Wolves are fascinating creatures that have been both feared and admired for centuries. Recently some research has been done that sheds new light on the lifestyle and behaviour of these remarkable animals.
It is very rare to find a wolf that usually hunts or lives on its own. Wolves are social creatures and normally prefer to be a part of a pack. In a wolf pack, a form of social order is also needed to keep things organised. There can be anything six to twenty pack members. A notable feature of any pack is that it will contain a designated alpha male and female wolf. The other pack members follow a distinct hierarchy ending with the omega wolf.
The great strength of a pack lies in the way it can hunt more effectively. Wolves can catch and kill large animals such as elk when they act in unison. It would be very difficult for a solitary wolf acting on its own to kill such a large animal. This is not the only advantage that the pack offers. Pack members assist each other when it comes to rearing the young. So when the alpha pair is out seeking prey, younger pack members can remain behind to look after the cubs.
Another distinctive feature of wolf behaviour is that they mate for life and will only seek another mate when the original mate dies. The mating season for wolves can be at any time between January to April. A female wolf carries her young for approximately 60 days. It is usual for a litter to consist of four to six cubs.
A mother wolf may stay with her totally dependent young for quite some time while her mate will provide her with food. After eight weeks, cubs will become more independent and capable of surviving without their mother. At around twelve weeks, the cubs are weaned and it is possible that they may be allowed to accompany the pack on hunting missions.
These are merely a few of the basic facts about wolves. It is apparent that they are not the violent, senseless creatures that they are sometimes made out to be. Wolves are in fact social creatures that value family and cooperation and the vicious reputation that they have does not tell the whole story. In fact the wolf seems to be making something of a comeback in Europe. There is evidence that the grey wolf seems to have colonised the uplands of central France for the first time in 70 years. This has caused a lot of controversy and debate. It remains to be seen whether the return of a few wolves to this region will lead to the establishment of hunting packs.
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