Wolf attacks Dog in Twisp, Wa.

[jackelope]

The Wolf Pack

Wolves belong to family groups called packs, they usually consist of eight to fifteen-members. The rare exception is what is popularly know as a "lone wolf", this wolf would most likely be the lowest member of a pack (the omega) that was driven out of the pack, if it is lucky, the "lone wolf" may find a mate and start a new pack.
Wolf packs can have very large range (6 to 600 miles)
The alpha pair has the greatest amount of social freedom among all the pack members, but they are not "leaders" in the human sense of the term. The alphas do not give the other wolves orders; rather, they simply have the most freedom in choosing where to go, what to do, and when to do it. The rest of the pack usually follows. There are various subordinates, who dominate the omega. The omega is the lowest. It is the baby-sitter and usually more puppy than wolf.
(left) photograph ©Richard E. Flauto Wildlife Foundation
In larger packs, there may be also be a beta wolf or wolves - a "second-in-command" to the alphas. In addition, one wolf typically assumes the role of omega, the lowest-ranking member of a pack. These individuals absorb the greatest amount of aggression from the rest of the pack, and consequently enjoy comparatively few individual privileges.
While most alpha pairs are monogamous with each other, there are exceptions. An alpha animal may preferentially mate with a lower-ranking animal, especially if the other alpha is closely related (a brother or sister, for example). The death of one alpha does not affect the status of the other alpha, who will quickly take another mate. Usually, only the alpha pair is able to successfully rear a litter of pups (other wolves in a pack may breed, and may even produce pups, but usually they lack the freedom or the resources to raise the pups to maturity). All the wolves in the pack assist in raising wolf pups. Some mature individuals, usually females, may choose to stay in the original pack so as to reinforce it and help rear more pups. Most, males particularly, will disperse, however.
Rank order is established and maintained through a series of ritualized fights and posturing best described as ritual bluffing. Wolves prefer psychological warfare to physical confrontations, meaning that high-ranking status is based more on personality or attitude than on size or physical strength. Rank, who holds it, and how it is enforced varies widely between packs and between individual animals. In large packs full of easygoing wolves, or in a group of juvenile wolves, rank order may shift almost constantly, or even be circular (e.g., animal A dominates animal B, who dominates animal C, who dominates animal A).
(above/below photograph ©Richard E. Flauto Wildlife Foundation)
Loss of rank can happen gradually or suddenly. An older wolf may simply choose to give way when an ambitious challenger presents itself, yielding its position without bloodshed. On the other hand, the challenged individual may choose to fight back, with varying degrees of intensity. While the majority of wolf aggression is non-damaging and ritualized, a high-stakes fight can easily result in injury for either or both parties. The loser of such a confrontation is frequently chased away from the pack or, rarely, may be killed as other aggressive wolves contribute to the insurgency. This kind of dominance encounter is more common in the winter months, when mating occurs.
Wolves will defend there territory, they work as a pack to harass larger animals like bears, although a pack of 12 were once known to kill a grizzly bear, most times if the animal runs away the wolves will not attack.
Animals the wolf may come in contact with are:
Coyotes - They will avoid wolves most times. but when encounters occur they are aggressive.
Grizzly bears - Are known to eat wolf pups, wolves will chase away bears from the den area.
Cougars - Although rare in nature, the cougar being a lone hunter is at a disadvantage in a fight with a wolf pack.
Foxes - Foxes have been observed stealing from wolf kills, wolves have been know to steal fox dens, wolves have been known to kill foxes, though it is rare, more often than not they ignore these tiny predators, the exceptions is in the arctic region where wolves will usually kill a fox on sight.
Ravens - One of the most fascinating relationships between animals is the one that seems to exist between wolves and raven. The raven, scavenger of food of all types, will often follow wolf packs in hopes of morsels of food. and wolves have learned to watch for circling ravens as a sign of possible food below.
Dogs - Although wolves are physiologically capable of breeding with dogs, such crossed usually happen in captive situations, trappers tales of wild wolves mating with dogs is usually a campfire myth. Most encounters between wild wolves and dogs are aggressive in nature, it is only natural a dog would be a trespasser in a wolf's territory, small yapping dogs may be attacked as nuisances.
COMMUNICATION
Body Postures
Wolves communicate not only by sound (such as yipping, growling, and howling), but also by body language. This ranges from subtle signals-such as a slight shift in weight-to the obvious, like rolling on the back as a sign of submission.
Here are some other examples of Body postures:
Dominance - A dominant wolf stands stiff legged and tall. The ears are erect and forward, and the hackles bristle slightly. Often the tail is held vertical and curled toward the back. This display shows the wolf's rank to all others in the pack. A dominant lupine may stare penetratingly at a submissive one, pin it to the ground, "ride up" on its shoulders, or even stand on its hind legs.
Submission (active) - In active submission, the entire body is lowered, and the lips and ears are drawn back. Sometimes active submission is accompanied by a rapid thrusting out of the tongue and lowering of the hindquarters. The tail is placed down, or halfway or fully between the legs, and the muzzle often points up to the more dominant animal. The back may be partially arched as the submissive wolf humbles itself to its superior. (A more arched back and more tucked tail indicate a greater level of submission.)
Submission (passive) - Passive submission is more intense than active submission. The wolf rolls on its back and exposes its vulnerable throat and underside. The paws are drawn into the body. This is often accompanied by whimpering.
Anger - An angry lupine's ears are erect, and its fur bristles. The lips may curl up or pull back, and the incisors are displayed. The wolf may also snarl.
Fear - A frightened wolf tries to make its body look small and therefore less conspicuous. The ears flatten down against the head, and the tail may be tucked between the legs, as with a submissive wolf. There may also be whimpering or barks of fear, and the wolf may arch its back. Defensive - A defensive wolf flattens its ears against its head.
Aggression - An aggressive wolf snarls and its fur bristles. The wolf may crouch, ready to attack if necessary.
Suspicion - Pulling back of the ears shows a lupine is suspicious. In addition, the wolf narrows its eyes. The tail of a wolf that senses danger points straight out, parallel to the ground.
Relaxedness - A relaxed wolf's tail points straight down, and the wolf may rest sphinxlike or on its side. The wolf's tail may also wag. The further down the tail droops, the more relaxed the wolf is. Tension - An aroused wolf's tail points straight out, and the wolf may crouch as if ready to spring.
Happiness - As dogs do, a lupine may wag its tail if it is in a joyful mood. The tongue may loll out of the mouth.
Hunting - A wolf that is hunting is tensed, and therefore the tail is horizontal and straight.
Playfulness - A playful lupine holds its tail high and wags it. The wolf may frolic and dance around, or bow by placing the front of its body down to the ground, while holding the rear high, sometimes wagged. This is reminiscent of the playful behavior executed in domestic dogs.

Photograph (above right) from The Searching Wolf
COMMUNICATION THROUGH SCENT
Wolves have a very good sense of smell Research shows wolves have been able to detect their pray at distances of up to 1.75 miles (3 kilometers), which they also use to communicate. Wolves mark their territory with urine and faeces. This is called scent marking. When "outside" wolves smell this, they know that an area is already occupied. Of course, their sense of smell also tells them when food or enemies are near.
(Above photograph ©Richard E. Flauto Wildlife Foundation)
COMMUNICATION THROUGH SOUND - THE WOLF HOWL
Wolves howl for several reasons. Howling helps pack members keep in touch, allowing them to effectively communicate in thickly forested areas or over great distances. Furthermore, howling helps to summon pack members to a specific location. Howling can also serve as a declaration of territory, as portrayed by a dominant wolf's tendency to respond to a human imitation of a "rival" individual in an area that the wolf considers its own. This behavior is also stimulated when a pack has something to protect, such as a fresh kill. As a rule of thumb, large packs will more readily draw attention to themselves than will smaller packs. Adjacent packs may respond to each others' howls, which can mean trouble for the smaller of the two. Thus, wolves tend to howl with great care.
Wolves will also howl for communal reasons. Some scientists speculate that such group sessions strengthen the wolves' social bonds and camaraderie -- similar to community singing among humans. During such choral sessions, wolves will howl at different tones and varying pitches, which tends to prevent a listener from accurately estimating the number of wolves involved. This concealment of numbers makes a listening rival pack wary of what action to take. For example, confrontation could mean bad news if the rival pack gravely underestimates the howling pack's numbers.
Observations of wolf packs suggest that howling occurs most often during the twilight hours, preceding the adults' departure to the hunt and following their return. Studies also show that wolves howl more frequently during the breeding season and subsequent rearing process. The pups themselves begin howling towards the end of July, and can be provoked into howling sessions relatively easily over the following two months. Such indiscriminate howling usually has a communicative intent, and has no adverse consequences so early in a wolf's life. Howling becomes less indiscriminate as wolves learn to distinguish howling pack members from rival wolves.



 
 
 

[hirshey]

The economy may be bad.. But I still argue that if I personally can come across so many wolves in my spare time, shouldn't a full time employee be able to do better?

[Sawbuck]

I'm not saying that I don't believe the science behind them moving to breed, I'm saying that that's not all that happened in this state. The wolves have had help getting moved throughout this state. I saw wolves in the south central cascades thirteen years ago. "They" dropped them off two drainages away from our elk camp. For four years we herd them howl, saw there tracks, and eventually we saw them. No I couldn't get pics of them, and I'm sure you'll say BS, but really it makes no difference to me, I know what I saw and other guys saw them too. It took about four years and then nothing, no more sign of any kind. Maybe they moved to breed? I think they moved down to get an easier meal.

[Sawbuck]

The economy may be bad.. But I still argue that if I personally can come across so many wolves in my spare time, shouldn't a full time employee be able to do better?

Yeah, half of the problem is that they don't have a clue how many wolves or packs are actually in this state.

[jackelope]

I'm not saying that I don't believe the science behind them moving to breed, I'm saying that that's not all that happened in this state. The wolves have had help getting moved throughout this state. I saw wolves in the south central cascades thirteen years ago. "They" dropped them off two drainages away from our elk camp. For four years we herd them howl, saw there tracks, and eventually we saw them. No I couldn't get pics of them, and I'm sure you'll say BS, but really it makes no difference to me, I know what I saw and other guys saw them too. It took about four years and then nothing, no more sign of any kind. Maybe they moved to breed? I think they moved down to get an easier meal.

I have no reason to call BS on that.

[bobcat]

I saw wolves in the south central cascades thirteen years ago. "They" dropped them off two drainages away from our elk camp.

I saw three wolves 23 years ago in the north central cascades. But I never thought people put them there. Why do you think those wolves didn't get their on their own four feet?

[Sawbuck]

I'm not saying that I don't believe the science behind them moving to breed, I'm saying that that's not all that happened in this state. The wolves have had help getting moved throughout this state. I saw wolves in the south central cascades thirteen years ago. "They" dropped them off two drainages away from our elk camp. For four years we herd them howl, saw there tracks, and eventually we saw them. No I couldn't get pics of them, and I'm sure you'll say BS, but really it makes no difference to me, I know what I saw and other guys saw them too. It took about four years and then nothing, no more sign of any kind. Maybe they moved to breed? I think they moved down to get an easier meal.

I have no reason to call BS on that.

Sorry, I get a little defensive. When I tried to report the sighting to several different people they all told me I was mistaken, that there were no wolves, and that they must have been wild dogs or coyotes.

[Sawbuck]

I saw wolves in the south central cascades thirteen years ago. "They" dropped them off two drainages away from our elk camp.

I saw three wolves 23 years ago in the north central cascades. But I never thought people put them there. Why do you think those wolves didn't get their on their own four feet?

I would believe that they would move in and out of the far north part of the state and if I saw them up there I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that they got put there either. There were many facts and circumstances that led me to believe that they got put where I first saw them. The real crazy thing is that one had a collar and somebody out there knows where they came from and what happened to them. Should be public info, but its not, and I think that is because nobody wants to fess up to reintroducing wolves anywhere.

[bobcat]

Should be pretty simple.  Delist wolves in the eastern 1/3 of the state; allow shoot on sight status for wolves there.  Then for the rest of the State, allow people to protect themselves, livestock, and pets by shooting any wolf that gets too close.  I don't see why they really need more funding......

   Don't you think it's more complicated than that? This is an endangered species, and the wolves have hundreds of thousands of city people who love them, and want to see them all over this state in high numbers. The state can't simply delist them, just like that. There will be lawsuits. Political ramifications. Who knows what all will happen. The wolf lovers aren't going to just give a thumbs up and shout for joy when the state tries to open a hunting season on wolves. And even if the WDFW successfully gets a hunting season for wolves, do you think they're just going to give away tags for almost no cost like they do cougar tags? No, it'll probably be a draw, "Quality" wolf application will be $15 and the tag will be $300.

[wolfbait]

Wolves also move because they breed. New packs form in new areas because they are very territorial. A new pack forms and has to move to a new area. 2 packs won't survive in the same place. I'd bet that's the top reason they're expanding their range in Washington. That Conservation NW documentary with Fitkin that was on the Discovery channel showed that alpha female from the methow move to the teanaway and form a new pack. The wolves in the blues came from Oregon.

Actually jack, that has also been proven to be false. In Idaho they have discovered that small wolf packs will come together and hunt as one huge pack, these major wolf packs have been known to be 43 wolves strong.

17 years of Alberta wolves in ID, MT and Wyoming, and the wolves have made liars out of the USFWS and everyone else who promoted them, including David Mech who admiited it not too long ago.

You say that these packs drive others out, well here in the Methow Valley we now have five wolf packs, in 2010 we were sure we had seven, that would be seven with pups. So I would have to say thats just one more lie, that the wolves have proven, to be a lie..

 Remember the lie that only the mommy and daddy wolves breed? That also was proven to be a lie. 

[wolfbait]

Should be pretty simple.  Delist wolves in the eastern 1/3 of the state; allow shoot on sight status for wolves there.  Then for the rest of the State, allow people to protect themselves, livestock, and pets by shooting any wolf that gets too close.  I don't see why they really need more funding......

   Don't you think it's more complicated than that? This is an endangered species, and the wolves have hundreds of thousands of city people who love them, and want to see them all over this state in high numbers. The state can't simply delist them, just like that. There will be lawsuits. Political ramifications. Who knows what all will happen. The wolf lovers aren't going to just give a thumbs up and shout for joy when the state tries to open a hunting season on wolves. And even if the WDFW successfully gets a hunting season for wolves, do you think they're just going to give away tags for almost no cost like they do cougar tags? No, it'll probably be a draw, "Quality" wolf application will be $15 and the tag will be $300.

Defenders of Wildlife will step in with a lawsuit and the game will start all over again, look at the history of wolves.

[wolfbait]

The economy may be bad.. But I still argue that if I personally can come across so many wolves in my spare time, shouldn't a full time employee be able to do better?

We have many WDFW rigs in the Methow Valley, and wolves howling from on end to the other, but I guess we lack get-up-n-go on the part of WDFW. Or maybe they can only count to 2 in the Methow, might be the air. 

[jackelope]

You say that these packs drive others out, well here in the Methow Valley we now have five wolf packs, in 2010 we were sure we had seven, that would be seven with pups. So I would have to say thats just one more lie, that the wolves have proven, to be a lie..

I'm assuming they're spread out though, no? They're not all living in harmony together are they?

[wolfbait]

You say that these packs drive others out, well here in the Methow Valley we now have five wolf packs, in 2010 we were sure we had seven, that would be seven with pups. So I would have to say thats just one more lie, that the wolves have proven, to be a lie..

I'm assuming they're spread out though, no? They're not all living in harmony together are they?

You know I really don't know their language well enough to ask them, but in 2011 when the BBC crew, Conservation NW and Fitkin were doing their film we showed them four pictures of wolves from the lookout pack and we told them about the six wolves over in Cow Cr. maybe ten miles as the crow flys. So my guess is they seem to get along pretty good. Now that we are about out of deer they might start bickering about who gets which dog or cow/calf.

[wolfbait]

This was a Methow Valley deer, now it is wolf waste, I have quite a few pictures just like this one. Wolves are eating the fawns. A friend sent me this picture to compare with what I have.