A wolf, or a gray wolf, or an ordinary wolf, belongs to the species of carnivorous mammals from the canine family. It is also considered the largest representative of its kind.

Wolf habitat

The wolf has always been widespread throughout the world, in particular in Europe, Asia and North Africa. Most of all, human activity affected the reduction in numbers, namely, uncontrolled hunting, deforestation, and urbanization. In some regions of the world, the wolf is on the verge of extinction, and only in northern Europe retains a more or less stable population.

The appearance of wolves

The appearance of the wolf depends on its habitat. Some species are very different from their counterparts in other regions. In many ways, weight and height depend on the temperature regime of the environment in which the wolf lives. The colder the climate, the larger the individual.

The wolf has rather sharp ears, powerful and long limbs. The body is strong, the head is broad-faced, the muzzle is elongated, and the mouth is with many teeth necessary for hunting. The tail is 20-30 centimeters in length. The behavior of the tail can determine the mood of the wolf at the moment. The coat is thick, long, consists of two layers. The first layer is coarse hair, the second layer is the so-called undercoat, which warms the animal.

The wolf prefers open areas, avoids woodlands. During the collapse of the pack, the wolves are fixed on a separate territory, while the main pair of the pack keeps the best area with them.For the birth and breeding of offspring, wolves arrange a den. Basically, the female uses it. Wolfs grow in the most reliable places, for example, in dense bushes. For safety reasons, wolves hunt as far as possible from the lair, at a distance of at least 8-10 kilometers.

Who do wolves hunt?

The wolf is a predator, so most of its diet is made up of moose, deer, wild boars, hares. Sometimes smaller predators, for example, foxes, become victims. Wolves prefer to hunt at night, notifying their howl that appears, which is different among different social groups in the pack. Of all the senses, the weakest is vision. The sense of smell and hearing are well developed. Together with well-developed physical data, as well as good nervous activity, the sense of smell and hearing make the wolf a very dangerous predator.

Wolf hunt

When hunting, a flock kills several animals at once. Everything that is not eaten is left for later. It is also worth noting that the wolf is a collective animal. This affects both his lifestyle and hunting methods. The wolf is well developed mentally, which allows him to navigate well in the environment. Many hunting techniques are quite inventive for the animal. For example, there are many cases where the whole flock was divided, and while one group drove the prey, the second waited in ambush.

Is a wolf dangerous to humans?

As for the danger to people, it is ambiguous. Most attacks were the result of rabies infection of the wolf.Incidents of attacks and healthy animals are known, but these are cases of protecting the territory, offspring, self-preservation instincts, as well as a necessary measure due to hunger.

As for social relationships in the pack, the wolves are monogamous creatures, have a stable hierarchy. At the head of the pack is the main pair, which consists of the main male and female. After them come their kindred individuals, then the wolves that came into the pack. At the end of the hierarchy are the cubs born last.

In nature and in the economy, the wolf plays an important role. Simultaneously with the damage to livestock, the wolf controls the number of animals of other species, killing the sick and infirm.