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On being a member of Balto Source for over 3 years, I've come to the realization that members know little to nothing about real wolves. How they behave, why they do things, behaviors.

In creating wolf/hybrid characters, it's good to know the proper information about the animal you're working with -- because then you can draw and write about it more accurately. So I've fished about the Internet, and books, to collect various information about the very animals both loved and hated throughout the world.

It also helps for members who have "packs" on the site, or role-play with multiple people/animals.



HIERARCHY

"Hierarchy" is just a fancy term for the wolves' social order. Of course, we all know about the "alphas," or the leader male/female of the pack (nearly always a mated pair). But I can guarantee that few members know the rest of the social order.

1.) Alphas.
The alphas are the leaders of the pack -- typically the mated pair of the oldest male and oldest female. They're the "sole reproducers" of the pack -- meaning they are referred to as the "breeding pair."

Alphas will eat in a kill first, and eat the best meats (e.x., liver), which gives them the "scent" of an alpha. Eating the better meats ensures that they're healthier, and can be recognized by even outsider wolves as higher in rank.

2.) Beta/Mature Subordinates
These wolves rank just below the alphas -- and are only submissive to the alpha wolves. Of the feeding chain, Betas will eat second.

The remainder of the adult wolves are dominant over the juvenile wolves, but the dominance may fluctuate.

3.) Omega Wolves
These are the lowest ranks in the wolf packs. They're often "picked on" by being "beat up" by higher ranks, and aren't very prominent in numbers (there are normally just a few). They often try to avoid the other pack members for the chance that the higher-ranking wolves would ambush them.
They are often not good fighters, and eat last.

4.) Juvenile Wolves
The "juvi" wolves haven't yet secured a place in hierarchy. As young pups, they will be allowed to eat with the alphas. After all, they are the future of the pack. But as they gain age, the alphas will begin to make them form into the hierarchy list.

When young pups "play-fight," they are making a hierarchy amongst themselves -- much like our dogs at home do.



HOWLING

Wolves use howling to communicate with one another, whether it be over a matter of feet or miles. They do not howl at the moon, like the common stereotype of werewolves -- nor do they always sit while howling. They howl at any time of day or night, and are often standing while howling.

They have a "domino effect" in howling -- one wolf will begin to howl, and the others in the group will gradually join in. Even young pups will attempt to howl! Sometimes, wolf howls can be heard from as far away as 10 miles.

Wolves will also change the tone of their howl, similar to how people change their voices with different mood "sets."

But wolves howl for multiple reasons. For example, before a hunt, during birth, rallying the pack, and they often howl after a "successful hunt." They may also howl to communicate with neighboring packs. Or, to fool other packs by fluctuating their towns and making it sound like the pack is larger than what it really is. Wolves often remain silent for up to 30 minutes after a howling session, as if attempting to hear other wolf packs.

"Wolves howl less frequently during May and June than they do during the rest of the year, likely because that is the time that packs are most likely to have young pups present. It is possible that wolf packs who have young pups present often keep silent so they do not attract attention to their whereabouts, since pups are vulnerable to predators like bears and cougars." ( Source. )



OTHER VOCAL COMMUNICATIONS

Growling: Growling may symbolize aggression, grumpiness, or just playfulness. It can also be a tactic for domination over a lower-ranking wolf or a threat.

Whimpering: Whether it be a sign of pain or submissiveness, whimpering is also a valuable way of communication amongst wolves. It could also be a friendly greeting, such as hungry pups welcoming their mother back to the den.

Barking: Wolves, unlike dogs, rarely bark. It's normally an attempt to raise alarm, a sign of excitement, or playing.



PLAYING

When wolves play, they're relaxing the "air" of the pack -- and strengthening hierarchy bonds, or bonds between pack mates and pack family members. They could "ask" to play by submitting into the play bow, or pawing at the other wolf/wolves. They'll then play by chasing one another, or play fighting -- or both! If the other wolf doesn't want to play, it often growls and mouths at the other wolf. Hierarchy is apparently put aside for playtime.

"During such relaxed situations, exceptions to the normal pack hierarchy often occur. For instance, during play, a dominant wolf may behave as though it were subservient to a lower-ranking wolf, and a subservient wolf may appear to be dominating a higher-ranking wolf." (Source.)



REPRODUCTION
This is not encouraging mating on Balto Source, as it's forbidden under the site rules.

Wolves can mate once a year, while in "heat," which generally lasts a few weeks (normally February-March months). But, some wolves could mate in January, others as late as April. The mating season occurs after winter so the pups can develop before the next winter, making the rate of survival much better.

Females are generally mate-able by the age of two years, though many don't mate until 4-5 years of age. Males can be ready to mate as early as 1 year old.

Generally, it is the alpha male and female who generate the pups. In some cases, however, the beta male will mate with the alpha female if the alpha male shows no interest in mating.

"Just before the breeding season, the male wolves (particularly the alpha male) in the pack will sniff, harass and pursue the alpha female. If needed, the alpha wolves may use physical force to prevent the other pack members from mating." (Source, Paragraph 2.)

Multiple litters rarely occur within a pack -- however, it will occur if the food supply is large enough to sustain multiple litters and the pack. Or, lower-rank ([url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Subservient]"Subservient"[url]) females will mate when the hierarchy is disturbed (such as in the instance of an alpha's death or being overthrown).

During courtship, the alphas are very close to one another, nearly inseparable, and be very affectionate. Of course, their relationship is strong year-round, but it's stronger during the mating season. Wolves do not always mate for life, but it's common. (The changing of mates is infrequent.)

A few weeks before the pups' birth, the female will select a den -- wolves are known for traveling back to the female's birth den, "stealing" dens from other animals, or simply digging one of their own. The den is normally made of a tunnel large enough for the adult wolf to fit through, with a large "chamber" at the end. The den is often on a soft hillside, which provides a "stand-up" for the den, similar to human lean-tos. The alpha male will be very protective of the den.

Like with domestic dogs, the female will "hold" the pups for 63 days. The litter can be up to 6 pups, and as little as 2 (which 2 pups are unlikely). Rarely, some litters can be as large as 11 young (which, in that case, few survive). The female, while giving birth, seems to like the "alone time," and won't let the male (or any other wolf) into the den. For the first month or so, the female will not leave the pups' sides (as they're unable to maintain their own body temperature, are blind and deaf, and need to feed every 4 hours), and will only leave the den to get food from her pack mates or to get a drink (as a water source is never far from the den).

The pups will open their eyes at the end of 2 weeks, and will begin to develop their "milk teeth," as well as becoming mobile by walking on all 4 legs. At the end of 3 weeks, they will be able to see and hear their mother -- who will regurgitate ("throw up") partially digested meat for them to eat. Around the age of a month old, the pups will leave the den for the first time, and will be greeted by the other members of the pack with enthusiasm. When they're outside the den, the entire pack serves as "babysitters" to the pups, by protecting them and watching out for predators.

Excluding the mother, each pack member will regurgitate food for the pups when stimulated by the tiny, hungry mouths (the pups will do this by licking the maw of the adult). The pups will play, sometimes rather rough, with one another and the adults. When the play becomes too rough, the adults will bear their teeth at the youngster(s). The pups, normally being only one litter, will be considered the pups of all of the wolves.

One of the subordinate wolves will get the valuable position of the "wolf nanny." This wolf, typically a female, will "babysit" the pups while the rest of the pack is out on a hunt. The pups will be moved from the den to a separate living site, normally 1,000 square meters, and this move'll take place when they're 5-8 weeks old.

As the pups age, they will be taught to hunt, sample scents, and hunt small game (such as the mother bringing them a rabbit or the like to prey on). Around 12 weeks old, the pups will begin to accompany the adults on hunting trips. At around 8 months, they'll begin to participate in the hunts themselves.

"Some pups will eventually leave their pack and will become lone wolves (dispersers). Lone wolves are often at great risk of being attacked or killed by other wolves whose territory they have intruded on. If a lone wolf finds a mate and establishes a territory, it will be the founder of a new pack. Some wolves will stay with their pack (biders) and will wait for an opportunity to move up in its hierarchy when the alpha wolf dies or becomes sick and old. About half of the wolf pups born each year will die before their first year. Disease, hunting accidents, attacks by bears, fights or inexperience are often to blame." (Source.)



VISUAL COMMUNICATION

Wolves also have a HUGE center on body language. When their hackles (the hair on the back of the neck down to the rump, atop the back) raise, it's normally a sign of fright or aggression, or maybe a threat.

When submissive, lower-rank wolves will bow near to the ground, ears and tails low, and lick the throats of the higher ranking wolf/wolves. They'll also whimper, maybe yip or bark.

When expressing dominance, the higher ranking wolf will hold their head and tail high, maybe bearing their teeth at the submissing wolf.



WOLF VISUALS

Images from the wolf Role Playing Guide on the forum for Off-White.





To view the topic mentioned above, CLICK HERE.




Sites to visit:
• http://www.wolfcountry.net/
• http://www.wolfcenter.org/
• http://www.everythingwolf.com/
• http://wolf.com/
• http://www.timberwolfinformation.org/
• http://www.defenders.org/programs_and_p ... iology.php
•http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Canis_lupus.html

The site I use the most:
• http://www.freewebs.com/alphawolfsabrina/index.htm

Other questions about wolves? Post them here, and other members (or myself) can answer them for you! c:

I didn't say this would be new information to all members.

I'm also working on posting more.

Though I had already known most of the stuff you have posted already, I still managed to learn a few new tidbits from this. Great job!

I remember reading a book that told me all of this, I think lots of new members will learn more from this topic.

Good information there, Kirada. I knew most of it. Thanks for shareing this.

I knew alot of this stuff.
The ranks, body lanuage, playing. I dont know much about reproduction because i dont care much about it.

did you know that when pups play fight the winner get more meat than the loser?

Even though I knew all this, this topic is -very- helpful and people should read it before creating a wolf character and while planning out a drawing of a wolf.
(I can't count the number of times I've seen a picture of a supposed angry, alpha wolf in a submissive pose).

This is very informative,there's a lot things you've listed about wolves,that I didn't even know about.

Thanks Kirada. -Celtic Toboe

I already knew most of this because I study at the school library at recess or lunch time, but I have learned a few knew things and I imagine this info will be very useful for the younger and older members.

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=23368&hilit=+wolf+information

This is how much I know about wolves. Feel free to put this link in your post if you would like.