Angela Hinton

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Angela Hinton Sara WatsonBellarmine College
Observations and Discussion of Wolf
Societies and Behavior
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Canis lupus

• Top Predator on the Food Chain
• Adult male weighs 95-120 lb
• Live in Packs of 2-12
• Mainly prey on ungulates, small rodents
• Protected Species

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Wolf Society

• Leadership Hierarchies
• Extended Family Clans
• Group Cooperation
• Communal Care of Young
• Group Ceremonies
• Pair Bonding
• Feeding Kinship

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Leadership Hierarchies

• Dominant Alpha Male and Female
• Dominant vs. Subdominant Body Language
• Subordinate Omega Wolf

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Hunting

• Alpha Male leads
• Prey on Vulnerable Animals
• Located by Scent or Chance Encounter
• Out-runs Prey
• 5-10 Success

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Communication

• Visual Signals
• Behavioral Communication
• Scents
• Howling

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Pair Bonding

• 1st Sign of Breeding Season
• Starts in February
• Dominant Female Prevents Breeding of Others
• Subordinates Leave

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Communal Pup Rearing

• Litter of 6 pups (1 lb each)
• Non-breeding females Males Participate
• Relay Feeding
• Babysitting
• 75 1st yr. Death Rate??

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Territories

• Howling
• Scent Marking
• Aggression Towards Outsiders
• Carrying Capacity

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Yellowstone
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Humans Elimination of Wolves

• Protected Species
• Predators must be vigorously prosecuted
• Between 1918 and 1935
• 35 lions
• 2,968 coyotes
• 114 wolves were killed in the park

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Reintroduction

• 14 Canadian Wolves Captured in 1995
• 3 Packs
• Soft Release
• Currently, 116 Wolves
• 11 Packs

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Background on Druid Peak Pack
Number 163, Yearling Male
2 males, 4 females, 7 pups in Summer 1999
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Observation 1
Number 163 and Number 40, alpha female
Number 163, Yearling Male
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Observation 2
Number 163, Yearling Male
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Observation 3

• Wolf Pack on a hunt
• Observations made through small telescope approx.
  0.75 miles from site
• Prey- large bison
• Outcome Unsuccessful Hunt!

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Captive Wolves

• Breeding Behavior
• Territory Marking
• Rearing of Young
• Social Interaction

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Layfayette, Indiana
The Wolf Park
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Conclusion

• Political Controversy
• Never Killed a Human
• Help in Genetic Variability of Prey
• Provide Food For Scavengers
• Livestock loses 8 Cattle 84 Sheep (1995-1998)

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References

• McIntyre, Rick. A Society of Wolves, National
  Parks and The Battle over the Wolf
• Phillips and Smith. The Wolves of Yellowstone
• Ralph Maugans Wolf Report. www.poky.sr.net/jjmrm
  /
• Total Yellowstone Page. John Uhler.
  www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/wolf.htm
• (video and audio) Wolves on the Web. Desert
  Moon. www.wolves-on-web.com
• Observation Photo Credits Michael and Angela
  Hinton