The wolf is one of the most famous members of the canine family. His closest relative is the domestic dog, which is descended from him. This is a fairly large representative of its kind, compared with the coyote and jackal. Its weight can be up to 80 kg, and its body length can reach 160 cm.

The wolf population has declined significantly and now they can only be found in certain regions of Eurasia and North America. It was people who caused great damage to the range of wolves, changing natural landscapes, building cities and mercilessly exterminating them.

Wolves settle mainly in small forests, semi-deserts, steppes and tundra. If they choose forests, then bordering on open spaces. They prefer not to go deep into the forest. These animals lead a sedentary lifestyle. The territory in which they live can occupy from 30 to 60 kilometers. They wander only if the prey moves from their habitat to new territories.

Wolves live most often in pairs or families. One family can have up to 40 individuals. All of them are relatives to each other or loners are accepted into the pack. In winter, small families can unite in flocks. There is a hierarchy among wolves. The alpha female and alpha male are considered the main ones, then their older offspring, lone wolves and the last offspring of the dominant pair close the circle. In summer and spring, the flock breaks up to produce offspring and the territory for prey is divided into equal parts between the representatives of the flock.

What does a wolf eat?

The wolf is a reborn predator. Its main prey in the wild are artiodactyls: deer, elk, wild boars, musk oxen, roe deer, antelope. In addition, the wolf loves to eat birds, such as: pheasant, guinea fowl, partridge, wild geese and ducks. The beast does not disdain their chicks and eggs. Wolves also hunt for prey of small size: hares, lemmings, voles and other small rodents. In hard times, they can eat locusts, beetles, lizards, frogs and other reptiles. Wolves living near the sea coasts willingly eat carcasses of seals and other marine life thrown ashore. In addition, predators can return to the remnants of their feasts. In summer, in the forest, wolves eat wild fruits, fruits, various berries, mushrooms. In arid regions and steppes, they often raid fields with melons and watermelons, not so much to eat, but to quench their thirst.

Predators are more active at night than during the day, and they hunt more often at the same time of day, since prey is more vulnerable and easy to catch. A keen sense of smell and good hearing help to search for prey.

Wolves often arrange their hunting for domestic animals: sheep, deer, geese, chickens and other animals.

From the Canine family. The length of the body, together with the tail, reaches 160 cm, and the height at the withers is up to 90 cm. The weight of such an animal is about 62 kg. According to scientists who have studied genes and DNA, the wolf is the ancestor of the common dog. There used to be more of these animals than now. The reasons for the decline in numbers are changes in the natural landscape, extermination and urbanization. There are territories 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 villagers. Therefore, hunting for such animals is still allowed.

Ancient predator - wolf

The mating season for an animal comes at the end of winter, around February. Very often, married couples of wolves persist for life. The duration of pregnancy is on average 65 days. A she-wolf gives birth to two to fourteen cubs. On average - five kids. The father feeds the family for the first months. He brings food, regurgitates half-digested food to feed the mother of the family and cubs. At first, of course, babies eat milk, but from 1.5 months. start eating normal food. By August, they weigh about ten kilograms, and since September they go hunting with their parents.

diet

And what do wolves eat? As a rule, they eat animals, both domestic and wild. It can be deer, hares, wild boars, marmots, horses, beavers, as well as moose, muskrats, cows. If he cannot find such food, then the wolf eats 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. Everything that is not finished, he hides in a secluded place. If he gets hungry, he always comes to his hiding place and eats up the leftovers. On the ground, the predator is guided by the sense of smell and hearing, since the wolf has poorly developed eyesight, although at night it sees better than a dog.

So what do wolves eat? Their diet depends on the habitat. These can be lemmings, voles, as well as larger animals: deer, wild boars and elk. By the way, predators hunt large prey in groups.

Plant food

What does a wolf eat in the forest, besides meat? This predator eats berries and nuts with pleasure, as well as some plants. Wolves also search for and eat bird eggs.

Since such a predator is well developed, it quickly adapts to any situation.

What else do wolves eat? Usually these predators prey only on 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 the village, he lures local dogs, and then pretends to run away. The dog, of course, runs after him, and he turns around and attacks her.

What does a wolf that lives in the steppe eat?

His diet consists mainly of meat, although he also sometimes eats plant foods. But, living in the steppe, these predators make raids on melons and watermelons, satisfying not so much hunger as thirst, since wolves need a regular, and quite plentiful watering place. Of course, such an animal also has a favorite food in the steppes - 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, only it becomes more difficult to get food. In winter, in flocks in the forest, 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. When hunting, they show incredible cunning. The flock is divided into two groups. One hides in an ambush, and the second attacks. The attackers run on the heels of the prey, and the second group rushes across.

We looked at what ordinary wolves eat. Now consider other predators of this species.

Polar wolf nutrition

This predator lives in the Arctic, except for those places where there is ice. As a rule, such an animal is kept in packs consisting of ten individuals. What does it eat in 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 for red wolves is prohibited, as they are on the verge of extinction, therefore these predators are listed in the Red Book as an endangered species. The exact cause of their death is unknown. But scientists say that gray wolves are to blame. They live where the red ones, 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 food of animal origin, they also consume various plants. Most often, reptiles, small rodents and insects become their victims.

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 canines. They are listed in the International Red Book. Their way of life is similar to the way of life of ordinary wolves. They live in the prairies, wetlands and mountainous areas in the eastern part of the United States. They live in packs somewhat 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, such animals as rabbits, raccoons, rodents, occasionally deer become their victims. In addition, they feed on carrion and various fruits. Note that these predators themselves can become prey or alligators.

In the article, we described in detail what the wolf eats in the forest and other habitats. The more we know about the world around us, the more carefully we treat it.

Wolves, which have long lived in the neighborhood of man, have at all times been attributed a lot of "bad things." For example, in the Middle Ages, it was believed that the flesh of the wolf was poisoned, since 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, the myths about wolves have sunk into oblivion. And today our ideas about these animals are often far from the truth.

Top five misconceptions about wolves.

Fallacy 1.

Many are convinced that, in accordance with the status of a hardened predator, the wolf only does what he slaughters poor sheep, and in case of extreme need, catches hares. In reality, everything is not so clear. Of course, wolves are naturally carnivorous, 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 frequenters of melons, where they eat watermelons and melons. Moreover, they eat far from everything that falls under the paw. Sometimes the wolf gnaws more than a dozen watermelons until he finds the most delicious one. Wolves also consume pears and apples.

Interestingly, most of the diet of polar white wolves, which are traditionally attributed to feeding almost exclusively on reindeer, are, oddly enough, voles and lemmings.

Seasoned predators do not pay attention to reindeer as long as they hope to swallow the 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 lime the "gray attack"? ( Delusion 2) No, it's not worth it! Nature itself gives many arguments in favor of the existence of wolves. The main one is that wolves prey mainly on the sick and weak and animals. Destroying them, the wolf "works for the good of nature" and it is not for nothing that he is called the "orderly of the forest." Where wolves hunt, there are also many dexterous, fast and strong animals and birds. Otherwise, too many living creatures will breed 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 few other misconceptions about wolves. In all fairy tales, the relationship between the wolf and the fox, as a rule, is more or less friendly ( Fallacy 3). And although, being a godfather to a wolf, the fox often plays an evil joke on him, yet remains his “strategic ally”. And therefore, many children, and adults too, think that in real life, a fox and a wolf, in any case, do not quarrel. But this is a myth. In nature, there is antagonism between these animals. Moreover, wolves kill foxes quite often, but they eat them very rarely. This feature of the behavior of wolves is scientifically called interspecific competition, and hunters have a sign: where there are many wolves, foxes disappear.

I must say that the 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 the enemies.

Misconception 4. Wolves and the full moon

But perhaps the most common misconception is about howling wolves 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 members of the pack, during the day. Experts consider the howl of a wolf to be a fairly developed means of communication and distinguish between threat, melancholy, despair, sadness, a message about a caught or found prey, love calls, and much more.

Distinguish between single and group howl. Each of them has its own functions. So, a single howl is a means of communication between family members, warns about the occupation of the territory, invites the female to mate, is a signal of prey, alarm, etc. Group howling is necessary to maintain the motivation of consolidation, the desire for unification in the family-flock.

Fallacy 5.

And finally, the fifth misconception about wolves. For some reason, it is believed that wolves hunt in packs. But is it necessary to flock in order to catch a mouse, a rabbit, or eat a watermelon or an apple. In flocks, they hunt only in winter, when fodder sets in and there are not enough mice. But even these packs are rarely large (most often it is one wolf family. Wolves never get together in large packs at all, but live only in families, and if necessary they can live alone).

For most people, the wolf is not just a wild animal, but an archetypal image familiar from childhood. He became a character in fairy tales for a reason. People have long feared and revered this beast. They scared naughty children with a wolf, called the elder brother of a man, composed fairy tales and legends about him.

In the languages ​​of different peoples of the world, the word wolf is consonant. It is worth noting that it was born in the Old Slavic language and means “to drag” or “drag”. Apparently, the name came from the manner of dragging prey (drag in front of you).

Habitat and distribution in the world

In past centuries, the wolf was the most common animal on earth. To date, the habitat has been significantly reduced. The reason for this is the widespread extermination of the animal by man. Today, most of the species lives on the territory of the following states: Russia, 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 a small number of trees. Often lives in close proximity to human settlements. In the taiga, for example, it invariably follows people, choosing to live in places cleared of trees.

In mountainous areas they live up to the border of meadows, choosing slightly crossed areas.

The wolf is one of the territorial animals. In the cold period, flocks lead a sedentary lifestyle. The habitat of the flock is marked with marks. The area of ​​such territory can reach up to 44 km2. With the onset of warm months, the animals form pairs.

The strongest individuals continue to live in their territory, while the rest disperse. It is worth noting that wolves accompany herds of deer and domestic animals.

Wolf ancestors and evolution

The likely ancestor of the modern wolf is Canis lepophagus. This is a representative of a canine breed that inhabited the territory of North America during the Miocene period.

The first true wolves appeared during the early Pleistocene period. Among the species was Canis priscolatrans, distinguished by its small size. It is believed that this species is the ancestor of the red wolf, which migrated to Europe and Asia.

Subsequently, Canis priscolatrans changed and evolved, which led to the appearance 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

About 32 species and subspecies of wolves are known to science. The most interesting species will be described next.

Arctic (polar)

The rarest subspecies of the gray wolf. Distributed in Greenland, northern Canada and Alaska. The absence of a person in a cold, snowy area made it possible to preserve the habitat in its original form.

The Arctic wolf is distinguished by its large and powerful body build. The male at the withers can reach 1 m, with a weight of 100 kg. This species is characterized by sexual diformism (males outnumber females by 15-16%).

The animal is ideally adapted to life in the conditions of the polar night, overcoming great distances along the snowy plain to search for prey. An adult can eat up to 12 kg of meat at one time. Often there is nothing left of the prey, because the polar wolves do not chew the meat, but swallow it along with the bones.

Representatives of this species live in packs that number 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 takes in lone wolves (if they obey the leader).

Ruffed

The species got its name from the long fur that covers the neck and shoulders. The skin resembles a horse's mane. The main place of residence is South America.

The 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 lone hunter. As prey, he chooses small livestock, birds, reptiles. It also eats fruits.

INTERESTING! A few years ago, the threat of extinction of this species was observed. Today the problem has been solved, but the animal continues to be in the Red Book.

Mackensensky

The most common species found in North America. The weight of the animal can reach 80 kg, and the height - 90 cm. An individual hunts deer, musk oxen, elk and bison.

Mountain (red)

The mountain wolf has a beautiful appearance. Its coat is similar in color to fox fur. The weight is slightly over 20 kg. The length does not exceed 100 cm. The color depends on the region of residence. In the cold period, the fur becomes softer, more fluffy and thick. With the onset of heat, it takes on a dark color and begins to coarsen.

Predators of this species live and forage in a flock of 12-15 individuals. There is rarely a clear leader in their community. Deer, antelopes or large rodents are chosen as prey. A strong flock can attack a bull and even a leopard. In case of food shortage, the red wolf may feed on carrion.

INTERESTING! A distinctive feature of the mountain wolf is the method of attacking the victim. Unlike other species (and indeed all canines), it attacks prey from the back, without trying to bite into the neck.

The animal lives secretly, trying to arrange parking away from people. It hinders learning.

Ginger

The appearance of the red wolf is similar to the appearance of gray individuals, only the red ones are inferior in size and weight, and also have shorter ears and hair. 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. In flocks there are individuals of different ages. In a group, there is almost never aggression towards individual members.

The red wolf eats not only meat, but also vegetation. It mainly preys on rabbits, rodents and raccoons. Very rare, but attacks large mammals. There are times when the predator itself becomes the prey of a lynx or an alligator.

common wolf

This species is 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 on the territory of Eurasia. In recent years, the total number has greatly decreased. The reason for this is the extermination of man. And only in North America the population remains at a stable level.

What do wolves eat

The wolf is a predator. Most often chooses the following animals as prey:

• Roe.
• Antelope.
• Boar.
• Deer.
• Hare.
• Elk.

Small species, as well as single individuals, attack smaller animals - rodents, ground squirrels, birds. Very rarely it can choose a victim in the face of a large predator, although there are cases when flocks attack wounded or sleeping bears, foxes.

In the hungry period, they can return to half-eaten carcasses. At such a time, predators do not disdain carrion.

In addition to meat, they eat forest fruits, berries, grass, watermelons, melons. Such food allows you to get the required amount of fluid.

Reproduction and rearing of offspring

A pair of wolves, as a rule, is formed for life. If one of the partners dies, the other does not look for a replacement. Animals live in packs of 12 to 45 individuals (depending on the species).

In the wolf community, there is a clearly built hierarchy. The head is the alpha animal (it can be either a male or a female). Then come adults, lone wolves, and puppies. 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 the age of three, they are driven out of the conglomerate. It's time 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 the mating season, when alpha males and females try to fight off other members. Often fights between animals end in death.

For one litter, a she-wolf has from 3 to 15 puppies. The offspring is hatched 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 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 get food, die or become victims of relatives.

For a full life in captivity, special conditions must be created. The fact is that the animal in its natural environment passes up to 20 km daily. This is a normal and necessary load, so there must be an aviary of the appropriate size. It is not bad 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.

Periodically, live food should be brought in to maintain the hunter's instinct.

The 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 take animals to the zoo. Someone brings them home, someone sells them. Such a product is in demand, there are risky people who want to get a predator. And the desire to raise a pet from a wild beast fuels the excitement even more.

In most cases, such solutions are erroneous and unsafe. The wolf is primarily a predator. Starting it at home is like planting a time bomb. Sooner or later it will explode.

If such a predator appeared in the house, then first of all it is necessary to create all the conditions that ensure safety. The wolf is a smart, freedom-loving and cunning animal, so he will spend all his free time trying to get out of the cage. In addition, he is able to learn primitive actions from a person. 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 serve as a dog. The wolf is a predator, and a man is an enemy for him, he will always be afraid of him. Therefore, 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 breed mixed breeds of a wolf and a 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. Many stories, fairy tales, legends were composed, in which the image of a wild animal appeared.
• Many coats of arms belonging to the noble families of Europe had the image of a wolf. Representatives of ancient families claimed that their family originated from werewolves (a mixture of man and wolf).
• Before the battle, the Scandinavian Vikings put on 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 flocks of predators that lived on these lands.
• In a calm 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.
• It was customary among the Aztecs 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 from death.
• In Japanese, the word wolf means "great god".

Watching wolves for centuries, man realized that a 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.

The wolf is an amazingly sensitive and attentive predator. Possessing an excellent sense of smell and sharp hearing, it is surprisingly well oriented in any terrain. Although vision is less developed, it is significantly superior to that of domestic dogs. Developed the ability to adapt. For example, wolves easily distinguish a hunter (danger) from a mushroom picker.

wolf food

There is no need to guess what the wolf eats. This has been studied for a long time. The wolf is a typical carnivorous predator. Traditionally, its menu includes deer, elk, livestock, partridges, hares and black grouse. Because of hunger and desperation, wolves may dare to attack a bear sleeping in a den. In times of famine, in the absence of live prey, they can eat carrion or plant foods - berries, fruits, and even mushrooms. More than two weeks the wolf is able to do without food.

Hunting and trophies

The "working day" of a predator begins at dusk and ends in the morning. If the night went well, then the wolves sleep, otherwise the hunt does not stop during the day. At one time, an adult wolf is able to eat 2-6 kg of flesh, while a hungry one - twice as much - up to 10 kg. The current belief that wolves kill more than they can eat is unfair. Leftovers are never wasted, but buried for the next meal. Everything that the wolf eats will be placed in the "natural refrigerator" and will be perfectly preserved.

Seasons Features

With the onset of spring, the share of domestic animals in the diet of wolves increases. The peak of growth occurs after the middle of summer, when the ever-good brood grows up in wolves. The liver, heart and lungs are considered a delicacy. They go to the "beater" - the strongest wolf in the pack. This is the leader. Contrary to existing stereotypes that wolves eat people, there is no documented case when a wolf of its own free will attacked a person.

In winter, a hunting pack of wolves reaches 15 individuals: young animals from the last two broods are attracted. Sometimes the flock meets resistance from large forest animals. It happens that the skirmish ends with the death of one of the wolves and the retreat of the survivors. In search of prey, they are able to walk in deep snow up to 50 kilometers. At the same time, it is impossible to determine the number of individuals in a flock by the trail, since predators follow each other.

Feeding puppies

Up to eight weeks, the female feeds the puppies with milk every three hours for 1-4 minutes. Starting from three weeks, the whole flock takes part in this process, bringing meat from the hunt and burping the puppies. At eight months of age, puppies see the sun for the first time. At the age of five or six months, they follow the pack to hunt and eat fresh meat. Wolf cubs have natural enemies, but today there is simply no unequivocal answer to the question of whether they eat wolves.