Wolf
Howling ClipsThe Language of Wolves
When you hear a wolf howl, what does it make you think of ?
Have you ever seen a picture of a wolf howling at the moon ?
Has anyone ever told you that wolves howl at the moon ?
Well, wolves don't howl at the moon.
They howl for many other reasons.
How
Wolves Communicate ?
Oooooooh-eeee-yieeee-ooooooh! If you are lucky enough to live in an area where wolves are common, you may be able to hear them howl. The howl is one important way wolves can communicate with each other, but it is by no means the most important way. The howl is, however, the most well known method that wolves use to communicate.
Why DO wolves howl?
Contrary to popular belief, wolves do not howl at the moon, and despite the traditional imagery, wolves do not always sit when the howl. They may stay standing. Also, wolves do not howl only at night. They will also howl in the daytime, and they often howl together in a group.
Wolves often howl in a chorus before and after a hunt and wolves often gather for howling sessions during breeding season. One wolf in the pack (usually the alpha wolf) will start the howling session by pointing its nose towards the sky and howling and the other members of the pack will soon join in excitedly. Each pack member howls on its own note.
Wolves seem to howl for many reasons. Before a hunt, they howl possibly to reaffirm their closeness, and some wolves howl in apparent grief after the death of their mate. A wolf may howl alone if it is having troubles locating its pack. Pack members seem to recognize each other's voices. Wolf packs may also howl to let other packs of wolves be aware of their presence. Two different wolf packs will sometimes answer each other's howls.
Wolf packs that have young pups present often keep silent so they do not attract attention to their whereabouts, since pups are vulnerable to predators. Lonely wolf pups often howl at their distress. Wolves may also just howl for fun. Some Native Americans believe that the howls of a lone wolf are the lost souls of deceased humans trying to return to the earth.
Sometimes, a howl will warn the pack of danger. The howl may mean that there is
a human, a bear, or some other animal that could harm the pack nearby. Even
another wolf that does not belong to the pack can be considered dangerous.
Introduction
[ What is A Wolf ? ] [ Myth And Legend of The Wolf ] [ Physiology of The Wolf ] [ Communication And Behavior of The Wolf ]
[ Family and Social Structure of The Wolf ] [ Hunting And Selection of Prey ] [ The Wolf Today ]
Poems
[ The Lone She-Wolf ] [ Fight of The Midnight Wolf ] [ The Spirit of The Wolf ] [ The Spirituality of Silent Wolf ]
[ The Lady of The Wolves ] [ The Wolf ]
Miscellaneous
[ Did You Know ? ] [ The Language of Wolves ] [ Wolves - Worldwide ] [ Questions And Answers About Wolves ]
Guest Book
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