear is white - light fur has grown on a place damaged in childhood. Tarzan is a large, foreheaded beast. He keeps his tail down almost all the time, like an insecure dog. When large cars drive past the enclosure (and this is inevitable during reconstruction), he gets very nervous and hides.
Zoo staff devote a lot of time to the wolves: the animals must learn to enter the interior room on command, allow themselves to be locked there, allow them to touch, examine them, and even allow them to receive injections (vaccinations). Training is carried out in “protected contact”, through a grid. Thus, on the one hand, the territory of the animal is not disturbed, on the other hand, the person is protected from large predators.
The wolves are fed by hand, through a grid, with meat once a day, and given hydroponic greens and various vitamin and mineral supplements. Like all predators, 1 day a week is hungry. You can often see how wolves set up storerooms: they bury pieces of meat in the ground and compact it with their nose. Usually crows carefully watch their actions - when the animals move away or lie down to rest, the birds are right there. During the day, wolves rest, often indoors, so it is better to “visit” them in the morning or late afternoon.