THE GRAY WOLF
The wolf- also known as the gray or grey wolf- is a large canine native to North American and Eurasia. Scientific name Canis lupus, wolves have over 30 recognized subspecies, including the domestic dog! Wolves are the biggest of the Canidae family, weighing 80-100 lbs and up to 130 lbs, four to six feet long from nose to tail tip, and 2.6 to 2.8 feet tall at the shoulder. Wolves typically live 6-8 years in the wild, but may live up to 13 in captivity. The oldest wolf ever recorded was 19 years old!
Wolves live in groups called packs. Packs are typically family units, composed of a mated male and female, and their offspring (litters are often 4-6 pups). Packs are usually between 4 to 10 wolves (most often 6 or 7), but can grow as large as 15, 20, or even 30 wolves. The Druid Peak pack in Yellowstone National Park had 37 members at one point in time! However, the larger the pack, the more likely that wolves will split off and go create their own families. Packs have their own territory, and wolves often travel far distances in one day (around 12 miles and up to 30). The myth of the "alpha wolf" is only somewhat true; wolves do not fight for dominance, but the breeding pair are the head of the pack, with the female not far behind the male. Behind them, pack hierarchy is generally by age. Although wolves have "territory," it is ever shifting and does not have strong borders. Wolves generally will not encroach on each other's territory or fight with other packs, unless human intervention pushes them out of their home. A lone wolf who attempts to hunt in a pack's territory may find itself in danger of being driven off.
Wolves are carnivorous, with their diet primarily composed of hoofed mammals- elk, caribou, deer, moose and even bison. However, wolves will eat rodents, rabbits, and other small animals; they will also eat waterfoul and their eggs, and fish. They are also found to eat fruit- in North America, blueberries and raspberries; in Eurasia, pears, apples, melons, berries, and more. In captivity, wolves love watermelon!
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- Cat Ipsum -
Rub my belly hiss swipe at owner's legs sniff catnip and act crazy growl at dogs in my sleep sit on the laptop for hiss at vacuum cleaner i like to spend my days sleeping and eating fishes that my human fished for me.
Head nudges eat my own ears. Hey! you there, with the hands why can't i catch that stupid red dot, shed everywhere shed everywhere stretching attack your ankles chase the red dot, hairball run catnip eat the grass sniff, or roll over and sun my belly curl up and sleep on the freshly laundered towels.