Howling wolf ... Is it worth it to be afraid?

Howling wolf ... What is it? A typical picture from an art book, part of a landscape or a fragment of a nightmare? As practice shows , this may well be the first, the second, and the third. Let's try to talk about this, of course, a unique and very interesting animal.

General description of the predator

According to scientists, the gray wolves that we are familiar with are one of the largest, elusive, strong animals of the Canidae family. Each representative has excellent vision, tremendous hearing and a rare sense of smell. In addition, do not forget about the amazing endurance of the animals described.

An adult gray wolf can be up to 160 cm long and shoulder height up to 85 cm. Impressive, is not it? That's why a howling wolf can scare even the bravest and courageous traveler.

It should be noted that the weight of the animal differs depending on the place of his residence. We can only call average indicators: from 25 to 39 kg. Although recently more and more often there are individuals weighing up to 100 kg. Female usually weigh 5-10 kg less than males.

In winter, wolves are covered with fluffy and coarse wool with a undercoat, due to which they can withstand temperatures up to -40 ° C.

Wolf packs consist of a wolf, a she-wolf and their cubs. Surprisingly, to protect these mammals can be combined into one huge flock. The wolf is monogamous, so the pair remains until the death of one of the partners.

These animals can reproduce themselves from two years old. Females give birth once a year. Pregnancy lasts about two months, and the average litter - 5-6 cubs. At birth, wolf puppies weigh about 500 grams, but due to the fact that they grow very fast, by the autumn the weight of cubs increases by 30 times.

These predators are considered territorial animals. Therefore, if a wolf howls to the moon not far from your house or homestead, it is one and the same animal, every time with the onset of darkness. Strangers will not pass.

The wolves feed mainly on cloven-hoofed animals, but during a food shortage they can eat everything alive and even carrion. In severe winter packs often attack wounded or weak individuals of their species and eat the bodies of dead relatives.

Surprisingly, these predators can hear sounds at a great distance, they can swim and run very fast.

To communicate and maintain relationships in the pack, wolves use many distinctive facial movements.

Interesting Facts

A wolf can not, like a snake or a scorpion, kill a victim instantly, so the pack attacks another living creature and tears off a piece of flesh.

Predators began to use human meat in the Middle Ages, when the plague progressed in Europe, and people were not buried. Their corpses were eaten by wolves. Most likely, since the very wailing wolf began to inspire such a strong fear, because it was this animal that began to be associated with illness and death.

It should be noted that, contrary to a fairly common misconception, although a wolf and distant relative of a dog, he perceives it only as food.

Is the wolf dangerous to humans?

People treat these predators in different ways, but always with admiration. Pictures of wolves, howling at the moon, continually appear on objects of clothing or interior.

Wolves - carriers of various diseases. When the beast becomes infected with rabies, unlike other animals that become disoriented and lethargic, it becomes aggressive, and it may well attack people.

Of course, the wolf is very dangerous, since it can overwhelm not only the adult, but also the horse. On hunting, the animal always acts lightning fast and noiselessly.

However, it must be understood that these predators will never attack a person without foundation. The wolf kills only for two reasons: in order to feed himself and, in accordance with the instinct of self-preservation, for the purpose of protection.

Some people even consider wolves not at all dangerous. There is also a legend about a wolf who raised a child. The boy growled like a wolf cub, jumped on his hands and feet.

Why wolves howl at the moon

Scientists have proved that the predator howls at all to the nocturnal luminary. Howling is the most important form of communication of these animals in nature. With the help of him, the wolf supports the unity of the pack, coordinates its actions, defends its territory, transmits important information and finds relatives in an unfamiliar territory. The wolf howl lasts no more than 5 seconds, but because of the echo it seems that it sounds very long.

The opinion that the wolf howls to the moon has spread because when this happens, the animal always lifts its muzzle upward, and in a quiet moonlit night, in windless weather, the sounds are heard very far.

What does a wolf dream about?

A howling wolf in a dream means anger, deceit and insidiousness, a strong and dangerous enemy, a quarrel. If you dream of a wolf pack, it's to the loss and damage caught by the beast - to ridicule and disgrace, killed - to victory over the enemies. If a wolf is seen in a dream with evil eyes, then in reality it means that a person has many ill-wishers, and some experts say that if a wolf howl is heard in a dream, this, among other things, can impose need and loneliness.