Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary Educational Field Guide

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GRAY WOLVES What are gray wolves? Gray Wolves are large, wild canids native to the northern hemisphere. There are four widely recognized subspecies of gray wolves in North America: the Great Plains or Timber Wolf, Arctic Wolf, Rocky Mountain Wolf, and the Mexican Gray Wolf. Subspecies vary more by their range than by their physical characteristics. Navar by Angel Borden Wolf Packs Wolves are social animals that generally live in family groups comparable to human families. A family of wolves is called a pack, and typically has 7-12 members. Sometimes wolf packs include non-family members, or “outsiders” who have solicited to join the pack. Although wolf packs have a strong social hierarchy, the pack structure can change over time as wolves age and move up or down in the ranks. Pack Structure The alpha male and female are the pack leaders. This couple usually mates for life and are typically the only animals that breed. Though both parents are responsible for pack cohesion, the alpha female often takes a stronger role in keeping the pack together. The betas are the 2nd in command. This group consists of subordinates, yearlings and pups. The omegas are the lowest ranking members of the pack. Packs often have both a male and female omega. Gray Wolf Quick Facts Family: Canidae Genus: Canis Species: C. lupus Group Name: Pack Diet: Carnivore Average Size (Adult Male): 26-36 inches at shoulders, stretches 5-6 feet from nose to tip of tail. Adult females are typically 20% smaller than males. Average Weight (Adult Male): 70-130 pounds. The largest recorded wolf was 175 pounds. Average Life Span: 6-9 years in the wild (but up to 14), and up to 15 years or longer in captivity. IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern Habitat & Territory: Where do gray wolves live? Gray wolves once lived across North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa, but have been driven out of most of their former range. The North American Gray Wolf’s range now includes parts of Alaska, the Great Lakes region, northern Rockies, Pacific Northwest and Canada. Gray Wolves live in diverse habitats including tundra, forests, prairies, mountains and deserts. A wolf’s territory is where the pack lives, hunts, breeds and plays. Territories range from less than 100 sq. miles to 1000 sq. miles depending on the abundance of prey and other predators. Present Extirpated Fig. 1: The gray wolf’s current habitat range is represented in green. The gray wolf’s former habitat range is in red. Reproduction Breeding occurs once a year in January or February. Pups are born in late April or early May. A typical litter size is 4-6, but can be as large as 12 pups. Fun Fact: Wolves can trot at 5 MPH for long distances, and can reach top speeds of 36-38 MPH when sprinting. They can jump as high as 8 feet and as far as 12 feet. WSWS 3. Field Guide
GRAY WOLVES What is the gray wolf’s role in the ecosystem? Wolves are apex predators and a keystone species. Apex predators are at the top of their food chain and have no natural predators. Keystone species play a unique and crucial role in how an ecosystem functions. Ecosystems depend on their keystone species. Without it, they will change dramatically, and can cease to exist. Summer, Shaggydog & Shae by Rae McCue What do wolves eat? Wolves are carnivores (meat eaters) who as predators hunt and eat other animals known as prey. The wolf’s favorite prey is ungulates: hoofed, grass-eating mammals such as elk, deer, caribou and moose. Wolves generally eat every part of their prey except the hide, skull, some large bones and rumen (the stomach contents). Wolves will eat smaller animals like mice, fish, snakes, and rabbits, and will sometimes eat grass, berries or other vegetables. When there is an abundance of food, wolves may hide or store it. This is called caching. Wolves can eat over 20 pounds in one sitting, and can go weeks without eating when necessary. A healthy, wild, adult gray wolf can survive on 2.5 pounds of food per day, but may need as much as 7 pounds per day to reproduce successfully. Wild Spirit’s Recues’ diet includes raw red meat, poultry, wild game and fish. Most Rescues eat 5 days a week, and are fasted on Mondays and Thursdays. On Sundays, Rescues eat a special meal called “Sunday Loaf,” a raw meat loaf packed with nutritional powders, grass powders, raw eggs, egg shells, carrots and green beans that replicates the variety of nutrients they would consume in the wild. Hunting - Wolves are crepuscular, which means that they are most active at dusk and dawn. This is when wolves typically hunt. Wolves locate prey by scent, tracking, or chance. Pack members may split up to scout for prey, or may work with other animals like ravens. - Wolves are opportunistic, preying on young, old, weak or sick animals. They will sometimes chase prey that runs for up to 13 miles to tire them out, while prey that hold their ground may bluff wolves into retreat. - Wolves are silent and focused when hunting, with tails wagging and ears up. Zoerro by Georgia Cougar Common Behavioral Characteristics - Wolves are neophobic, meaning they fear new things. Although wolves are often portrayed as predatory toward people in mythology and popular culture, they are in fact characteristically frightened of humans. - Wolves communicate using scent, vocalizations, and body language. They huff, puff, whine, snort, growl, howl, and bark. Wolves will rub their bodies, particularly the area behind their cheeks, on objects to mark them with their scent. They will also roll on scents or objects that interest them. This is called scent rolling. They will scratch the ground, leaving a scent from the scent glands in their paws along with a physical mark. Of course, wolves will mark their territory by urinating on items they believe belong to them. - Dominance displays such as mounting, mouthing, growling, and body postures are part of a wolf’s every day life. Like dogs, wolves raise and wag their tails for a variety of reasons such as expressing confidence, happiness, play, affection, greeting and warnings. They approach from the side, and will only approach head on when they are being dominant, extremely confident, or aggressive. Fun Fact: Order of eating depends on pack hierarchy. Generally, the alphas eat first, but in some cases the hungriest wolf may eat first. The omegas, however, always eats last. WSWS 4. Field Guide
Page 1 and 2: Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary RESCUE,
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS What is Wild Spir
Page 5: What is Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary?
Page 9 and 10: WOLF-DOGS What is the wolf-dog’s
Page 11 and 12: COYOTES What is the coyote’s role
Page 13 and 14: Can you find these words? Apex Pred
Page 15 and 16: AUSTRALIAN DINGOES What is the Aust
Page 17 and 18: NEW GUINEA SINGING DOGS What is the
Page 19 and 20: Red Foxes What is the red fox’s r
Page 21 and 22: wild New Guinea singing dog in 23 y
Page 24: Wild spirit wolf sanctuary 378 cand

Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary Educational Field Guide

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