WOLF PARK Education of the Public

is an education and research facility devoted to the conservation of wolves, through the study of wolf behavior and WOLF PARK education of the public. Founded in 1972, the Park keeps its animals in spacious, semi-natural enclosures for observational research and education. The approximately 20 canids and small herd of bison housed on the 75-acre property serve as ambassador animals, educating the public about wolves, their relatives and prey species, and their management in captivity. Wolf Park is the only known facility which routinely introduces predators to their natural prey. While our healthy American bison have nothing to fear from the wolves, this is still an unparalleled opportunity to view hunting behavior up close, and watch the bison use their natural defenses to chase away the wolves. Our other unique offering, our Adopt-A-Wolf program, allows people 18 years and older to personally meet our hand-raised animals (see page 3). A non-profit organization, Wolf Park is not affiliated with any university or state financial programs. Its income derives primarily from the generosity of its members, its adopt-a-wolf program, and the 20,000 adults and children who visit the Park each year.

Unworried bison face off with Chinook, a male wolf, during a wolf-bison demonstration. In more than 25 years, neither side has ever been seriously injured. Photo by Monty Sloan

Phone: (765) 567-2265 Wolf Park www.wolfpark.org Fax: (765) 567-4299 4004 E 800 N [email protected] Battle Ground, IN

47920 USA Prices and info good as of 2/24/09

PROGRAMS Open Hours: No reservations necessary. Photography is permitted. No food or pets please. Open May 1 to Nov 30

DAILY TOURS AND LECTURES are offered Tuesday through Sunday between 1 and 5 pm, May 1- Tues-Sun 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm November 30. Guided tours are offered throughout the day. They cover a quarter-mile walk around the Closed on Mondays wolves’ semi-natural enclosures and include the bison, foxes, coyote and wolves, which are all highly Tues - Fri 1-5 pm: Guided Tours visible. Weekends lectures are given in front of the 7-acre main wolf enclosure, and provide a more - AND - detailed look at wolf behavior, pack structure, communication, research at the Park and handling methods, Fri: Howl Night 7:30 pm May 1-Nov 30 as well as allowing for question-and-answer time. Sat: Tours, Lectures & Demonstrations HANDLING DEMONSTRATIONS are offered on Saturdays and Sundays between 1 and 5 pm, May Howl Night 7:30 pm (Year-round) 1-November 30, and during Howl Nights. Staff enter the enclosure and describe wolf handling and Sun: Wolf - Bison Presentation 1:00 pm May 1-Nov 30 socialization methods, the distinction between domestication and taming, and the benefits of socialization for captive animals. NO RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

All programs offered weather permitting. HOWL NIGHT is offered Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 pm between May 1 and November 30, and Saturday nights only at 7:30 pm year round. It features a talk on wolf behavior and communication, the Group or school tours are available

chance to see Park staff enter the enclosure and interact with the wolves, and a taste of the wolf’s most year-round by appointment. famous vocalization, the howl. Learn a little about pack life and communication, and howl along with the Park’s socialized wolves during this sixty minute presentation. Stay longer for question and answers. Admission:

WOLF-BISON DEMONSTRATIONS are offered every Sunday at 1 pm between May 1 and Tues-Sat & Howl Night Sunday November 30. This presentation lasts until 3 pm and includes a lecture on wolf behavior and a handling Adults $7 Adults $8 demonstration. Two to three wolves are then released in a 17-acre pasture with our herd of healthy Kids 6-13 $5 Kids 6-13 $6 American bison. Even though our bison have nothing to fear from the wolves, this is a rare and unique Kids under 6 and MEMBERS always free opportunity to view real hunting and testing behavior first hand. Prices subject to change without notice How To Get To Wolf Park

Wolf Park is located two miles north of Battle Ground, a tiny town located 10 miles north of Lafayette, Indiana. We are 70 miles northwest of Indianapolis, and 130 miles southeast of 2 hours from Chicago Chicago, Illinois.

DRIVING To reach Wolf Park from Interstate 65, take the exit for Indiana State Road 43 North (Brookston, West Lafayette Exit # 178). Go north on SR 43 a mile to State Road 225. Turn right (east) and go about 2 1/2 miles directly into Battle Ground. Drive straight through town, cross the railroad tracks and stay to the left. Drive one long block to Jefferson St. and turn left. Follow Jefferson St. about 1 1/2 miles until you come to a sign on your right for Wolf Park. We are 1/4 mile up the gravel drive.

FLYING Flying into Indianapolis, there is a shuttle van (Lafayette Limo, (765) 497-4106, http://lafayettelimo.com/) between the airport and Lafayette which runs every two hours from early in the One hour from morning till late evening. Rental cars are also available at the Indianapolis Indianapolis airport, and it is about one hour and fifteen minutes to Wolf Park.

Flying into Chicago/O’Hare, you will probably prefer to rent a car at the airport to reach Wolf Park, but Express Air Coach shuttle between O’Hare and Lafayette’s Purdue Airport. It is no longer (765-743-3120, http://expressaircoach.com/) does run a bus possible to fly into Lafayette’s Purdue Airport. HOTELS AND CAMPGROUNDS Econolodge: Interstate 65 N and SR 43 N. (765) 567-7100 (offers discounts to those visiting Wolf Park) Holiday Inn Select: 515 South Street, Lafayette, IN 47901 (765) 432-1000 Leisure Time Campgrounds: off State Rd 25 (765) 589-8089 Prophetstown State Park: P.O. Box 327, Battle Ground, IN 47920 (765) 567-4919 www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/properties/park_prophetstown.html

For more information on local hotels, restaurants, attractions, and car rental or other travel options, please call the Lafayette/ West Lafayette Convention and Visitors Bureau at (765) 447-9999, or toll free at (800) 872-6648, or go to www.homeofpurdue.com.

OTHER FUN THINGS TO DO Museums at Prophetstown Museum of Wabash River Valley history. Includes working 1920s farm. (765) 567-4700 3549 Prophetstown Trail, Battle Ground, IN 47920

All locations are approximately 5-15 minutes drive away from Wolf Park.

SEE SOMETHING YOU LIKE? Overnight and Day Camps You can sign up for memberships, During the summer we offer Day Camps and Overnight camps to sponsorships, and seminars, or simply kids ages 5-14. Day Camps are two consecutive days 9am—4 pm. Overnight Camps start on Saturday at 1pm and go to Sunday at 4pm. make a donation online at Each camp is designed for a specific age group, and we offer them for ages 5- 7, 8-10, 9-11, and 13-14. Youths get to see the wolves, coyotes, foxes and www.wolfparkstore.com! bison, learn about wildlife, animal husbandry, and conservation. See our web Or call (765) 567-2265, 9-5 Mon-Fri site for dates. Adopt-A-Wolf Sponsorships

relationship through photos, sponsor updates and the newsletter. Ever Wanted To Meet A Wolf? Sponsors also receive free family admission to Wolf Park’s hand-raised animals are socialized to Wolf Park, our quarterly newsletter, Gift Shop dis- humans and can therefore be visited under certain circumstances. counts, life histories of and quarterly updates on Many sponsors* have the chance to meet one of Wolf Park’s ani- their wolves, and a sample of their wolf’s shed fur mals in person. This unique opportunity fosters the formation of in the spring. The Adopt-A-Wolf program is a real bonds between sponsors and their animals which often lasts primary financial support for the Park. through the animal’s lifetime. But many sponsors live far away and do not have a chance to visit. They simply enjoy their *Sponsors must be 18 years or older and able bodied to meet a Chetan. Photo by Monty Sloan wolf in person. Restrictions will apply. The Main Pack One of the largest wolves at the but can be inclined to mischief at times. Park. Apollo likes to pat humans on Tristan: A grey male born in the head, so sponsors of Apollo will Ayla: A grey female born in 2004. Ayla is friendly and 1998 and imported from Wolf Hol- meet a proxy wolf. just a little bit goofy at times. She has very striking low in Ipswich, MA, in an effort to coloration. Karin: A grey female born in 1994; introduce new blood to the pack. Kiri: A black male born in 1993. He loves water and Orca’s sister. Karin is very outgoing Tristan thinks he is a throw pillow playing with the hose, and has a tendency to get quite and friendly as well as an excellent and loves to be scratched, petted, muddy. He likes to “roo” at people through the fence. and especially fed. “problem solver” who tries every- Sponsors of Kiri will meet a proxy wolf. thing. She sometimes likes to scent roll on visitors.

Kailani: A grey female born in 2004. Kailani’s name means “sea and sky” in Hawaiian. She is a lovely and The “Fluffy Pack” Other Animals svelte young lady with a charming smile. Erin: A grey female born in 1998 at Wolf Hollow; she Renki: A grey male born in 2004. Renki can be Basil: A platinum-blonde phase red fox born in 1995. is Tristan’s sister. She is a little shy but very beautiful Basil was bred in a fur farm. Because he was raised obnoxious sometimes. He enjoys pushing the buttons and friendly once she gets to know you. She is calm of both people and wolves. as someone’s pet, he is very social. He likes to climb around new people and likes to investigate shoes. on people’s heads and lick their ears! He arrived at Ruedi: A grey male born in 2004. Ruedi loves peo- Chetan: A grey male born in 1995. He is shy at first Wolf Park in 1996. ple, smiling, and food, although not necessarily in that but once introduced likes to greet face to face. He has Devon: A silver-phase red fox born in 2000. She is a order. He always has a few kisses saved for visitors. the friendly disposition, good looks and charm of his gentle, goofy and affectionate vixen hand-raised at Wotan: A grey male born in 2005. Wotan is known mother, Karin. Wolf Park along with Ember. She enjoys red licorice

for his charm, and an ingratiating grin. He likes to give treats and having her neck scratched. paw and smile for people. Single Wolves Ember: A typically marked red fox born in 2000.

Orca: A grey male born in 1994; Karin’s litter brother. Ember is a fiery little fox with an engaging personality. Wolfgang: A grey male born in 2005. Wolfgang is Orca is a shy wolf, but once he feels comfortable he She is more shy than her foster sister, Devon, but can studying under Renki to become a little troublemaker, gives an exuberant, licky greeting. He was removed be coaxed up with food, and will occasionally deign to but he loves people and is very friendly. be scritched. from the main pack in 1997, when he was discovered paralyzed; he has since recovered somewhat. The “Alpha Pack”

Marion: A grey female born in 1998 to Karin and Eclipse: A grey female, faded to mostly white, born Seneca. Marion is very affectionate and people- in 1997. Eclipse returned to us from the Turtle Back Zoo, to which she was donated as a puppy. Eclipse is oriented, and loves to kiss and also to untie bootlaces.

Orca and Karin’s daughter. She is usually friendly but can be some- Miska: A black male born in 1996; a litter- Twister: A male coyote born in 2006. Twister likes what shy at times, especially with mate to Seneca. He is easygoing but spends a to ask people to play with him. lot of his time being harassed by Marion. Spon- men. Willow: A female coyote born in 2006. Willow loves sors of Miska will meet a proxy wolf. Echo: A grey female born in 1992. people, mice, and soft cushions. Echo returned to us from the Ross The “Pillow Pack” Park Zoo, to which she was donated as a puppy. Echo A one-year Adopt-A-Wolf membership is $175. is Vega and Akili’s daughter. She is extremely friendly That allows one person to be a sponsor of one Apollo: A black male born in 1995; aka “Pillow”. animal. We hope you join this unusual program!

Howls and Growls JUNIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Wolf Park’s Newsletter for Kids A program for children ages 7 to 17 who are interested in gaining experience

Howls and Growls is a four-page quarterly newsletter just for kids. Articles working at a real wildlife park. Junior Volunteers meet the first Saturday of cover aspects of the life of the wolf, conservation and ecology, and answer each month for crafts, projects, volunteer work at Wolf Park, and more. They

questions kids have about wolves or their environment. sponsor the annual Walk for Education, Easter and Christmas Subscriptions are $3 for a year. Visit www.wolfparkstore.com to sign up! parties at the Park and much more. For more information email John Davis at [email protected], or visit www.wolfparkkids.org. ASK ABOUT OUR KIDS’ OVERNIGHT AND DAY CAMPS! Wolf Park Seminars

For anyone interested in wolf or dog behavior

Wolf Park offers seminar opportunities throughout the year. Much of the information presented is based on the behavior research data collected here since 1972. Behavior seminars consist of lectures, discussions, video presentations, extensive observations of wolf behavior and instruction on observing behavior objectively. Also included in many seminars is the Seminar participants photograph a wolf-bison demo. Photo by Monty Sloan opportunity to see the Wolf-Bison demonstration up close. Enrollment is ♦A seminar on working with problem animals, using usually limited to 25 persons. positive reinforcement and other techniques, with animal

Participants must be 18 years of age or older and able bodied in order to trainer Ken McCort interact with our animals. We welcome participants age 16-17 and/or ♦Art critique and instruction, anatomy, behavior and those with disabilities, but due to safety concerns these persons will not reference photography with wildlife artist Jan Martin be permitted to meet our animals. Restrictions will apply McGuire ♦Evolution of dogs, a biologist’s perspective, with Dr. Ray All participants receive a certificate and a one year membership to Wolf Park. Coppinger, author of “Dogs”, who is often seen on the Seminar fees include all educational materials needed and some meals. All Discovery Channel talking about dogs and wolves. other meals, accommodations and transportation are the responsibility of the The fee for each of these three-day seminars is $325-395. participant.

Wolf Behavior and Captive Management Seminars consist of lectures, video Mini-Intensives are one day seminars that include lectures and presentations, observations and hands-on experience with wolves, and more. hands on with our wolves. Subjects currently include “Wolves and Great for anyone who wants an in-depth, ethologically-based look at wolves. Dogs” and “Wolf Conservation”. The fee for each of these one-day seminars is $195. Seminars are based on research carried out at Wolf Park since 1972.

The fee for this five-day seminar is $495.00. REGISTRATION INFORMATION Wolf Intensive Weekends feature “everything you ever wanted to know about Most seminars require payment in full to hold a spot. The five day seminars require a $100.00 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit to hold your spot. Payment in FULL is required wolves”, aimed at those who want an in-depth look at wolves, and to meet a 2 months before the seminar begins or you may lose your reservation and deposit. few in person. Includes overview of taxonomy, physiology, ecology, behavior, If you cancel between 6 months and 2 months prior to the start of a seminar, you will history, folklore and news on wild wolf populations. be refunded any payments made MINUS the deposit. Should you cancel between 2 For mostly behavior, try our Behavior Intensive months and 1 month before the start of a seminar, you will be refunded HALF of your payment MINUS the deposit. Cancellations made within 30 days of a seminar will Weekend taught only in February, during the wolf’s receive no refund. No payments will be applied towards future seminars. Any breeding season. unrefunded money paid towards a seminar which you did not attend will be considered a tax-deductible donation to Wolf Park. Wolf Park also features a variety of three-day seminars taught by guest speakers! These Accommodations are extra. Seminars fill up, so reserve your spot! seminars may vary from year to year. Past seminars have included: Current seminar descriptions and dates are ♦A relationship-building seminar, available on our web sites and in Wolf Park News. focusing on the animal/human Sign up for a seminar online! relationship, with animal trainer Suzanne Clothier www.wolfparkstore.com

safely inside the wolf enclosure. Enrollment limited to 9 persons per seminar. Non-refundable full payment Photo Seminars & Shoots of $195 seminar/ $275 shoot is required to hold a spot. If you choose to change dates within one month of your session, a $25 fee will apply. Photography Seminars consist of a talk Since these sessions commonly fill, there is no refund for a cancellation. and powerpoint about photographing We rarely cancel a session for weather- only a heavy down pour for many wolves in a pack setting, photographing hours will cause cancellation. In that case we would reschedule, or refund wildlife in general, as well as technical the fee. information about photography with A 35mm camera with a 135mm to 200mm telephoto lens is recommended. emphasis on how to photograph wolves. A good filter (we recommend an 81A warming filter) is highly This will be followed by 2 1/2—3 hours of recommended to protect your lens against wolf paws and tongues. Bring supervised outdoor photography with a flash if you have one; the wolves won’t mind. Bring two cameras if you professional photographer Monty Sloan. Participants will photograph Park have a second body so you will not have to change lenses in the wolf pen. wolves from inside the enclosure. The wolves are in semi-natural habitat If you use film, bring a variety of film speeds (from 100 to 400 or 800 for fantastic photo opportunities. speed). Weather and lighting conditions can vary greatly. Tripods or Photography shoots allow for more time to take photos, but do not include monopods are prohibited since the wolves dismantle them. Monty’s talk. This means that there is about 3 1/2—5 hours of photography Wolf Park employees, volunteers and staff are not responsible for loss or time inside the enclosure. damage done to equipment or any injuries which may be inflicted by any of Both programs include a one hour training session about how to behave the animals. Normal restrictions apply for participation in this program. Internships, Practica, Research Opportunities

howling, pup development, pup interaction with adults, aggression, and rank order. If you would like to get involved with wolves . . . . For those who desire a more immediate and fully immersive experience, Wolf Park

Wolf Park welcomes those 18 and over and interested offers behavior seminars (see page 4).

in wolves or wildlife in general to apply for these Wolf Park accepts interns and practicums at all times of the year, and the dates are unique learning and research opportunities. not set. You just need to choose what dates you can do, or want to do, and let us

Wolf Park has hosted interns and practicums from all over the world: England, know. Also let us know if the dates are flexible. We look at all the dates and try to arrange a schedule that works for the Park and allows the most applicants to come. Brazil, Germany, Japan, Holland, Australia, South Africa and many more, as well as people from across the U.S. and Canada. Interns and practicums stay on the Park property in the same building which houses the office. There are two beds to a room. There is a INTERNS are required to work for the Park. They stay for kitchen, washer/dryer, microwave, dishes, and other a minimum of three months and pay rent of $180/month amenities. It is helpful to have a car while here, since we are for the first month, $150/month for each additional month. out in the boonies, but it is not required. Their duties include feeding and watering the wolves, giving tours, grounds maintenance, crowd control, and SPECIAL THINGS INTERNS CAN DO We observe the wolves basically doing anything and everything required to keep during breeding season, sometimes 24 hours a day, and the Park running. In return they get hands-on experience always need people to help with that. This is excellent running a wildlife park, handling animals, and working with experience at field research, data collection, and observation the public. Interns can sometimes get permission to stay techniques, as well as a good opportunity for those for more than three months if they desire a longer interested in wolf behavior to view a lot of it. The breeding experience. We rely on our interns, who are here long season runs around Jan 20—Feb 20 and is dictated by the enough to be trained for various jobs, and require highly wolves’ behavior and cycles. Therefore we have the motivated and independent people for those positions. breeding season internship which lasts from early January to the end of February, just a two month stay (for $330 rent). PRACTICUMS are not required to work for the Park, but they are welcome to, and many do. They usually stay for one month and pay $180 rent plus a $350 We need a lot of interns in summer. We are open daily from May 1 to November practicum fee. Practicum students sometimes have some form of project or 30 and need people to give tours during that time. Summer is also the time we get research in mind and use their free time to gather or analyze data. Others simply the most applicants, as most of our interns are college students who are only act like interns, but for a shorter stay. available May to August. If you apply for September to March the odds are very good you will be accepted. A large percentage of our summer applicants are also BOTH are welcome to do observational research on the Park animals: wolves, accepted, but we cannot always take them all. Practicums are more easily foxes, coyote and bison. If you want to do research while here, be sure to give us approved as they only stay for one month. We generally choose summer interns in an outline in advance as only some types of projects will be feasible. Most February. There is no official deadline for any time period, but it is nice to arrange research can only involve observation of the animals, not intrusive procedures such things a few months in advance. Please visit our website to obtain an as collecting blood samples, etc. Previous research done at the Park has involved application.

Some Basic Wolf Information

What are wolves? temperatures far below zero. Snow does not melt when it falls on wolves’ fur! In the spring, the inner layer of wool is shed to help keep the wolf cool during the summer. Wolves are large, predatory canids once common throughout North America, An adult male wolf usually weighs 75 to 120 pounds; females weigh between 60 Europe, Africa and Asia, now living mostly in remote wilderness. They are the largest and 95 pounds. This may be smaller than some breeds of dog! Wolves lose some living members of the canid family, which also includes foxes and coyotes. Wolves insulating fat and shed much of their fur in the summer, and weigh less then. Also, are the ancestors of all domestic dogs. wolves which live in the cold north are generally larger and heavier than wolves which There are two species of wolves in North America. The smaller species is the red live in warmer climates. wolf, Canis rufus, which has shorter, redder fur than the gray wolf. The gray wolf, Wolves’ eyes range in color from gold to orange, and may even be green. They Canis lupus, has thicker fur which is more gray or golden, and is larger than the red are blue at birth, changing color at around eight weeks of age. Wolves’ jaw muscles wolf. The gray wolf lives in the northeastern United States, Canada, and Europe. are twice as powerful as those of German shepherd dogs, and can produce pressure The red wolf lives in the southeastern United States. of 1500 pounds per square inch. Wolves have 42 teeth. There are many subspecies of the gray wolf, such as the arctic wolf, a white sub- Wolves have long, slender legs and narrow chests. They are adapted for running species which lives in Alaska and northern Canada, and the Mexican wolf, a smaller fast to catch moving prey like deer and elk. The bones (the radius and ulna) in their subspecies which has been recently reintroduced in parts of the southwestern United forearms are fused so their front legs are strong for running. They can reach speeds States. of up to 45 miles per hour for short distances. Wolves have four toes on each paw, What do wolves look like? with two “dewclaws” — small, vestigial toes — on each forefoot. Their claws are like our fingernails, and grow throughout their lives. The claws do not retract. The gray wolf can actually range in color from pure white to solid black, but the most common shade is a tawny brown in which the wolf’s guard hairs are banded Where do wolves live? with black, white, gold and brown. This banded coloration is known as agouti, and is Gray wolves once lived all over North America, Asia, and Europe. They still roam found in a number of wild species. these areas, but in much reduced ranges and numbers. Today, about 3,000 wolves Wolves have two layers of fur: the outer, guard layer is composed of long, coarse live in the wild in Minnesota, around thirty on Lake Superior’s Isle Royale, about 500 hairs which shed water and snow and contain pigments which give the wolf’s coat its in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, 500 in Wisconsin, and about 1500 in the northern color. The inner layer is thick, soft gray “wool”, which traps air and insulates the wolf Rocky Mountains of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. An occasional wolf is seen in from the elements. These layers are so warm that wolves can comfortably tolerate Washington state, and in North or South Dakota. In Alaska, there are between 5,900 and 7,200 wolves. Mexican wolves are being reintroduced to Arizona and New Mex- playing submission crouches down to look small, lowers or even tucks its tail, looks ico. There are approximately 100 red wolves in the wild in North Carolina. away from the other wolf, and puts its ears down and back. This is usually all that Wolves live in all kinds of terrain, from desert to tundra. They prefer areas with happens when two wolves meet: wolves cannot afford to spend all their time fighting, cover (places to hide such as brush, shrubs, or trees), near water, and near large and these subtle displays are all that is needed to maintain social stability. congregations of prey (herds of deer or caribou, for example). Wolf communication involves a lot of signals like these. The postures and facial source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service expressions used will vary in intensity, or strength, depending on the context: an alpha wolf will often simply look hard at a wolf to send it a dominance message, and What do wolves eat? a submissive wolf will often just look away from a dominant wolf to give the appropri- Wolves primarily eat meat. Their favorite prey is large ungulates (hoofed mam- ate response. An excited alpha may give a stronger dominance message, and growl mals) such as deer, elk, moose, caribou and bison. Since many of these animals are at a lower-ranking wolf or even hold it down. Stronger submission signals include larger than wolves, the only way wolves can catch them is to live and hunt in groups. whining and pawing at the dominant wolf. Mostly, signals just get louder and stronger Wolves will also catch and eat rabbits, mice, birds, snakes, fish and other animals. the more excited the wolves get, and fighting rarely occurs. Wolves will eat non-meat items (such as vegetables), but not often. The alpha wolves are not necessarily “in charge” or “leaders of the pack” at every Even working together, it is hard for wolves to catch their prey. Healthy deer can moment. They may decide where and when to hunt or they may not. An alpha wolf easily outrun wolves, and large animals like moose or bison often stand their ground is not always a leader so much as a wolf who has the right to do whatever it wants, until the wolves give up. Some studies have shown that when wolves hunt deer, an whenever it wants. Since they have so much social freedom to do what they like, average of 84 to 87 out of every 100 deer escape. The ones caught are usually old, alpha wolves often have more opportunity than lower-ranking wolves to start hunting sick, or very young, rather than healthy animals in the prime of life. or to choose a resting place. The rest of the pack will then often follow and join in. Some documentaries show hunting wolves growling or snarling at their prey with But when in home range, often younger wolves will take the lead on an outing. their hackles raised. Wolves do not do this. Growling and snarling are part of social The omega wolf ranks lower than any other wolf. It usually sleeps away from the aggression — expressions of an intention to fight, used between wolves. Wolves do other pack members and may not engage in much social behavior, like howling or not growl or snarl at their prey. It would be like a human getting angry at an ice greeting. The other wolves may make a “game” of picking on the omega wolf, biting cream cone he or she was about to eat! Wolves who are hunting look very excited it and driving it away from food. At other times, the omega may be tolerated or even and happy, even “friendly”. Their tails wag, their ears are up, and they are quiet. accepted into group activities. This wolf may be able to eventually work itself back They stare at their prey and look very focused. higher in the rank order or it may eventually choose to leave and form a new pack. After catching and killing their food, wolves may eat up to 20 percent of their body Rank order is not always linear and may be somewhat flexible in certain circum- weight. That is like eating 80 quarter pound hamburgers at one sitting! Wolves in the stances. Puppies and yearlings, for example, have a rank order, but this order may wild may not get to eat every day and must gorge when they get the chance. change from month to month, week to week, or even from day to day in the case of The alpha male does not always eat first. In fact, the hungriest wolf usually eats young puppies. (The rank order for adult wolves is usually more stable.) “Playing” first. Even a low-ranking animal can defend food until it is done eating, and whoever wolves, who are engaging in behaviors such as chasing and running for fun, may wants the food most usually gets it. An exception to this is the omega wolf, a very “switch” rank temporarily, and a lower-ranking wolf will be allowed to mock-dominate low-ranking, “scapegoat” wolf who lives on the fringes of the pack. Omega wolves a higher-ranking one. Some rank orders may be circular, with wolf A dominating wolf usually eat last. B who dominates wolf C who dominates wolf A, but this is rarely permanent. Also, At first, wolf pups suckle milk from their mothers. Adults feed puppies who are too low-ranking wolves of one gender may be able to dominate high-ranking wolves of old to nurse but too young to hunt for themselves by regurgitation. Puppies beg for the other, without changing their rank in the social order of their respective sex. food by following the adults, whining, and pawing and licking at the adults’ mouths. How do wolves communicate? This stimulates the adult wolves to throw up food which is in their stomachs. The puppies then eat the regurgitated food. (Since wolves have no hands, the easiest Wolves communicate via many media. The most common are body postures, way for them to carry food to puppies is in their stomachs. Also, since they have gestures, and soft sounds, such as those described earlier when a dominant wolf already chewed and partially digested the food, it is nice and soft for the young pup- meets a submissive one. The meaning of these postures may vary in context — that pies to eat.) Both male and female wolves, and even wolves who are not the pups’ is, their meanings change depending on which other postures, sounds or gestures parents, will regurgitate to feed the puppies. are used by the wolf at the same time. For example, there is an expression called an agonistic pucker. A wolf with this How do wolves live together? expression has its lips retracted, baring its canines and incisors. It may or may not Wolves live in groups of between two and twenty (averaging about six to eight) be doing other things: it may have its tail up or down, its ears forward or back, it may animals. These groups are called packs. Each pack of wolves maintains an area, be crouching or it may be standing up tall. Looking at the other signals the wolf is called a territory, which belongs to it and which it defends from other wolves. Within giving, an observer can get a clearer picture of what the agonistic pucker signal this territory, the pack hunts, sleeps, plays, and raises pups. Territories range in size means. A puckering wolf which is also crouching with its tail down and its ears back from 50 to 1,000 square miles, depending on how much prey is available. Packs also is probably frightened and defensive — it is being submissive but warning that it will vary in size depending on what kind of prey is available. Wolf packs which hunt deer fight if pressed. A puckering wolf which has its tail up and its ears forward and is as a primary source of food will have fewer wolves than packs which hunt bison or standing tall is probably self-confident and is trying to do something like guard food moose. These large animals are harder to catch and kill, and can also feed more from another wolf. wolves once caught. Wolves also communicate by scent. Wolves mark the boundaries of their territo- Wolves have a linear rank order, or hierarchy, which helps keep peace within the ries with their urine and feces and can smell these substances to determine just who pack. There is a separate line of rank for each sex: one for males and one for fe- left them there, and maybe even their age and gender. Wolves urinate on, or mark, males. At the top of the rank order is the alpha male and female. The beta male and things they regard as their property (such as food) and want to come back to later. female are next highest in status. At the bottom of the rank order is the omega Wolves can tell by scent whether female wolves are ready to mate. Wolves have “scapegoat” wolf, which may be either male or female. In the rank order, each wolf many scent glands, including between their toes, and 1/4 of the way down the top of has a set place. When two wolves from the same pack cross paths, one is always their tail (you can see the scent gland on the top of the tail as a dark spot part of the dominant to the other, or higher in status than the other wolf. The lower-ranking wolf way down) to help spread their smell around. is said to be submissive to the higher-ranking, dominant wolf. An unusual behavior, scent-rolling, involves a wolf who finds something strong- The alpha wolves are not necessarily the strongest, the fastest, or the smartest. smelling (often manure or a carcass) getting down and rolling in it, coating them- High rank has more to do with attitude and confidence than size or strength. Domi- selves. Some dogs also scent-roll. No-one is sure why wolves scent-roll, but it may nance also does not favor gender — either the alpha male or the alpha female may be that they are bringing the smell back to the rest of their pack, which might then be the overall “leader of the pack”. follow the wolf’s scent trail back to the thing that smelled interesting. While dominant wolves generally act more self-confident than lower-ranking ones, Of course, the most famous way in which wolves communicate is by sound. In wolves do not walk around constantly displaying their status. They most often adopt addition to the whimpers, whines, growls, squeaks, squeals, shrieks, yips, barks, a neutral pose, changing their expression towards dominance or submission depend- pants and miscellaneous noises which merge with body postures and gestures to ing on which other wolves are around. (A wolf will show dominance to a lower- form wolves’ primary means of communication, the wolf is capable of producing one ranking animal, and submission to a higher-ranking one.) A wolf displaying domi- spectacular and familiar sound: the howl. nance stands up tall, looks directly at the other wolf, puts its ears forward, and will lift A wolf’s howl may be heard up to ten miles away depending on weather conditions its tail (usually not much higher than its back, unless it is very excited). A wolf dis- and terrain. There are several different kinds of howl, and each has a different meaning depending on the context in which it is used. The chorus howl, where three or been seen in white and other colors. Their tail tips are always white. Foxes do not more wolves howl together, is used both to call the pack members together and to hunt in packs and hunt only small animals such as mice, birds, or rabbits. Foxes do warn other packs of the presence of the howling wolves. The solo howl, howled by not hunt prey much larger than themselves. They also like to eat plants, vegetables, one wolf, is primarily used to attract a mate or to relocate a pack from which the lone and insects, which wolves do not eat as often. They can climb trees. Foxes breed wolf has been separated. Duet howls, by two wolves, have different meanings de- around the same time as wolves, producing litters of four to six pups in the spring. pending on whether the wolves are howling simultaneously or alternately, and on the They make many noises — they do everything but howl and meow — and they have histories of the two wolves. a varied repertoire of communication, like wolves, but they are not as social as Chorus howls may become rallies, where the howling wolves and sometimes the wolves and do not have such a vast array of signals. whole pack come together in a mob of wagging tails and sniffing noses. The wolves There are many subspecies of foxes, including gray foxes, fennec, arctic, and bat- greet each other during a rally and act very excited. Lower-ranking wolves will often eared. Red and gray foxes are the most common species seen in the United States. rally to higher-ranking wolves, directing their greeting behavior primarily toward the Gray foxes are smaller than reds, have oval pupils and black (rather than white) tail dominant animals and following them around as they howl, offering them submissive tips, and spend more time in trees. Their fur is also more gray than red, and their greetings and affirming their higher status. Sometimes rallies end in small arguments muzzles are smaller and more pointed. as the greeting ceremony brings two wolves who would rather not be near each other Coyotes are also smaller than wolves, but bigger than foxes. Adult coyotes weigh into close contact as they greet others in the group. 28-35 pounds. Coyotes may often be the same color as wolves — agouti — but they Despite the assertions of popular mythology, the wolf does not howl only during the are not quite the same shape. Their legs are comparatively shorter, their muzzles full moon. Wolves howl during the day, at night, and any time of year, no matter what more pointed, and their ears bigger. Coyotes do not usually hunt in packs, although the moon is doing. Wolves howl most often at dawn and dusk, when they are most in places where wolves used to live, coyotes have taken over the wolf’s old role and active, and during late January and early February, the breeding season. Wolves do may hunt in small packs to bring down slightly larger game. Coyotes eat mice, birds, not howl to “strike terror” into the hearts of their prey. Prey can smell that wolves are rabbits, young deer or sheep, and other things usually smaller than themselves. around and do not need to be warned by sound of their presence — and it does the They will also eat vegetables, insects, and carcasses. Coyotes do howl. Their howls wolves no good to warn the prey that they are hunting. Wolves hunt in silence, and are higher-pitched, and contain more barking noises, than the howls of wolves. They make use of the advantage of surprise whenever they can. have a much wider vocal range than wolves.

When are the puppies born? How are wolves different from dogs?

Wolves breed in late January and early February. Usually only the alpha pair — How a dog is different from a wolf depends on the breed of dog. Of course, breeds the top-ranking male and female wolf — produce pups. It is hard for a pack to raise such as the Chihuahua are very different from wolves — they are much smaller, and more than one litter of puppies, and so the alpha pair will try to prevent lower-ranking have big brown pop-eyes, domed heads, etc., which wolves do not have. There are wolves from breeding by dominating them and chasing them away from potential several breeds of dog, including the German Shepherd, the malamute, and the Sibe- mates. Sometimes, however, the alphas are not successful and the pack will have rian husky, which look like wolves to some extent. In general, wolves have broader two, or even three litters. Sometimes, an alpha will have a preference for, and breed heads, smaller, more rounded ears with fur in them, narrower chests, longer legs, with, a lower-ranking animal. Sometimes an alpha will mate with two or three differ- and do not have a clear white “mask” on their faces like malamutes and huskies. ent wolves. While wolves do sometimes practice monogamy, mating only with one Wolves also do not have curled tails (like chows or huskies), floppy ears (like bea- particular wolf, in large packs they may not do so. gles), dark brown eyes, or pink noses. Pregnant females dig holes, called dens, in which they can raise their pups in Wolves also behave very differently from dogs. Dogs have been bred by humans safety. The hole may be another animal’s abandoned home or the mother wolf may for thousands of years to do a lot of different things that wolves do not naturally do, dig the den herself. The den may be very deep and is usually well-hidden. The like bark a lot at intruders (wolves would rather run away) or to herd, rather than puppies will stay in the den until they are about five weeks old. The mother will stay chase and kill, sheep. Dogs are also more tolerant of humans touching and petting with them almost constantly at first, and the other wolves will bring food to her. Later, them, and do not display as much hunting and rank-order maintenance behavior as she will begin to go out of the den for brief periods to eat. do wolves. Dogs behave as pets: they orient to humans, regard humans as dominant The puppies are born in late April or early May. There may be up to twelve pups in animals, and usually do not kill domestic animals. Wolves, of course, behave like the a litter but usually there are four to six. The puppies are born black, their eyes and wild animals they are. ears closed, and they immediately begin to nurse from their mother. They weigh less It can be very difficult to tell whether a wolf-like animal is a wolf or a dog. There are than a pound and are covered with soft, fuzzy, wooly fur. They cannot walk, but they no genetic tests or physical measurements which can tell for sure. The best way is to can squeak, mew, and wriggle. They make lots of noise and root and suck at any- take the animal to an expert, who will make an educated guess based on the animal’s thing in front of them, hoping it is something they can nurse from. physical appearance and behavior. The pups’ eyes and ears open at around two weeks. They grow very fast and by Some people breed their dogs with wolves and make wolf hybrids. These animals three weeks they can crawl; by four they can walk. Pups as young as two weeks old come in many shapes and sizes and they are not always very wolf-like. Since breed- have been known to howl! By six weeks they are exploring the area around the den; ers can get more money for a wolf hybrid than for a dog, some may sell mixed-breed by eight weeks they are tasting pre-chewed meat regurgitated for them by adult pack dog puppies as wolf hybrids. Later on, people who bought dog puppies will buy a members. They will be moved out of the den and stay at “rendezvous sites” out in real wolf hybrid and get into trouble. Wolf hybrids which act like wolves can be a lot the open, perhaps babysat by a low-ranking adult wolf, while they wait for the hunting of trouble as pets. They will hunt small animals and other pets, eat furniture, and adults to return. The layer of guard hairs which will give their coats their adult color mark their territory, like wolves, by urinating all over the house. Very dog-like wolf begins to grow in around this time. By nine months old, the pups are eating meat, hybrids usually survive longer as pets. But because no two wolf hybrids are alike, it hunting small prey, and are almost as big as the adults, but they will not be com- is hard to tell what kind of animal — wolf-like or dog-like — a wolf hybrid puppy will be pletely adult until they are two years old. when it grows up. The owner may end up with a destructive, wolf-like pet instead of a At two years, the pups will be sexually mature, and may choose to leave the pack, dog-like, friendly animal. either permanently or temporarily, in search of a mate. It is very hard to keep a wolf-like wolf hybrid as a pet and many people give up and While wolves in captivity might live to be 10-15 years of age thanks to veterinary have to have their animals put to sleep or sent to “rescue” facilities. While some care and a steady diet, wild wolves have a life expectancy of just 3-5 years. Many people do keep pet wolf hybrids and enjoy them, generally it is not a good idea to die before their first birthday from disease or malnutrition, and others die from conflict keep a wolf hybrid as a pet. There is already a kind of wolf you can keep in the with other wolves, with humans, or accidents such as getting kicked by an elk. house: it is called the dog (Canis lupus familiaris).

How are wolves different from foxes and coyotes? Are wolves dangerous to humans?

It is very rare to actually see a wolf in the wild, but other species, such as foxes and Wild wolves are afraid of humans and usually run away rather than be near people. coyotes, are still common and may be mistaken for wolves at long distances. Some They may have a flight distance — a minimum distance they can be from something breeds of dog are very “wolf-like” and may also be mistaken for wolves if they are before they run from it — of over 1/4 of a mile, too far away even for them to be seen seen running loose. by us. Healthy wild wolves do not attack people. Pet wolves, and wolf-dog hybrids, Foxes are much smaller than wolves — adult red foxes weigh only 10-14 pounds may be dangerous to humans because they are no longer afraid of humans. They and are not much larger than house cats. They have slit pupils, like cats, so they are may hunt small children or pets, who remind them of prey. Wolves that have been able to see well in the dark. (Wolves and coyotes have round pupils.) “Red” foxes habituated to humans by being fed, intentionally or accidentally (as in a dump) can range in color from pale orange to dark brown or even black, and occasionally have also lose fear of humans and become a danger. www.wolfparkstore.com

Wolf Park’s gift shop carries lots of unique Wolf Park also publishes the Ethology items related to wolves. We feature matted Series, a collection of books and and framed photos of our wolves, foxes, manuscripts for those interested in ethology coyote and bison, as well as printed or hand- and the behavior of wolves. These titles painted T-shirts, bookmarks, greeting cards, include our Management Chapter, a socks, postcards, stationery, static cling compendium of our management techniques decals, earrings, rings and necklaces, for captive wolves and a description of our screensavers, caps, pens, bumper and window hand-raising process; our Wolf Ethogram, a “wolf-to- stickers, pins, stuffed wolves, key chains, rubber English dictionary” for those interested in wolf behavior wolves, ceramic and travel mugs, magnets, puzzles, and in doing observational research on wolves; the and more. We offer a rotating stock of children’s and Wolf Park History, an anecdotal history of the Park from adult books on wolves and related species, including its inception in 1972 to the present; and several Ray and Lorna Coppinger’s Dogs and Karen Pryor’s pamphlets for children.

Don’t Shoot the Dog. We may be temporarily out of Please visit the gift shop during the Park’s normal open some items as our stock is constantly changing and hours (front cover) or www.wolfparkstore.com to being updated. order from our online catalog! Wolf Park Memberships — Join Our Pack!

If you want to help support wolves, consider becoming a member of Wolf Park! As a non-profit organization, Wolf Park relies upon the support of its members to keep itself going. Without the assistance of people like yourself, Wolf Park literally could not continue to exist. Keep yourself up-to-date on Wolf Park events while you help us to dispel the myths surrounding wolves and educate the public about these beautiful animals.

SINGLE members ($35.00) receive free admission for one person for one year, our quarterly beautiful full-color newsletter Wolf Park News, invitations to members-only events, and 10% off books in the Gift Shop.

FAMILY members ($50.00) receive all the benefits of single membership, plus free admission for a family (up to 8 people) to the Park for one year.

Don’t forget to check out our ADOPT-A-WOLF sponsorships (page 3), our most popular program. Wolf sponsors 18 and over can really become a member of the Wolf Park pack and meet our hand-raised, socialized animals in person!

Want to join? Visit our web site — www.wolfpark.org! An intern greets Orca. Photo by Monty Sloan

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