The air is crisp as the suns rays disappear, bringing silence and darkness to earth. Peace surrounds you and for a split second, you hear it. Chills begin to plague your body but you strain your ears and listen, hoping the sound will once again break the silence. Somewhere, in the deep canyon, they are hunting, protecting, communicating their thoughts and feelings.
Arrrooo! The majestic call of the wild...like a spirit echoing to the tops of the trees and through the mysterious forest.
The wolf needs no introductions. Its beauty, intelligence and dominance within the wild speak loudly. The wolf is a warrior, a guide, a playmate, and a hunter. Wolves are affectionate animals regardless of their frightening razor sharp fangs.
The Pack is a family. And the teamwork by each pack member ensures survival. Some pack members become babysitters and watch over the pups, whom when born, are no bigger than your hand. Within the pack there is always a leader, usually a male (alpha male). His responsibilities include, initiating pack activity, leading the hunt, and taking control when danger presents itself. The pack consists of a male, female, and their offspring. On average, a pack can contain up to 12 members but some packs have had as many as 30. Some wolves in the pack want to be in control and will challenge the alpha male. The outcome can be devastating to the leader or challenger. If removed from the pack, he now becomes a lone wolf in search of another family.
The wolf is usually gray in color. But some can be black, white, and even reddish. The average weight for the male is 80-110 pounds and females can weigh in at 60-80 pounds. The average length for the male(from tip of nose to tip of tail)is 5 to 6.5 feet; females: 4.5 to 6 feet. A wolf can smell and even hear a distant howl and recognize their brother or sister.
The wolf feeds on large animals, mostly ones that are weak and sick. Deer, elk, and bison are a few of its prey. They can run at speeds up to 35+ miles per hour, outrunning even the fastest marathon runner.
Our perceptions of the spine tingling howl can never be fully understood unless for that split second, our ears capture this serenade. Wolves do not howl at the moon. They hunt at night by the light of the full moon guiding the way. We communicate by talking to one another. Wolves also talk to each other. Whether they are looking for a soul mate, trying to find their families whom they have gotten separated from, or proclaiming their territory, this midnight chant will certainly break the silence.
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