It is estimated, among the experts in this field that North American and Eurasian wolves have only been around for about 150,000 years.
A wolf is a predator, which hunts and eats other creatures and belongs to the same genus as the dog, Some believing it to be actually the parent species of the dog, It is a fact, that wild dogs often look more like wolves, than they do their domestic brothers. Actually, Wolves will sometimes breed with coyotes and dogs, when the wolf population is reduced, for one reason, or another.
The majority of wolves are found in northern Europe, North America and northern Asia and are part of the Canidae family - canis lupus.
The wolf found in Europe, also northern Asia is more of a grayish yellow colour, It has fairly long, coarse hair and a bushy tail. It moves very quickly, often in packs when hunting bison and other animals. Rarely attacks mankind unless forced to it by extreme hunger.
In the north-western states of America the dusky wolf is the most prominent species. The black, white and rufous wolves are more often seen in the south.
The black wolf is the more common variety, found in the Pyrenees, Spain areas. Was quite common in Russia. Canada is home to the grey wolf, and is occasionally seen in the forests of the New England area.
The coyote, sometimes referred to as 'the prairie wolf', is not really a proper wolf at all, but an animal similar to the jackal.
To survive, the wolf has to be very clever and thankfully, are not easily trapped. They have even been known to bite off the trigger, close to a set-gun and then eat the bait. Even been known to actually drag up a set fishing line from out of ice holes and eat the fish. Wolves survive anywhere that has sufficient food, plus human tolerance. Humans should learn to share this planet with all creatures. After all, wolves are simply animals striving to survive here, the same as us.
Wolves have very social instincts. They have a complex facial and body language. It allows them to interact with each other. Their howl, is used to communicate with other wolves.
Packs of wolves are great travelers, often covering more than 30 more miles in a one day, while looking for food, during winter.
But at any time they are territorial creatures and need extensive areas in which to hunt for their food. What is not well known, is the fact that wolves are are not an efficient killing machine, when it comes to dragging down large and healthy prey, which have a capable defence. In fact, the kill rate, under those conditions can be as low as only one in five.
The wolf is a very mobile animal. Many years ago when the wolf population had dropped a pack left Yellowstone Park each winter and travelled 300 miles, in a two way journey up to the Crazy Mountains, Yellowstone National Park has long been the in the middle, of debates over the wolf.
There have been some cases of wolves killing cougars and vice versa in and around Yellowstone National Park. When camping at parks, such as Yellowstone, remember that Wolves are wild animals and should be treated as such. In other words, treat them with respect and do not feed them. Wolves are an endangered species Happily though they seem to be making a comeback in some several National Parks and the northern Rockies.
Sadly, outside the parks protection, there are some places where wolves are cruelly trapped. This occurs in areas mostly where it is legal, using cruel snares, or inhumane and despicable leg traps. This causes unimaginable suffering to these noble animals and should be outlawed, as it has been, for many years, in more civilized areas of the world.
In Alaska, the so called, cowardly 'sportsmen', have once again taken up hunting and killing wolves from aircraft. Often, they only injure the poor creatures and simply fly away, abandoning them to die a slow, lonely and painful death. This abomination, which they call 'sport', has the blessing of the governor of Alaska, a particularly odious and cruel person. The citizens of Alaska have what they deserve - a despot, but certainly not a man of honor - or even one worthy of the name, 'man', in charge.
In time, hopefully, mankind will learn to share this world with wolves and all other sea and land creatures, thus allowing our future generations to be able to see wild creatures living in their natural habitats. Not only through television wildlife shows, or at zoos.
Ray Cunningham, likes all animals and birds.
Has created a new web site at http://www.raygc.com/Wildlife/
Where these and other beautiful and exclusive, wildlife prints, may be purchased.
He is also adding to his Squidoo sites, where he hopes to show you some videos of these and other animals. Go here: http://www.squidoo.com/Wolves-
