Wolf animal. The lifestyle and habitat of the wolf. Women's classification by appearance. Illustrated Social life of the pack

Greetings, friends!

In this post I decided to talk about the wolf totem. Working with totem animals is one of the effective methods of self-development. It makes it possible to realize your strengths and weaknesses, your characteristics. By activating the energy of the totem in ourselves, we receive additional strength and protection.

In this and subsequent posts I plan to talk about totems and animals of power that I myself have worked with. I will provide information about the rest for informational purposes only. However, many groups of totems have similar characteristics and, let’s say, functionality.

For example, representatives of a particular family (felines, canines, mustelids) have a lot in common, although, of course, there are also features inherent in this particular representative. Therefore, it will be possible to draw some analogies, taking information about one of them as a basis.

How many animal powers can one person have?

Regarding the question about the number of totems and power animals, I believe that a person still has one totem animal. The one that most reflects his character, and the one that leads him along the path of development.

However, our unconscious is connected to the energies of all animals, to one degree or another. Therefore, it is very natural that we can connect to other totems. This is especially useful for mastering patterns of behavior that were not characteristic of us before, expanding the range of actions.

For example, I have one personal totem, and I interact with the others as power animals. However, the names are not so important; they are rather symbols for convenience. The principle of interaction in both cases is practically the same.

Wolf totem

The wolf is perhaps one of the most common totems, which is why I decided to start with it. It is considered masculine, but working with its energy is also available to women. It is very multifaceted, very difficult.

It takes time to tune into his energy. Although it is among the “wolf people” that more often than among all other groups there are those who, from childhood, are aware of their connection with the wolf.

Spiritual paths, the search for purpose, self-knowledge - these are his themes. It so happened that the totem animal wolf appeared in my life when I was at a crossroads. It was unclear to me which way to go next, and the wolf led me very confidently.

Intuition became sharper, contact with oneself became more dense, and then, later, it seemed strange that earlier there were doubts, and the path was not obvious.

At the same time, I was actively involved in creativity and vocals, and this is also not an accident. In general, the wolf patronizes vocalists.

It is known that wolf howls are tonal. It distinguishes a huge number of different tones and timbres, which are signals.

Along with the energy of the wolf comes also some introversion, self-absorption, and thoughtfulness. This totem also gives strength and physical endurance. With him, I learned to spend my energy more wisely, to distance myself from everything that could deprive me of my strength, and it was a very useful lesson.

In addition, the wolf works great with fears. If you called him and he came to you, you will almost immediately feel that you are under powerful protection. There comes a feeling of balance, calmness and even some slowdown. There is a feeling of distance and at the same time a feeling of shoulder, as with a faithful friend.

In general, when working with the energy of the wolf, I felt not so much patronage as cooperation, that is, interaction on equal terms. This energy is not somewhere separate. It is inside you, and manifests itself directly through you. And at the same time, this energy is isolated.

Which, however, fully reflects the behavior of a wolf in nature: on the one hand, he can live in a pack and tenderly care for the members of the pack, and on the other, be a loner and not depend on anyone. Dissolving and not losing yourself is another lesson of this totem.

By the way, a wolf and a dog are still two different totems. They have different tasks, although they undoubtedly have similarities.

To work with the energy of a wolf, a talisman is suitable, for example, in the form of a pendant like this, depicting this animal. For men who have a wolf totem, we can recommend this solid mug with the image of the beast. However, if you wish, you can make a pocket wooden amulet or make an image on a piece of paper - choose what suits you best and trust your intuition.

Archetype of the wolf among the ancient Slavs and other peoples

Wolf image among the Slavs was associated with the god of fertility - Veles, and also, possibly, with Dazhdbog, who turned into a lame wolf, and some other Slavic deities.

This archetype had a dual meaning. On the one hand, it symbolized endurance, determination and intelligence, and on the other, evil spirits, lower instincts and was closely associated with werewolfism, when a person who failed to curb his animal instincts turned into a wolf.

The wolf was also a guide to another world, and existed, as it were, on different layers of reality - between This and That world. He was feared, but also revered, and his fangs were worn as amulets that protected from evil spirits and gave courage and perseverance.

In addition, the wolf was associated with the image of a warrior - brave, selfless, fighting to the end.

U ancient Scandinavians two wolves are assistants to the god Odin, his accompaniments and guides. By the way, the image of a wolf is often associated with the image of a raven. The god Odin also had two raven assistants.

In addition, in Norse mythology there is also the wolf Fenrir (child of the fire god Loki), who, according to predictions, will devour the god Odin at the very end. He represents chaos and destructive power, temporarily chained. The god of war, Tyr, sacrificed his hand to pacify Fenrir.

U North American Indians The wolf was revered as a protector and wise guide. Indian shamans often adopted wolves as power animals. They also had a widespread cult of the coyote as a totem animal.

The character and appearance of people with a wolf totem

Such people are usually athletic. Average build, often with a tendency towards thinness. They have a good appetite and prefer mostly meat foods. The look is penetrating, and somehow it makes you feel a little uneasy.

They are usually somewhat introverted, but not so self-absorbed that they do not monitor what is happening in the outside world. On the contrary, they are very observant and nothing escapes their gaze.

They are faithful, devoted, value friendship, and are ready to help at any time. Often good family men. However, they need their own space.

Oddly enough, wolves sometimes allow themselves to be abused by people close to them, but, having escaped the captivity of such relationships, they can then cruelly take revenge on the offender.

A wolf, like a dog, can endure for a very long time. However, his patience always has a clear limit. If he has been allowing him to cross for a long time, then it is most likely not a wolf, but a dog.

Such people feel quite comfortable both alone and in company. Although they tend to be somewhat introverted, they are good communicators and pleasant to deal with. Intelligence, competent speech, and the ability to listen to the interlocutor attracts people to them.

Also, as I said above, the wolf totem often patronizes musical people. In general, people with this totem can be found in any profession, but instinctively they are drawn to areas where hierarchy is expressed. Therefore, among them there are many employees of law enforcement agencies and the military.

Despite the fact that the wolf has good defense, he would rather prevent a conflict, and certainly not provoke it, unless, of course, he is pursuing some special goal.

Such a person will not get involved in fights just to wave his fists or prove something. It is almost impossible to take it weakly. However, he will fight to the last if someone close to him is under threat.

The main conflict that the wolf resolves is, of course, the balance between freedom and belonging. Such a person has a very developed sense of duty. And at the same time, he needs to feel independent. If he can maintain this balance, he will be happy.

We can talk about the wolf forever. However, it should be understood that even within the same species, wolves can vary greatly. Individualism is very wolf-like. In nature, in wolf packs, each wolf is an individual, and his place is clearly assigned to him.

Therefore, people with this totem can be quite different from each other. In this article I described the typical features that they have. In order to understand such a person, you need to understand general concept wolf, feel it from the inside.

In addition, the animal of power still gives each person something of its own. The wolf rewards some with greater insight, others with speed, some with intelligence, and others with communication skills. We can also observe these accents.

Conclusion

I guess I'll stop here today. I hope the article was interesting and useful for you, write comments and ask questions.

And I’m not saying goodbye to you - see you in the next post.

The development of nature in recent millennia is closely interconnected with the development of human society. Climate change and human intervention in nature entail global changes in the lives of living beings. Therefore, the study of life in nature, solving problems of animal survival, and timely assistance to them is necessary.

Tyler Miller, in his program for universal environmental education, outlined a number of principles that you need to know in order to save the Earth.

Nature is not only more complex than we think, it is much more complex than we can imagine.

Everything in nature is interconnected and we all live in it together.

We are valuable species, however no more important than the others; All living beings, including humans, have their own significance.

Every living being has the right to life simply because it is alive; the existence of this right does not depend on its usefulness to us.

It is unworthy for a person to be the cause of the extinction of species existing in nature.

What do people know about wolves? That they are fierce and dangerous, treacherous and treacherous. That they must be destroyed. This is how those who know nothing about wolves think about wolves. In fact, wolves very rarely attack people. Like all predators, they hunt for food and live their lives trying to stay away from people.

The topic of my research project is “The Truth About Wolves.” It was no coincidence that I became interested in the life of wolves. Love for the Ural nature often brings me and my grandfather, Alexander Viktorovich Safronov, to the forest. We walk, talk, watch the living world of the forest. I read a lot of stories, fairy tales and poems about wolves. In winter, I came across a number of articles in the newspaper “Karpinsky Rabochiy” about the extermination of wolves. In our region, wolves began to be found more often than before; cases of wolves entering the village of Kakvinskiye Pechi were recorded. And I began to wonder what kind of wolf he really is? Is a wolf really that dangerous to humans? How to maintain balance in nature? I received answers to my questions from my grandfather, but decided to study the life of wolves more deeply. Find out the history of the origin of the genus of wolves, their habits, hunting characteristics, mutual understanding in the pack. And the main question for me became: who is a wolf for a person, a friend or an enemy?

While working on the project, I turned to the city library, the school information center, where I worked with reference books and the Internet. In my home library I found a number of stories about wolves. I learned interesting information about the habits of dogs from our school’s biology teacher, Nizamova Faina Nikolaevna. I learned about the peculiarities of life of wolves in captivity from an employee of the Yekaterinburg Zoo. In the city museum, I was able to get a close look at a stuffed wolf, feel its fur, touch its teeth and feel its creepy gaze on me.

My grandfather has two dogs, husky breeds, Taiga and Dina. We often take them with us for walks in the forest. They are very similar to wolves. It was my dogs that helped me conduct several experiments for the project.

History of the wolf family.

WOLVES, which are also called canines and canines, exist for 40 million. years. The wolf evolved from carnivorous predators that lived 100 million years ago. As a species, Canis lupus emerged in Eurasia about 1 million years ago, and by the end of the Pleistocene it became the most widespread predator. Total for globe There are 35 species of canids. The genus wolf unites wolves, coyotes, jackals, wild and domestic dogs - the largest representatives of the wolf family. In addition, all foxes, arctic foxes, and raccoon dogs belong to this family.

Once upon a time, wolves had no equal among large predators. They were so widespread and so clever in getting their food. But wolves interfered with man in his hunt, harassed sheep herds and were even considered cannibals - and man exterminated them for many years.

In fairy tales and legends taiga forest seemed a mysterious and dangerous place for unwary travelers. Most of these dangers are imaginary, but once upon a time people actually had reason to be afraid of wolves in the forest. Even 400 years ago, there were many gray predators in the northern regions; the cold taiga forests were their home.

There is not much reliable evidence of wolves attacking humans, but they did pose a great threat to domestic animals, especially when natural prey disappeared. Therefore, the wolves were mercilessly destroyed. For example, in the British Isles the last wolf was killed in 1770. True, there are still quite a few gray wolves left in Russia.

Like dogs, wolves are very intelligent and easy to train. In addition, each wolf has a special character: some are cautious, daring or self-confident; they behave freely and naturally in wolf society, while others are not seen or heard.

Wolves do not disdain domestic animals. It becomes clear why people have long waged a constant war with wolves. As a result, the wolf even had to be included in the Red Book! Now these magnificent animals are not found either in the British Isles or in the Western and Central Europe, neither in Japan nor in most of the US. Wolves have lived on Earth for more than a million years. They originated from carnivorous predators who lived 100 million years ago, and about 20 million years ago dogs originated from the wolf.

Perhaps, in the conditions of Canada or the northern United States, with an abundance of wild animals (deer, hares, rodents, etc.), wolves are not dangerous to domestic animals and humans, since nature provides complete nutrition for predators, and there is no need for them to risk attacking domestic animals or of people. In Russia and other countries where there is less easy prey for wolves, hungry wolves tear up domestic animals and become dangerous to humans. About 30% of wolves living on middle lane Russia is potentially capable of attacking a person. This once again confirms the need to combat wolves in Russia.

Wolves' habitats.

The wolf is quite widespread. It is found on the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, Poland, Scandinavia, Finland, almost throughout Russia, from a number of Arctic islands and the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the southern borders of the country (excluding Crimea) and up to Pacific Ocean. In Asia, it inhabits the Korean Peninsula, partly China and the Hindustan Peninsula, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and the Arabian Peninsula. IN North America The wolf, once widespread throughout almost the entire continent, is now greatly exterminated. The wolf is currently absent from Japan and the British Isles. It has been exterminated in France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, and throughout Central Europe.

The wolf is distinguished by great ecological plasticity. It lives in a wide variety of landscapes, but prefers open steppes, semi-deserts, tundra, forest-steppe, avoiding continuous forest areas. The reason for this is the abundance of food, primarily the presence of wild and domestic ungulates, as well as the conditions for hunting them, especially in times of famine. winter time, when the distribution and abundance of the predator is decisively influenced by the depth of the snow cover. The fact is that in the loose, deep snow in the forests the wolf sinks greatly and cannot catch up with the elk or deer. The situation changes only in the spring, during strong crusts that easily hold predators, but break under the weight of running ungulates. Wolf hunting in open spaces with little snow is incomparably more effective than in the taiga.

Characteristics of the common wolf.

The entire appearance of the wolf testifies to its power and excellent adaptability to tireless running, pursuit and attack on its victims. In size, a seasoned wolf is larger than a large shepherd dog. Body length is on average 105 - 160 cm, tail - 35 - 50 cm, shoulder height 80 - 85 cm and up to 100 cm. Weight is usually 32 - 50 kg. The literature mentions wolves that supposedly weighed more than 90 kg, but among the many hundreds of accurately weighed wolves from different parts of the world, there was not a single one heavier than 79 kg. The skull is massive, the zygomatic arches are widely spaced. The facial region is longer than the cerebral region. Adults and old animals have highly developed crests, especially the sagittal one. The frontal part of the skull is convex with large cavities.

The teeth are large and strong. The canines are powerful, slightly curved, and relatively short. The carnassial teeth are well defined. The cutting edge of the incisors has small additional projections. Teeth - 42. Of these, 4 are sharp, crooked 5-centimeter fangs - two on top and two on bottom. With them the wolf can bite through the thick skin of the victim.

The color and size of wolves are subject to strong individual and geographic variability. In Russia alone there are almost 8 - 9 subspecies of wolves, and there are even more of them in North America. The largest animals live in the Far North, small ones - in the south. The first ones are painted in very light colors, and in winter they turn almost completely white. Thick fur up to 8 centimeters long protects the wolf from frost. The layer of fur closest to the body is the undercoat, and the outer layer is formed by hard, long, black-tipped guard hairs. They repel water and the undercoat does not get wet. In such a fur-lined cloak, the wolf is not afraid of the weather.

In nature, wolves live up to a maximum of 15 - 20 years, but already at 10 - 12 years they show signs of old age. If necessary, the wolf reaches speeds of up to 55 - 60 km/h, is capable of traveling up to 60 - 80 km per night, and on average travels more than 20 km per day (in the forest zone). A calmly walking or running wolf amazes with its ease of movement. It seems to spread over the ground; without changing his gait, he covers long distances without a trace of fatigue. If there are a couple or a group of wolves, then they walk in single file, stepping strictly one after the other, and only at a turn or at a resting place where the animals disperse can one determine their number. The paw prints on the ground are very distinct, which makes them different from the incomparably more vague footprints of large dogs. The wolf has not only speed and tirelessness in movement, but also great strength. Without apparent difficulty he can drag a sheep in his teeth, carrying it in front of him or throwing it on his back.

Hunting and feeding wolves

Wolves are created for hunting by nature itself. In winter, a wolf leaves a neat chain of footprints in the snow - he places his hind paw exactly behind his front paw. Thanks to this gait, he can run on any terrain and even in deep snow. The wolf's weapon is teeth. There are as many as 42 of them in his mouth. Four sharp, crooked 5-centimeter fangs stick out in front - two on top and two on bottom. With them the wolf can bite through the thick skin of the victim. And with predatory, or carnivorous, teeth - this is what the molars of all predators are called - an adult wolf even gnaws the femur of an elk. A hunter needs keen hearing, and wolves are lucky in this regard. When they hear a noise, they move their ears and determine where the sound comes from. The sound source may be several kilometers away. Wolves hunt almost silently, because they run on the very tips of their fingers. Just like horses and cats, a wolf's heel does not touch the ground. He has strong, muscular legs and a sweeping gait.

Wolf - typical predator, obtaining food independently by actively searching for and pursuing victims. Everywhere, the basis of wolves' diet is made up of ungulates: in the tundra - wild and domestic reindeer; in the forest zone - elk, deer, roe deer, wild boars, domestic sheep, cows, horses; in the steppes and deserts - antelopes and domestic animals. Along with large animals, small animals - hares, gophers, and mouse-like rodents - play an important role in the diet of wolves, especially during the years of their mass reproduction. In the warm season, wolves catch many voles, lemmings and other animals and on this food they fatten up well for the winter and even get fat. In summer, wolves do not miss the opportunity to eat a clutch of eggs, chicks sitting on the nests or feeding on the ground of grouse, waterfowl and other birds. In areas where molting geese and ducks gather, wolves also often catch them with great dexterity. Predators often prey on domestic geese as well. The prey of wolves is sometimes foxes, raccoon dogs, corsac dogs, as well as domestic dogs, which the wolves specifically hunt, boldly abducting them on village streets, right from the yard and almost in front of the hunters’ eyes. Occasionally, hungry wolves dare to attack bears sleeping in a den.

Wolves can be called opportunists - they eat everything they can catch, and everyone who is weaker than them. Hungry wolves also eat carrion, tearing meat from bones like a vulture - an eerie picture that has contributed to the spread of ominous legends about them. If the wolf does not want to be content with only what gets in his way, he will always choose the largest animal so that the efforts made will bring as much food as possible. A lone wolf will be happy with a small deer or sheep, but a pack will be able to cope with a larger animal. Wolves can pursue prey, drive it into an ambush or a dead end, performing complex maneuvers, foresee the trajectory of the victim’s movement, etc. Wolves are excellent at navigating the terrain. Many flocks constantly, year after year, use the same areas of territory to drive prey into a dead end. Such dead ends can be tree debris, scattered stones, or a dead end in the literal sense of the word - a sheer cliff or a deep ravine in a ravine. Finding themselves in a dead end, ungulates begin to rush around, trying to escape from it. In rubble or piles of stones, they often break limbs and then become easy prey for wolves. In many cases, while several wolves are chasing the prey, others are waiting for it, not allowing it to get out of the dead end. For deer, such dead ends in winter are ice on mountain rivers, thin ice powdered with the first snow, and snow blows. Wolves often drive saigas into dry lakes, where in autumn and spring the bottom, softened by water, turns into difficult-to-pass mud, and the ungulates move with great difficulty.

The so-called sludge becomes a kind of dead end for mountain animals (rams, goats, musk deer, red deer). These are hard-to-reach areas of rocks where ungulates wait out danger. Having driven the prey to the sludge, wolves can wait for days until the animal, tired of standing motionless, becomes their prey. In winter, wolves often drive out ungulates at present. The relative load on the track of wolves is 2 - 3 times less than that of most ungulates. Therefore, the victims of wolves, running away on the crust, get tired very quickly, falling into deep snow, and often injure their legs on the sharp edges of the frozen snow. Often, wolves drive their prey towards other members of the pack lurking in ambush. This is how they hunt saigas. Some wait, hiding in the dunes, while others slowly drive the antelopes towards them. When hunting goats and sheep, wolves can use constrictions in rocks. Some hide behind rocks, while others drive the ungulates towards an ambush. Prolonged active pursuit of prey is not typical for wolves. As a rule, this is a short jerk of several tens, less often - several hundred meters. Often they can move behind the herd without giving away their presence and waiting for the right moment for decisive action. Such passive pursuit can last for many days.

Often, wolves lie in wait for prey at watering holes, crossings, resting or grazing areas. In these cases, several wolves silently creeping up and suddenly suddenly appearing cause panic among the ungulates, which makes it easier for predators to intercept and hold the randomly scattering animals. Newborns and young ungulates often become victims of wolves in places where they are concentrated. Among domestic ungulates, sheep and reindeer are the most likely to suffer from wolves. In sheep-raising areas, especially mountainous ones, the wolf is still the most common predator. But wolves often attack horses too. Having created panic in the herd with an unexpected appearance, they grab the victim by the muzzle and groin until the exhausted animal stops and becomes their prey. In addition to ungulates, many other animals can become prey for a wolf, especially in the summer, when parents feed the puppies, and the pack breaks up and predators live alone or in small groups. During this time, wolves eat insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and various mammals, on which they have also developed skillful hunting techniques. Hares are the most common victims of wolves.

Wolves inhabiting the coast of the Caspian Sea often go out onto the ice, where they look for seals in the hummocks. In the mountains they hunt marmots. Taking advantage of the uneven terrain, predators lie flat on the ground and wait for a long time until the marmots move far from the hole. Having identified the victim, they cut off its escape route with a short, swift throw, intercepting it on the way to cover. Sometimes wolves hide near holes, waiting for a long time for marmots to come to the surface. Like foxes, wolves can “mouse” while hunting for small rodents and insectivores. Having waited until, for example, a vole appears on the surface, the wolf jumps and crushes it with its paw and eats it.

A pack can easily drive and kill an elk weighing half a ton (and this despite the fact that one wolf weighs ten times less). This requires strength, determination and teamwork. At the same time, predators display amazing tirelessness, merciless persistence and sooner or later achieve their goal. Sometimes they drive the wapiti into the rocks, “to settle,” and, having surrounded them, wait for him, tired, to try to break through and run away. Finally, wolves skillfully drive roe deer and deer onto the slippery bare ice of taiga rivers or kill them in deep, loose snow or on crust. However, under other conditions, predators cannot catch up with a healthy deer and, after a short chase, stop hunting.

The wolf's main hunting tool is its nose, which detects the slightest smell of prey. Having sensed the smell, the whole flock turns their heads in the right direction and freezes in order to remember it well. Wolves wag their tails, as if anticipating a future feast, and their subsequent actions depend on the type of terrain. On open space there is nowhere to hide, and the wolves immediately attack; in the forest they sneak up from the leeward side, moving one after another and hoping to catch the victim by surprise. This style of hunting allows you to catch a moose or other solitary animal, although they will most likely sense the enemy and resist him. A large stag can take a fighting stance and drive away the wolves with blows of its hooves, who will have to retreat and search for weaker prey. If the prey starts to run away, the wolves will give chase, but will abandon it if they lose in speed - there is no point in them needlessly expending energy that will come in handy more than once.

Healthy and strong ungulates, by and large, have nothing to fear from wolves, so the pack always looks out for young, old or sick animals, which are easier to catch. This is clearly visible when a pack of wolves attacks a herd of reindeer or musk oxen; wolves rush at young individuals, and the weakest of them become easy prey. Thus, a herd that is constantly attacked by wolves will be healthier than one that is well protected. Having attacked a herd, wolves try to create panic in it in order to drive away the future victim and easily overwhelm it. If the herd manages to regroup and the adult animals surround the babies with a wall of hard hooves and formidable horns, the wolves will leave, slurping lightly, but will still monitor from afar the movements of weak or sick individuals seen in the herd. Wolves are also prone to cannibalism. There are many known cases when they tore and ate weakened animals, wounded by hunters or severely injured in an internecine fight during the rutting season. Unlike some other predatory animals, wolves often return to the half-eaten remains of their own prey, especially during the hungry season. They do not disdain the corpses of livestock, and on the sea coasts - the carcasses of seals and other sea animals thrown up by the waves. In the steppes and deserts, the usual food of wolves are all kinds of reptiles, beetles and locusts (during mass breeding years). Wolves, especially in the southern regions, also eat some plant foods - various berries, lily of the valley fruits, wild and garden fruits (carrion), even mushrooms. In the steppes, they often raid melon fields, watermelons and melons, satisfying not so much hunger as thirst, because they need regular, plentiful watering.

By hunting as a whole pack, wolves increase their chances of success. This “team approach” is manifested in the following. Two or three wolves lie in ambush, and the whole pack attacks the herd and drives it towards the hunters; they jump out of the “secret”, panic begins in the herd, the frightened deer shy away to the side; one wolf overtakes him, then another, the deer fights back with all his might, but in the end falls. The leader satisfies his hunger first, eating the best pieces and smearing himself with the blood of the victim; other wolves mill around at a distance, waiting for their turn and share; if there is any meat left, the wolves will bury it in the ground or simply leave it, while they wash themselves in the nearest stream, get some sleep and come back for more. If females feeding their brood are waiting for them in the den, the wolves will take them meat - raw in their teeth or semi-digested in their stomachs.

The wolf is known for its gluttony. Indeed, if he is hungry, he is able to eat up to 10 kg of meat. However, under normal conditions, the daily norm of an adult animal is only about 2 KG; the rest of the meat is simply taken away and hidden in reserve, eaten later, which is not always taken into account and contributes to exaggerated ideas about the gluttony of the wolf.

On the other hand, this animal has an amazing ability to starve without losing its vitality. In the Yamal tundra, a wounded wolf lay without changing place and without hunting, that is, being hungry, for 17 days. He lost a lot of weight, but fully recovered from his wounds and ran as if he were healthy.

Wolf is a family man.

Wolves are social animals: they live in families. Any flock has its own “table of ranks,” and in it everyone has their own place. Strong and aggressive wolves rule, and those who need a firm hand obey them. A wolf pack - a group of animals connected by kinship and mutual sympathy - is led by a wolf and a she-wolf. The rest of its members are their children (from tiny puppies to 2-3 year old teenagers). Usually there are 6 - 7, and sometimes 15 animals in a wolf family. The strongest wolf in the pack becomes the leader. His friend, a she-wolf, helps him rule. Leaders must have strong character in order for others to obey. All decisions concerning the life of the pack are made by this pair. In a pack where the leader keeps order, wolves usually do not fight among themselves. However, clashes with strangers or lone wolves who trespass often occur. Each wolf pack hunts only in its own territory. The owners strictly guard and mark it, warning neighbors that they should stay away. Any uninvited guest will be punished. In large packs it often happens that one wolf is poisoned by all his relatives. Sometimes the outcast becomes completely unbearable, and he is forced to leave the pack.

Why is an unsociable person called a lone wolf? Because he resembles a wolf who left the pack and lives on his own. Over time, changes occur in the flock. Candidates for the role of leader remain in the pack and wait in the wings. Other wolves, having matured, leave to wander alone. But they can also create their own pack if they are lucky enough to meet a lone wolf. If the wolf and she-wolf want to rule the pack, they must subjugate all the other members of the pack to their will and force them to unquestioningly carry out their laws. The leader dominates the males of the pack, and his mate maintains order among the she-wolves. The leaders constantly remind their “subordinates” who is the boss of the pack: they growl at them, bite them, chase them and even knock them down, preferring to do this in front of the whole pack. One stern, intent look from the leader or his girlfriend is enough for those he targets to submit. Grinning ingratiatingly, the wolves fall to the ground, and then, if possible, sneak away. Sometimes they lie on their backs, as if to say: we know who is the most important here. The way a wolf holds its tail indicates its position in the pack. Among the leaders it is raised high, among the “subjects” it is lowered, and those at the lowest level in the wolf family have their tail between their legs. Members of the pack show love and respect to the leader in a welcoming ceremony. Crawling, with ears flattened and fur smoothed, they approach the leader or his mate, lick and carefully bite his face.

The rut occurs on average in February, puppies are born in April. In late spring, wolves change their habits. They no longer wander, but prowl in search of prey only near the lair, where they are going to have offspring. Usually the den is selected and arranged by a female who is pregnant with the leader’s child (most likely, this couple will not part for the rest of their lives). Usually there are 5-6 puppies in a wolf family. There have been cases when a lot of them are born - 10-13 and even up to 17. But such cases are rare and half of the brood in numerous families does not survive. Wolf cubs are born blind and helpless.

From this moment on, the she-wolf does not leave the den for three weeks; The father of the family brings the spoils. The rest of the pack remains nearby and also feeds the she-wolf and her litter until the cubs grow up. When the she-wolf begins to go hunting on her own, the pack looks after the babies. If the family is in any danger, the she-wolf carries her cubs one by one in her mouth to another, more secluded place.

The eyes of wolf cubs open on the 9-12th day. At the end of the second week they usually begin to respond to sounds, and after three weeks they emerge from the nest for the first time and begin to taste meat around the same time. Wolf cubs are born completely helpless. The mother helps them toilet by licking under the tail. Puppies are not able to rise to their feet at this time and move around crawling. They are constantly in physical contact with their mother or with each other. Puppies sleep most of the time.

Sharp changes in their behavior occur at the beginning of the third week. By this time, they already see and hear, get to their feet and begin to walk, even trying to play with each other, hitting each other with their paws and biting. Wolf cubs begin active play at the age of just under a month, when they jump forward and backward, fall on their front paws and bite each other on the face. Although the she-wolf is a caring mother, she does not show aggression towards people who are close to her children. There are known cases when hunters took the entire brood from the den, put the helpless puppies in a bag and carried them away, while the she-wolf restlessly watched at a distance and then accompanied the hunters for several kilometers to the village without making any attempts to attack. In the first days, the she-wolf is constantly with the puppies. She is fed by a wolf. He brings food in his stomach and regurgitates it to the female. Gradually, the she-wolf leaves the puppies alone, often going away for a long time in search of food.

According to the observations of researchers, a female can leave her wolf cubs for 6.5 - 68 hours, that is, she can be absent for almost three days. The duration of the female's absence greatly depends on the abundance of food in the vicinity of the den. The more accessible it is, the less time the she-wolf leaves her puppies. Usually, when the female leaves the den, the cubs are left alone, huddling together to keep warm. The wolf is rarely in the den with them. But if the puppies crawl towards their father, he does not drive them away, warming them with the warmth of his body. Wolves make dens in sheltered, well-protected places. They can be overhangs in rocks, deep cracks, niches, gullies in ravines. Wolves often use the burrows of other animals as dens: foxes, arctic foxes, badgers, and marmots. Wolves expand other people's burrows and very rarely dig their own, choosing for this SOFT, usually sandy soil, as well as family days, where wolf cubs spend the first months of life, meet two requirements:

The presence of shelters from dense vegetation;

A good overview of the area to detect danger.

In contrast, there are a number of cases where wolf cubs were found in completely unexpected places: in old stacks of straw left in the field; in stacks of firewood and snow shields near the road; in a grain field 300 m from the village; in a hemp field 10 miles from the estate. It is characteristic that wolves never hunt close to their home, but at a distance of 7-10 km and further, which, of course, also contributes to the safety of the broods. After the wolf cubs grow up, the animals stop using a permanent den, but settle down to rest in different but reliable places.

It is difficult to approach a wolf's lair without being noticed. As a rule, animals detect a person and manage to take cover before the person detects them. Growing wolf cubs can frolic in a completely open, clearly visible place, but such a playground must be adjacent or dense thickets, or a pile of stones and labyrinths of passages in rocks and ravines. In these shelters, wolf cubs, and even adult wolves, instantly “dissolve” without betraying their presence in any way.

Territory of wolves, home.

The size of a family territory depends greatly on the landscape and varies within very wide limits. The largest family plots are in open landscapes of tundra, steppe or semi-desert, where they reach 1000 - 1250 km2. In the forest zone they are smaller - 200 - 250 km2. Wolves mark their territory with urine, feces, or by leaving scratches on paths, fallen trees, and isolated stumps. Wolf droppings, when dry, acquire White color and in an open place it is visible at a great distance. It seems that wolves sometimes specifically choose the most visible places to leave droppings. Once in Altai, the droppings of a large wolf were discovered on the seat of a mower, which rose about one and a half meters above the ground. The mower itself stood for many days in the middle of a spacious clearing, very visible from the road, along which wolves regularly walked, gathering in places where deer roared.

Wandering across such a vast territory, the pack, naturally, will not be able to retain exclusive rights to it, but timber wolves, whose possessions are smaller, tend to see in them only their land. The wolf marks its territory with its own scent.

Where there are many wolves, the concentration of marks is especially high on the periphery of the family territory, that is, along its borders, due to the overlapping marks of wolves inhabiting neighboring areas. There are many marks in the centers of flock activity within family areas, where droppings, urine spots and scrapes are often found. Such centers of activity of the pack are permanent trails, dens and family days. They can be several kilometers away from the boundaries of the territory. The concentration of traces of wolves in the centers of their activity gives the territory a characteristic appearance. Numerous traces of wolves' activity on the family plot, their uneven distribution, probably serve as landmarks for pack members who go many kilometers in search of food and return again to the center of the family territory.

A lone wolf moves carefully, avoiding territories occupied by other packs and not disturbing their peace: a meeting with numerically superior opponents may be the last adventure of his life. Never touching its own, the flock will mercilessly deal with the stranger. In search of prey, wolves wander into farms, where they find themselves close to humans and risk losing their lives. In autumn and winter, a flock prowls around certain territory; in the forest, where there is plenty of game, these limits are small - no more than 100 square meters. KM, and where it is necessary to look for prey, the area of ​​“their” lands increases ten times or more. Polar wolves, hunting reindeer, follow their herds throughout the tundra from year to year; It happens that a herd of deer has its own wolf pack. Zoologists once tracked the movements of one pack in Alaska: in a month and a half, wolves covered 1,100 km across an expanse of 13 thousand square meters. km!

Communication of wolves.

Wolves do not always hunt, growl and be ferocious. The first thing a wolf will do when its stomach is full is curl up and take a good nap. When he wakes up, he will frolic with pleasure. If he wants to play, he will invite his relatives to join him. Crouching low to the ground on his front paws, he will approach them and, wagging his tail, say: “Well, please!” No answer? Then, in order to attract attention, he will begin to jump from side to side, just like a dog.

Well-developed higher nervous activity in wolves is combined with strength, agility, running speed and other physical characteristics that greatly increase the chances of this predator in the struggle for existence.

A wolf's facial expressions are much more expressive than those of domestic dog. It is complemented by the setting of the ears and the coloring of the muzzle, a “mask” that obediently follows the changes in the facial muscles. When a wolf is frightened, its head seems to “shrink” in size: the ears are pressed back and pulled back, the muzzle is elongated, the corners of the mouth are narrowed and pulled back. A depressed facial expression is accompanied by avoidance of direct gaze. On the contrary, a wolf that is confident in itself has a larger and more rounded head, ears raised and directed forward, and the corners of its mouth protruded. The confident expression of the “face” is emphasized by round eyes directed at the partner. The aggression of a wolf, ready or preparing to attack, is expressed by a bared muzzle, showing teeth in an open mouth, and raised hair on the muzzle. The deep parallel folds of skin behind the nose above the upper jaw give particular expressiveness to the “face”. The upturned tip of the nose creates the extreme expression of an animal ready to attack. The positioning of the ears in this case greatly depends on how much fear is mixed with aggressiveness. The expression of aggressiveness mixed with fear is accompanied by varying degrees of pressing the ears to the head.

Lack of fear, aggressiveness and self-confidence are expressed by erect or even forward-pointing ears. The tail is a good indicator of the wolf's feelings and intentions. Animals lift it at different angles, swing it with different amplitudes and frequencies, clearly demonstrating it or hiding it between their legs. A confident or aggressive wolf holds its tail high, and sometimes even above the level of its back. When threatening, wolves often raise their tail almost vertically, tensely holding it almost motionless and raising their hair. On the contrary, wolves express a depressed mood and a feeling of fear with their tail hanging low, in extreme manifestations of fear hiding it between their legs. They express friendly feelings with free sweeping movements of the tail from side to side, raising it at different angles relative to the line of the back.

The tail, noticeable from a great distance, probably serves as a means of remote contact between animals. When greeting each other, wolves wag their tails and rear parts of their bodies, and low-ranking animals do this especially expressively in relation to high-ranking ones. Demonstrating their high hierarchical rank, wolves can bite their partner. However, these actions are exclusively ritual in nature and are not accompanied by injury to the subordinate individual. Most often, a high-ranking wolf bites a low-ranking one in the face. Less often - by the withers, as if pressing him to the ground. Characterizing the poses of wolves in general, it can be noted that in high-ranking animals, when interacting with partners in the pack, the poses are more open, the head and tail are raised high, the animals stand straight on their feet. Low-ranking animals tend to shrink in size, lower their heads, tuck their tails, and fall on relaxed paws.

Low-ranking animals, demonstrating their submission to higher-ranking ones, can roll over to the ground in front of them, lying on their sides or even on their backs and exposing their chest and stomach to their partner. High-ranking animals often demonstrate a side stance, rising on high legs, in a confident pose above the lying partner. By blocking the actions of a partner, especially their aggressive intentions, wolves regularly demonstrate a lateral stance. The lateral stance is probably the greatest expression of the dominant animal's confidence over the subordinate. It lacks elements of aggressiveness, such as a grin and deep folds behind the nose.

Under natural conditions, wolves usually howl in the late evening hours, less often at night and early in the morning. However, under artificial conditions, their sound activity can greatly shift, which depends on the general activity regime of the animals, determined by the specifics of the daily dynamics of stimuli that stimulate consolidation motivation. In artificial conditions, the behavior of wolves is largely focused on humans. Contacts with him usually have a certain rhythm. For example, in the vivarium where we observed wolves, they howled most often around lunchtime, when people serving the animals usually passed by the enclosure. The wolves knew them well and reacted positively to them, as they regularly received random food from them. By the way, a lone wolf never howls.

The wolf family (pack) has developed as a close, stable and optimal community for the struggle for existence, connected by blood, for the following reasons:

In a pack family, feeding and raising offspring is easier;

It is easier and less risky to obtain food in a family, since mutual assistance in obtaining and sharing of what is obtained or found is ensured;

The family secures and protects a certain feeding area, where “strangers” are not allowed.

Varieties of wolf howls and other signals.

There are so many unsolved mysteries of howling wolves that it makes scientists come to the conclusion to the following conclusion: howl is the most mysterious and at the same time the most attractive phenomenon in the biology of the wolf. At present, not only is there no consensus on the function of this sound reaction, but the very formulation of the question is being questioned. Thus, in its diversity, paradoxically, wolf language, especially howling, is similar to the language of people.

The basis of the wolf language consists of the following elements of sound signaling:

The most important is the howl with its indescribable varieties and shades. Moreover, it is possible that howls are emitted by wolves not only in the frequency range heard by humans, but also in other ranges accessible to wolves;

Snorting and loud barking;

Growling, chattering teeth, squealing, whining, barking;

In addition to sound signaling, wolves transmit and receive information through traces of vital activity, smells and visually. It can be:

Urinary points;

Traces of movement (footprints, remains of fur on bushes and trees, etc.);

Scratches on the ground or in the snow, traces of fallen wolves on the ground or snow, carrion, etc.;

Nest (place of hatching and initial raising of wolf cubs);

A den in the broad sense of the term is a system of nests and daytime roosts, usually within the feeding area of ​​a given family;

Smells of wolves; they are not only individual, but often elusive to humans, although they are perfectly captured and distinguished by a wolf;

Direct contacts of animals for educational, aggressive and other purposes.

Purpose of sound signals, howling.

Wolves attach very specific meanings to howling: threat, melancholy, despair, sadness, a signal of caught or found prey, calls, affectionate intonations towards wolf cubs, etc.

The she-wolf, returning to the den, gently whines and gently calls the scattered wolf cubs; in the den she briefly and quietly responds with a howl to the howl of the returning mother. A she-wolf or a seasoned one, having heard an inept howl, suspecting the eternal enemy - a person, with a sharp snort or a roar with chattering teeth, interrupts the inappropriate response howl of the pereyarks or the yapping of the arrived ones, and if they do not obey instantly, then they will punish the disobedient ones. When the wolf cubs grow up, the alarm signals serve as a command to the grown wolf cubs: “Everyone, hide and hide.” In the last days of pregnancy and in the first days after whelping, the she-wolf lies “firmly”, silently. During the rut, a lone wolf howls invitingly, waiting for the male, but, having heard his answer, she herself does not answer and does not meet him halfway. The wolf’s ability to determine the direction to the source of the howl is such that it accurately determines it the first time and, as if on orders, goes to it.

On a daily basis, wolves most often howl at dusk and dawn. Howling is most likely to be heard within 1-2 hours after sunset or before dawn. At this time, group howling is especially possible. Howling at night is not uncommon. During the day, the wolves rest, their howls are extremely rare, and if necessary, roll calls or signals to lost prey are carried out quietly with a short howl or yelp.

Single and group howl.

A single howl serves to communicate between members of a pack family, determine the location of individuals, warn about the occupancy of the territory, establish contacts between animals of different sexes during the rutting period, express the state of an individual, call wolf cubs and care for them from their parents, signal prey, alarm, etc.

The group howl serves to unite the pack family and express its condition. Perhaps the group howl of a friendly, numerous and powerful pack family serves as proof of the strong occupation of a given feeding area.

Types of wolves.

Polar Wolf. Among wild canids, the wolf is the largest animal: large light polar wolves can weigh up to 80 kg. HE has adapted well to life in the north. From the harsh climatic conditions polar wolves are warmed by a warm white “fur coat”, thanks to which the wolf is almost invisible in the snow.

Tundra wolf. Large beast. The body length of males, apparently, can exceed 150 cm. These wolves are characterized by very long, thick and soft hair of a light color. Scientist V. G. Geptner provides the following data on the maximum mass of tundra wolves, obtained as a result of measurements and weighing of the largest specimens out of 500 animals shot in the tundra in Taimyr, Yamal and in the area of ​​the Kanin Peninsula. The largest weights were: an old male caught in Taimyr - 52 kg, a male from the tundra east of the Kanin Peninsula - 48.8 kg and a male from Yamal - 46.7 kg. In Russia, the range of the tundra wolf occupies the tundra and forest-tundra zone of the European part and Siberia, as well as Kamchatka.

Central Russian forest wolf. Contrary to popular belief, it is this wolf that reaches its maximum size on the Eurasian continent, and not the tundra one. The coloring is classic, and not lightened, like the tundra. The body length of adult Central Russian forest wolves can exceed 160 cm, and the height at the shoulders can reach 1 meter. Of course, such dimensions can only apply to very large individuals. It is generally accepted that on average an adult male weighs 40 - 45 kg, a young male (about 1 year and 8 months old) weighs about 35 kg, and a mature male (8 months old) weighs 25 kg. She-wolves weigh 15 - 20% less. Anyone who is familiar with old hunting literature, or who has been to “wolf” corners and talked with local residents, I’ve probably read or heard about huge wolves. How much weight can wolves reach? For Central Russia V scientific works The maximum weight is indicated in the range of 69 - 80 kg. And here are the results of weighing specific animals. For the Moscow region - a male weighing 76 kg, the largest of the 250 wolves caught by the wolf hunter V.M. Hartuleri, famous in the thirties and forties of the last century. For Altai - a male weighing 72 kg. The wolf, stuffed of which is in the Moscow State University zoo museum, weighed 80 kg. According to N.D. Sysoev, the head of the state hunting inspection of the Vladimir region, in the period from 1951 to 1963, 641 wolves were killed, of which 17 were especially KRUSHIKH. Among these animals, the largest weight was: of males - 79 kg, caught in the Sobinsky region, from females - 62 kg. The footprint of the right front paw of this huge, almost eighty-kilogram animal had a length of 16 cm and a width of 10 cm. For Ukraine, wolves of even larger sizes are indicated - 92 kg from the Lugansk region and 96 kg from the Chernigov region, but the conditions for determining the mass of these animals are unknown. The Central Russian forest wolf lives throughout the forest and forest-steppe zones of the European part of Russia, and probably penetrates into Western Siberia. In the north, it is quite possible for it to enter the forest-tundra, however, in the same way as the tundra into the taiga.

Siberian forest wolf. It is also a large animal, not inferior in its average size to the previous subspecies. According to many scientists, it is still conditionally identified as a separate subspecies, since the taxonomy Siberian wolves still poorly developed. The predominant color is light gray, ocher tones are poorly visible or absent altogether. The fur, although not as tall and silky as that of the tundra wolf, is also thick and soft. Its habitat is largely considered to be Eastern Siberia, the Far East and Kamchatka, in addition to the tundra zone, as well as Transbaikalia.

Steppenwolf. In general, somewhat smaller than the forest one, with sparse and coarser hair. The color on the back is with a noticeable predominance of rusty-gray or even brown hair, and the sides are light gray. Its range includes the steppes of southern Russia, including the Cis-Caucasian, Caspian, Ural and Lower Volga regions. Poorly studied. A system of specific characteristics has not been developed. The number is low, especially in the western parts of the range.

Caucasian wolf. A medium-sized animal with coarse and short guard hair and rather poorly developed underfur. The color is noticeably darker than the subspecies described above due to the black guard hairs evenly distributed throughout the skin. The overall tone is dirty gray, dull. Within our country, the range is limited to the Main Caucasian ridge and its forested foothills.

Mongolian wolf. The smallest of the wolves living in Russia. The normal weight of adult males rarely exceeds 40 kg. The color of the fur is dull, dirty gray with an admixture of ocher colors. The fur is hard and rough. The range of this subspecies is limited to the eastern and southwestern Transbaikalia and the Primorsky Territory.

The species MANED WOLF is listed in the International Red Book

THE MANED WOLF has an unusually original appearance. He looks like common fox, but only on extremely long, slender legs. Thanks to the elongated muzzle and elongated neck, its body appears short. The disproportion of the body is emphasized by large erect ears and a short tail. This is also evidenced by its dimensions: body length is approximately 125 cm, tail is about 30 cm, shoulder height is up to 75 cm, weight is 20-23 kg. The color of the long, rather soft coat is also original: in general it is yellowish-red, but the legs and underside are much darker, almost black, while the tail is very light, towards the end white. The fur on the upper side of the neck and withers has the appearance of a standing mane. The maned wolf is common in Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Northern Argentina. Here it is found in the pampas and along the edges of swamps covered with tall grass. In these conditions, long legs are very necessary for aguaracha; they help look at prey above tall grass The animal hunts mainly small animals: agouti, pacu, as well as BIRDS, reptiles, insects; eats fruits and other plant foods; sometimes carries poultry and very rarely, in a group, attacks sheep. Cubs are born in winter. There are only 2-3 of them, almost black in color, with a white tip of the tail. The maned wolf is the largest representative of canids in South America. Outwardly, the maned wolf looks more like a fox with long legs. Unlike other wolves, maned wolves hunt alone.

The RED WOLF species is listed in the Red Book of Russia

The RED WOLF species is listed in the International Red Book

The red WOLF is a fairly large animal with a body length of 76-103 cm and a tail of 28-48 cm, and a weight of 14-21 kg. Its appearance combines the characteristics of a wolf, fox and jackal. This impression is facilitated by thick long hair, a long fluffy tail, a relatively narrow muzzle, and large ears. The general color tone is red, varying greatly among individual individuals and in different parts of the range. This variability, combined with a wide distribution, led to the description of a number of local forms, which at one time were considered independent species, but in fact are subspecies. The red wolf is well distinguished from other genera of the canine family by its reduced number of molars (2 in each half of the jaw) and a large number of nipples (6-7 pairs). The red wolf is found in small numbers in the mountains of the Far East, Western Sayan, and Central Asia.

The main part of the range is in the mountain-forest regions of Central and South Asia, including Indochina, the Malacca Peninsula, the islands of Sumatra and Java. Almost everywhere, the red wolf lives mainly in the mountains, rising to the alpine zone. In the southern part of its range it gravitates towards forests. It often makes seasonal migrations, sometimes appearing in landscapes that are not typical for it - forest-steppe, steppe and even deserts. the red wolf is a typical KHSTSNIK. He hunts mainly during the day, tirelessly pursuing his victims. Outside the breeding season, it lives in flocks, sometimes numbering dozens of individuals. Obviously, such groups unite a number of families or animals of several generations. They feed mainly on various wild ungulates. It is also known that these predators regularly eat plant foods in the summer. The biology of reproduction has not been sufficiently studied. Red wolves are strict monogamists; their males participate in protecting and raising the young. In zoos, animals mate in January - February; puppies in April (after a 62-64 day pregnancy), bringing 5-9 cubs. In India, young people are found within all year round, but more often in January - February. Newborn puppies are covered with short, dark brown fur. Their teeth erupt on the 14th day. At six months of age, puppies reach adult weight. Their shelters are usually rock crevices, caves and niches in the slopes, since red wolves almost never dig holes.

WOLF AND DOG

The German shepherd and husky in appearance still resemble their wild ancestors - wolves.

Dogs are domesticated wolves. German Shepherds are a breed obtained by crossing a dog and a wolf, which was carried out three centuries ago, and therefore appearance These dogs are very similar to the appearance of a wolf.

Whose traces?

"If you follow a wolf's trail, you will recognize a wolf's life"

Proverb of Russian hunters

The trail of an adult wolf resembles that of a very large and heavy dog. The paw print of a wolf is very compact, and not “spread-out”, like most dogs, with clearly imprinted finger pads and claws. The wolf's middle fingers are significantly extended forward. Between your middle and side fingers you can place an imaginary match across the print. A seasoned male has a wider paw, a she-wolf has a more “slender” footprint.” Only occasionally on loose sand, liquid mud, etc. do the wolves’ toes spread out, which is understandable. Most dogs’ toes are always, as they say, “fan-shaped.” The exception is, perhaps, good working hounds.Their track can be confused with the track of a young she-wolf.The track of a very large working husky sometimes looks like the track of a very young male wolf.

It is often written that if you connect a dog’s paw prints with segments, you will get a broken line, but the wolf walks strictly “on the ribbon”, the prints are located on the same straight line. Alas, there are exceptions among wolves. For example, if the snow still allows walking, “trotting,” but is already deep enough, then the wolf also begins to spread its paws.

How to avoid confusing the tracks of a wolf and a dog in nature? Firstly, it is important to understand that a normal dog alone will not run far into the forest, and a wolf, in turn, will not hover under a person’s feet. This means that if you come across a trace of a person, and nearby there is a trace of either a small wolf or a dog; if these are traces of the same freshness, and the person is most likely a hunter, since, for example, on wide skis and without poles, then most likely the trace belongs to a hunting dog.

Secondly, the footprint of an adult Central Russian wolf is always much larger than the footprint of a dog that can be found in the forest. The trail of a wolf is sharper, more specific, and is more acutely perceived by the eye. It’s as if you immediately feel that an animal has passed through, and not a dog. I quite often come across wolf paw prints 13-15 cm long. Such footprints belong to completely unremarkable animals weighing hardly more than 50-60 kg.

Where to look for a wolf trail? It is best along forest paths, and not at all in impassable thickets. When the snow is quite deep, you should especially carefully inspect wild boar paths, old ski tracks, old and new ruts from tractors, cars, and more or less cleared roads to logging sites.

The language of a wolf is fundamentally different, or rather even opposite, to the language of another member of the canine family - the domestic dog:

Of the sound signals, an adult wolf most often uses a howl and extremely rarely barks or barks;

A dog, on the contrary, most often barks, and howls, which are quite monotonous, only in some situations.

The life systems of wolves and dogs are diametrically opposed:

Domestic dogs, having gone wild, flock together large flocks, 20 or more individuals and polygamous. The hyena-like dogs of Africa, which can be tamed, behave in the same way;

Wolves never gather in large packs, but live only in monogamous families or, if necessary, alone;

Taming a wolf, even one raised in a human home, is very difficult and unstable, and the behavior of such a “domestic” wolf often becomes unpredictable and even dangerous.

Wolf symbol

The wolf is, first of all, the highest symbol of freedom in the animal world, a symbol of independence. (Whereas the so-called king of animals - the lion - is trained in the circus.)

The wolf is also a symbol of fearlessness. In any fight, the wolf fights until victory or death.

The wolf lives as a family, cares only for his wolf wife, and the wolf father himself raises his wolf children.

The wolf is also a symbol of high morality and devotion to family. (The same cannot be said about males of other animals)

The wolf is a symbol of justice and ambition. Under normal conditions, the wolf will not allow, for its part, to offend the weaker.

What does a wolf mean as a symbol among different peoples? For most peoples, the wolf means earth, evil, devouring passion and rage. Wolves and ravens are often close friends of the primitive gods of the dead.

Among the Aztecs, the howling wolf is the god of dance;

In Celtic mythology, the wolf swallows the Heavenly Father (the sun), after which night falls;

Among the Chinese, it symbolizes gluttony and greed;

In the Greco-Roman tradition, the wolf is sacred to Mars (Ares) as the personification of rage, as well as to Apollo and Silvanus. The she-wolf, according to legend, who suckled Romulus and Remus, is often depicted in Roman art. The wolf also symbolizes valor;

Among the Jews, the wolf personifies bloodthirstiness, cruelty, and a haunting spirit;

Among the Indians, Ashvins save the quails of the day from the wolf of the night. The wolf is the mount of witches and warlocks; its appearance is taken by a werewolf.

Studying the habits and reflexes of wolves using domestic dogs as an example.

In the first chapter, I described scientists' research on the life of wolves. Using this information as a basis, I conducted a series of experiments with my dogs Dina and Taiga. By breed they are huskies, and they are also relatives, mother and daughter. Dina is a very caring mother. When she gave birth to puppies, she forbade us to even approach and look at them. (There were four puppies. We gave away three good people, and kept little Taiga for themselves)

Just like wolves, my dogs express their feelings in a unique way. When my grandfather and I come to the dacha where Dina and Taiga live, they are happy. Joy is expressed by wagging the tail, jumping and cheerful barking. The dogs also know very well that I am the master and, as if before a master, they fall on their backs, showing their respect.

When grandfather comes into the house to prepare food for our dogs, they begin to whine and lick their lips in anticipation. At this time, they begin to salivate profusely. When the dogs were eating, I would go to their bowl. They, not taking into account the fact that I was the owner, bared their teeth, began to growl and bark sharply, almost attacking me.

When the dogs eat, they start having fun. They run around the garden, marking their territory near the fence. They run, squeal, bite each other.

If dogs stick out their tongues, their breathing becomes heavy, which means they are tired or thirsty.

My dogs are very emotional. I can easily tell when they are having fun, they can even smile.

When grandpa drives them into the cage, they tuck their tails between their legs and, almost pressing their bellies to the ground, crawl into the booth. So they don’t want to be in the house behind the doors.

On walks in the forest, dogs show themselves as real hunters. Dina and Taiga are very attentive dogs. They don’t just run through the forest, but explore the entire territory: sniffing the ground, trees, listening to sounds. They have very sensitive hearing. When they hear something, their ears stand up, hiding, they turn their ears in the direction where the sound is coming from. When they see a squirrel, a chipmunk and someone else in the forest, they start barking loudly and tell us about their discovery. My grandfather and I praise them and believe that they are real hunters, only their prey can only jump through the trees and run through the forest.

Based on my observations, I compiled a dictionary of dog language. Dina and Taiga, as it turned out, do not like to be photographed, they constantly jump on the camera and bark, so I chose suitable photographs from the Internet.

Conclusion.

The main question of my research project was: who is the wolf - enemy or friend?

I also found two answers to my question. The wolf is both enemy and friend.

An enemy because a wolf, during a period of lack of natural food or due to difficulties in obtaining it, can attack herds of sheep, kill livestock and even dogs. I learned that wolves are afraid of adults and attack children. The wolf causes harm to livestock farming and hunting. In autumn and winter, the wolf becomes much more dangerous than in other seasons, often attacking both large and small livestock. They are getting closer and closer to populated areas, and in small places they hunt for dogs, which they love very much and which in some places constitute their only prey.

But science has proven that predators in the life of nature are not only useful, but simply necessary, as orderlies and breeders who improve the tribe of non-predatory animals, because predators destroy primarily the sick and weak, poorly adapted, carrying various vices and defects. Therefore, in many countries the law now protects against excessive extermination of predators. But old traditions and prejudices against beast of prey still alive among people. The fate of wolves is especially tragic - almost everywhere they are killed - without pity, without remorse and with a naive awareness of the usefulness of this harmful deed. In nature, in natural habitats, the wolf plays the role of an orderly. The wolf in nature takes almost exclusively sick or crippled animals and thereby cleanses the population.

The wolf in the zoo is a sad animal, he is deprived of freedom. His hunting skills are not realized at all. They look after him, feed him, and clean his cage. The wolf in the zoo is a prisoner.

As a result of my research, I found out that the wolf is a strong, brave and intelligent animal.

It is completely in vain that children are presented with a wolf in such a stupid form in fairy tales.

Women write about psychology and biology in glamorous magazines, but you can read about zoology of the fairer sex in men's publications and on thematic forums. The portal offers its own interpretation of animal types, based on read fairy tales and encyclopedias, associations, external resemblance and the coincidence of characters. In order to avoid accusations of male chauvinism, the classification process was entrusted to a woman.

From ciliates to jellyfish

Extraordinary personalities are rare in the crowd. Increasingly, we find ourselves surrounded by plankton: we drift freely through life, hang out in the depths of the Internet and are one of the components of the food chain. And yet plankton is a collection of heterogeneous organisms. In this environment you can find ciliate woman, whose thoughts are occupied exclusively by shoes. Simple as five kopecks, she practically wants and doesn’t expect anything from life. Well, unless you meet the same one-celled one, so that you can turn into a slipper ciliate.

Amoebas that have lost their slenderness and liveliness should also be classified as protozoa. , disappearing in an eternal queue, either at the supermarket for food, or at the executive committee for improved living conditions. Amoeba woman calmly floats with the flow, easily adapts to the surrounding reality and actively reproduces.

If a representative of the plankton in the ocean of life fails to meet her soul mate, she can easily turn into a jellyfish . It only seems that female jellyfish weak-willed and spineless. In fact, they have not only character, but also a life credo: “Don’t touch me!” However, even touchy-feely people get married. In addition, not a single man in the world is immune from the fact that, lying down in the evening with a charming beauty, he may find a real gorgon in his bed in the morning. An irritated jellyfish stings without missing a beat, can turn you to stone with one look or cause paralysis with one word.

From mouse to bunny

Mouse Woman you can meet on the street, at work and even in the museum in the Greek hall. And pass without noticing. She is sweet, friendly and modest. Therefore, it is easy to fall into mousetraps with free cheese.

The mouse is not untalented. Some women in this category have imagination and can fly. Which often scares men. Therefore, it is not surprising that some bats are called vampires by their husbands and are accused of sucking their life juices. Although in fact, the strong half of humanity needs to be afraid of completely different women.

From a psychological point of view, any mouse can easily turn into rat. Fortunately, there are enough courses and textbooks on stervology today. Unlike a gray mouse driven into a corner, a rat can not only rush at the offender, but even deliver a preemptive strike.

On to the squirrel woman the whole office is holding on. She spins the impeller all day, then runs home to feed her family and create a supply for the winter.

Bunny woman Serves as office decoration. She does not forget to change her fur coat in time for the season. He is often a coward, but always shows ingenuity to achieve the desired result. Willingly fulfills the petty whims of her husband or boss. After all, this is exactly what it was created for - white and fluffy. Men often live with bunnies, but dream of completely different women.

From cat to lioness

Hollywood scriptwriters love to exploit this female type. Catwoman walks on her own, purrs when in the mood, and scratches for no reason. In fact, cats are also different. The kitties are not far from the bunnies. Such people easily become mistresses and even more willingly the fifth wives of aging oligarchs. The main thing in the content is not to forget to buy fashionable gadgets and other things on time. The pussy takes revenge on forgetful owners - usually it shits in the shoes.

Advanced kitties become secular lionesses. Some are born with them, but still remain the property of the one who feeds them, provides shelter and protection.

Catwoman is brave and determined. But she is a terrible lazy person. Having agreed to live in your house, she becomes a full-fledged mistress of it. Now she decides which curtain should hang on the window and which whiskey you will have for dinner. But you will have to nail the cornice and serve it on the table. Remember to regularly scratch your cat behind the ears and never stroke against the grain.

Unsatisfied family life cats often go crazy. She goes on a spree, and instead of warmth and comfort, kittens appear in the house, suspiciously similar to the neighbors’ cats.

From dog to wolf

Men have their own ideal women dogs. They are loyal, look devotedly into the eyes, follow all commands, bring beer along with slippers, lick mental wounds and guard the owner’s sacred dinnertime dream. Only in the wild are such women rare.

A woman dog can be a friend, or she can put her husband on a short leash. The guard Cerberus forbids his man to drink beer, watch football, meet with friends and generally stray far from the kennel. She can bark for any trifle.

Fox Woman- the main initiator of office intrigues. Her cunning will more than once help you get out of any crisis situation. Beautiful, smart and self-sufficient, she can invite the man she likes to dinner, pay the bill and use it for its intended purpose.

Wolf Woman- loner. But if she finds her mate, she is ready to gnaw the throat of anyone who looks in the direction of the male. Capable of controlling a flock.

From sheep to cow

Representatives of the superorder of ungulates should also be divided into species: they are paired and unpaired, domestic and wild. Among them are calloused and ruminants.

The most harmless female type from this series is sheep. Light curls, the presence of a golden fleece and an almost complete lack of intelligence ensures their constant success in male company.

Nobody wants to live with an old nag, but rarely does anyone get upset when a worker appears in the team horse. You can put not only all the problems on her, but also the burden of responsibility. And such a woman plows without raising her head, even sleeping while walking.

No less willingly, a female horse harnesses herself to the family cart and pulls this burden up the mountain without unnecessary bucking. She is pushed around by all and sundry, periodically tightening the bit. And yet there are pacers in this class. Mustang women are making good progress career ladder, because, in addition to the ability to work hard, they also have a marketable appearance and a strong character. They can kick the offender and easily gallop away from problems.

Another female type - Milch cow. This is the one they prefer to marry mama's boys to roll around like cheese in butter. Women of this type rarely become bosses high rank, since they prefer chewing gum for everyone, they are ready to live in a barn and work in an open field. They love TV series.

From canary to magpie

Women and birds have a lot in common. For example, the constant need to preen feathers and chirp incessantly.

Canary women They willingly live in a cage and please their owner with sweet trills. These are preferred by men who are insecure and need a constant portion of praise.

mother hen keeps under her wing until retirement not only her numerous offspring, but also her own husband.

Hummingbird Woman bright and exotic, but not found in our forests. He flies in on the way from the south to visit his parents and buys a plane ticket again.

Magpie Woman can’t live without bright trinkets and will die of envy if a colleague is wearing a larger brooch.

Cuckoo Woman counts the years he has lived alone and is angry at the children who have grown up and for some reason do not come to visit their mother, preferring to spend weekends with their grandmother in the country.

Woodpecker Woman capable of driving even a tax inspector crazy.

From butterfly to ladybug

From a pupa they turn into butterfly Lightweight, fluttering through life, such women are pleasing to the eye, but do not bring any benefit.

Unlike bees These workaholic women are equally irreplaceable in the office and at home. They are forced to look after their drones and take care of the queen, following established rules day after day.

There are women who are as annoying as flies. They willingly take jobs as sales representatives and can sit in clients' offices for hours, distracting everyone from their work until someone rolls up a newspaper and kicks them out.

Distinguish ladybug from others it is not difficult: every marriage leaves a mark on her soul and on her wings. Before the next trip to the altar, she drops off her children with their parents on the palate, and she periodically has to be reminded of her maternal responsibilities.

From tick to spider

The most terrible types. This is who men really need to be afraid of. Mite Woman falls on your head, gets sucked in and gets under your skin so that it has to be removed surgically. Although you can wait until she drinks blood and goes in search of the next victim.

U spider women other habits. She waits in ambush for a long time and weaves her web. If you can still get rid of a female tick, then with a spider everything is much more complicated: those caught in the web have no chance of escaping. Especially if a man has social status and property that can be inherited.

Let’s make a reservation right away: in nature there is rarely a woman who can be 100% classified as one type or another. Any horse can buck, and an ugly duckling can turn into a beautiful swan. The most important thing, despite all animal instincts, is to always remain human.

What do people know about wolves? What qualities of a wolf first come to mind when talking about these animals? Surely you think that they are dangerous and cruel, insidious and treacherous. However, those who know almost nothing about the life of these animals think this way. In this article we will try to talk a little more about them. Perhaps some interesting fact about wolves will make you change your attitude towards them.

Genus Lupus (wolves)

This genus includes wolves, jackals, coyotes, and dogs. These are the most major representatives wolf It also includes all arctic foxes, foxes, maned wolves and

Each wolf is endowed with its own character - there are individuals who are cautious, self-confident and daring, some of them behave naturally and freely in the company of their fellow tribesmen, while others prefer to stay in the shadow of their more active relatives.

Wolves live on the plains of the northern hemisphere, as well as in the mountains and forests. Unfortunately, in some countries they are completely exterminated. And in Antarctica, white wolves are on the verge of extinction. They are listed in the International Red Book. Hunting these animals is prohibited.

These predators live in various landscapes - forests, tundra, mountains and steppes. They are predominantly sedentary animals, but at the same time they roam very long distances in search of food. As biologists say, in the wild they occupy their niche. In their habitats, wolves are typically the largest group of predators that prey on large mammals.

External characteristics

A male wolf usually weighs about fifty kilograms, a female wolf is five kilograms lighter. The height at the withers of an adult is 75 cm, and the body length can be up to two meters. This is, of course, average data.

Wolves have thick, coarse fur with undercoat. The color may vary. There are gray, black, red, red, and white wolves.

Lifestyle

Wolves are animals that prefer to live in families. Any pack of wolves has its own “charter”, in which everyone has their own role. Aggressive and strong young people rule, and those who need a firm hand obey them.

A wolf pack, in which the animals are related, is led by a wolf and a she-wolf. The rest of its members, mainly their offspring (from very stupid puppies to 3-year-old teenagers), obey them. Sometimes strangers join the flock, having left their flock for some reason. Typically, up to 15 animals live in such a family.

Endurance and vitality of wolves

These qualities of a wolf deserve special attention. A hungry predator without food can remain active for up to ten days. The wounded animal moves several kilometers away from the hunters. Surrounded by hunting dogs, it fiercely defends itself until its last breath. And a wolf, caught in a trap, bites off its paw to escape from its pursuers.

There is a known case when a wolf, which broke its paw during a hunt, lay motionless on the ground for 17 days, after which it stood up and continued searching for prey. The will to live of wolves is amazing.

But they have little weaknesses that they know about experienced hunters. Surprisingly, these brave predators are lost at the sight of a rag that flutters in front of their muzzle. This feature led to the appearance of flags. Hunters, having discovered a wolf pack, surround it around the perimeter with a rope with scraps of any fabric hung on it. The wolves, seeing the waving flags, do not dare to jump for them, and the hunters shoot at the animals at point-blank range.

And one more fact. A wolf in the forest never attacks people first. He avoids people, prefers to stay away from him.

Wolf's Lair

The wolf's hole is quite simple. As a rule, it has one entrance. In the forest-steppe regions of Siberia, they have a depth of about four meters, the diameter of the entrance is about 50 cm.

In Transbaikalia, researchers observed how wolves dig tarbagan holes in the fall, and in the spring they discovered wolf litters in them. One of these holes was more than five meters long, forty centimeters wide and twenty-five centimeters high. The nest inside the hole was half filled with dry grass bedding. It contained tarbagan skins.

In the Far North, these predators build burrows along the banks of streams and rivers. In these areas the soil is well drained and there is no permafrost, so digging a hole is easy.

Many holes can be found near the summer pastures of deer. As a rule, wolves wander behind herds of these animals. Before the puppies appear, they move forward, closer to their burrows, where the deer also come, but a little later.

Wolf howl

Each hole is inhabited by one pair of wolves, and they gather into a pack using the means of communication available to them - howl. This is not just the voice of a predator, it is an encrypted message with certain signals. The howl can be attractive (especially during the mating season), calling. It can be heard when the leader calls the pack to hunt. The howl can be a response when members of the pack respond to the call of the leader. It can be dying and, finally, entertainment. Oddly enough, wolves often howl for no apparent reason, probably what their wolf soul asks for.

Social order of the pack

The strongest wolf becomes the leader of the pack. His faithful friend, the she-wolf, helps him manage. In order for pack members to obey them, leaders must have strong character. All decisions that concern the life of the family are made by the wolf and the she-wolf together. In a pack where the leader keeps order, males never fight among themselves. But strangers who violate the boundaries of property are usually severely punished. Wolf Pack goes out to hunt only in its own limited territory. The owners guard and mark her very jealously. This is a warning to neighbors that they should stay away from this land.

Sometimes in large packs one wolf is poisoned by all his brothers for unknown reasons. Sometimes it becomes difficult for a rejected animal to live in a family, and he leaves it. He becomes a wandering loner. True, he has a chance to create his own pack if he meets the same lone wolf. If these animals want to rule the pack, they must completely subjugate all its members to their will and force them to obey the laws of the family.

How does a leader rule?

A pack of wolves unconditionally accepts the leadership of the leader. He dominates the males, and his girlfriend keeps order among the she-wolves. The leader never tires of reminding his subordinates who is the master in the pack - he growls at them, bites them, even knocks them down, doing this in front of the whole family.

As a rule, one close and stern look the leader or his wolf is enough to make those he targets submit. Grinning, and rather ingratiatingly, the wolves fall to the ground, and then, if they succeed, stealthily leave the place of punishment. Sometimes they lie on their backs, as if to say: “We agree that you are the most important.”

An interesting fact about wolves - the position of a predator in a pack can be judged by the way it holds its tail. The leader always has it raised high. For ordinary “subjects” it is omitted. And those individuals who are at the lowest level in the pack tuck their tails between their legs.

Family members show their love and respect for the leader and his mate in a welcoming ceremony. With ears flattened, crawling and fur smoothed, they crawl up to them, lick and gently nibble their faces.

Wild wolves are loyal animals

Probably not everyone knows that wolves are one of the most loyal animals. These strong predators They become very attached to their pack mates. They express their emotions and feelings through body movements and facial expressions. Thanks to the “wolf tongue,” the pack unites and acts as one. They express their tenderness and sympathy by licking each other, while rubbing their muzzles.

Why does a wolf need a tail?

Not everyone knows that a wolf's tail is a kind of indicator that expresses its feelings. If it is raised high and the tip is slightly curved, then this means that the wolf is quite confident in its abilities. A friendly animal lowers its tail, but its very tip is raised up. A wolf with its tail between its legs is either afraid of something or communicating its submission.

Wolf the family man

Only specialists know this interesting fact about wolves. These dangerous predators experience strong emotional attachment. They are monogamous - they choose their mate once and for life.

It must be said that a wolf is an ideal family man. He doesn’t create scandals, doesn’t cheat on his she-wolf, doesn’t break up with her, doesn’t have a young “mistress” on the side, and brings all the spoils to the family.

Wild wolves love their cubs very much. The wolf cubs are cared for not only by their parents, but by the entire pack.

The attitude of the ancients towards the wolf

This beast is sometimes called mythical. In ancient times, he was revered and respected for his courage, endurance, and ingenuity. Many warlike tribes perceived him as their ancestor. During the heyday of patriarchy, he was compared to a groom, a bride kidnapper.

For our ancestors, the wolf was like a mediator between gods and people. It was considered a talisman against evil. When the wolf became the faithful companion of St. George the Victorious, he began to be perceived as a solar deity.

Apollo, the ancient Greek god of light, was sometimes called Apollo the Wolf. The ferocious predator was the sacred animal of the god Upuaut in Ancient Egypt.

In the myths of the Scandinavian peoples, wolves are called “the dogs of Odin.” Romulus and Remus, who founded Great Rome, were suckled by a she-wolf sent by Mars.

Bird women

(Helena Bonham Carter, Helen Hunt)
Women become birds only because of their beaked nose, chiseled, thin, with a hump or straight, but with the tip going down. The bird woman's lips are thin, small, often with a very noticeable outline; the upper lip can move slightly forward. And sometimes the lips are stretched, but also thin. Eyes can be absolutely anything: big, small, green, black...
Among the Birds there are many predatory beauties, real vamp women.

Pisces women

(Julianne Moore, Isabelle Huppert, Renée Zellweger)
Also a very common type of woman, but usually the direct opposite of Birds. The main thing in Pisces is the eyes and skin. The skin is transparent, pale, through which soft lilac veins sometimes appear. On the outside, she is often covered in red freckles. The Pisces Woman's eyes are most often large and always light, slightly watery. Eyebrows and eyelashes bright eyes, as expected, the same light ones are included. The nose is often blurry, but it is not the main thing. Most often, Pisces Women are not very beautiful if they are not wearing makeup; they are rather pale and inconspicuous, but when they put on makeup, they are transformed. In addition, there are simply amazing beauties.

Frog women

(Cameron Diaz)
They look like Pisces women, you don’t even have to separate them into a group, but sometimes you really want to. Their eyes are large and bright, bulging. And definitely a big mouth. Ideally, he smiles often.

Female fawns

(Jane Birkin, Natalie Portman, Audrey Tautou)
Female fawns are not really women, they have more of a childish quality to them. Their eyes are expressive and often frightened. The neck, arms and legs are thin, and the gestures are on the verge of plasticity and angularity.

Women are wolves

(Eva Green)
Wolf women - still b O bigger vamps than birds. Their hair is usually dark, and their eyes are always beautiful and light. The look is heavy with pronounced sexuality.

Women are foxes

(Juliette Binoche, Penelope Cruz, Emmanuelle Beart)
A very large group. It includes, for example, those who did not reach the level of she-wolves, who have the same external data, but at the same time their gaze is not strong enough. Almost always beautiful or at least pretty. The Fox Woman's nose is slightly upturned, maybe a little long, a real fox nose. If the set comes with big eyes with a veil, Foxy is just a beauty! Chanterelle's mouth can be anything, but it is almost always smiling slyly.
More chanterelles: Julia Roberts, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ingeborga Dapkunaite.

Catwomen

(Angelina Jolie, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Scarlett Johansson)
Cat Women are, rather, not about their appearance, but about their sense of self. But often they have a small nose or plump lips. They themselves also seem soft and plastic, lazy and on their own.

Women are horses

(Alanis Morissette, Sarah Jessica Parker)
Their face is long, oval, with a pronounced lower part. And everything else (eyes, nose) - whatever you want.

Dog women

(Kirsten Dunst, Paz Vega)
To recognize a Dog Woman, you need to look into her eyes and pay attention to her nose. Her eyes usually have drooping outer corners and are most often brown, kind and understanding. The nose is either small or slightly wide. Dog women are more often just cute than beautiful.