Wolf Behavior - Writers Forum

Ashes · 04-17-2008, 04:35 PM

I'm working on a piece that deals with life from a wolf's perspective. I have most of the basics of wolf behavior down - such as the hierarchy and all of the basic body language expression emotions.

Does anyone know if there are any other behaviors I may be missing? Something that your average Google'd website doesn't cover?

Jax1108 · 04-17-2008, 06:32 PM

Go get the movie "Wolves at Our Door." Its about two biologists who live with wolves for a time. (Forget their names though, sorry). It is actually one of my favorite movies.

Besides that your question is rather vague

I'd love to help you out, I have been studying wolves since I was young. Just remember that hierarchy, and the fact that wolves are greatly misunderstood creatures, perhaps the most. They are some of the most loving, family oriented animals. That is their #1 key/trait. Seriously though, watch that movie. Its excellent. (You may bable to find it on the internet too, they play it periodically on the discovery channel/animal planet)

IndigoB · 04-17-2008, 07:50 PM

Ashes,

We had a Siberian Husky dog for years. They are very wolflike since their breeding is still very close to the original wolf. Because Siberians can never be off lead and we didn't have a fenced yard at the time, he was outside on a trolley wire line. When it got dark, we'd have the spotlight on from the back of the house facing out to the yard so we could keep an eye on him. He would align himself within the shadow of a tree so when we'd look out, it was as though he was not there. He would do the same in the basement when we came home from work. He'd hide in the shadows and only come out when he was sure it was us. They also play like cats with small prey, but I assume you found that in your research. Good luck in your writing!

seigfried007 · 04-18-2008, 03:33 AM

Specifics are called for here, I'm afraid.

Biggest things I've found to remember:

1. Animals live in the present. Write in the present tense.

2. Wolves don't see things like we do. Their range of color is very different but higher contrast so they see in the dark better (no one can have it both ways). From what I understand, orange, yellow and green all appear as yellow.

3. Wolves don't just 'see' things with their eyes. They experience things with their nose and eyes often before sight has any bearing.

4. Hype the sense of smell, tactile sense of the nose and paws, and keep the ears in mind.

If you have a dog, you may be aware of what gets them excited--those things hold true for wolves too. Deer pee. Excrement and blood in general. The scent of other dogs, cats, and anything else that moves. Food--includes garbage, litter, carrion
and cat feces. Exercise. The thrill of running, a hunt. Playtime aka wrestling.

lilacstarflower · 04-18-2008, 02:39 PM

Have you checked youtube?

There are loads of videos on youtube about wolf behaviour e.g. difference in power between a defensive bite/bit to kill, how they fish in rivers and so on. Once you work your way through these you notice little quirks they have that aren't obviously stated but would be interesting details for your writing.

Love wolves!

Just Jim · 04-18-2008, 02:48 PM

Ashes,

I have a post on here called Wolf Speak. It is a very specific small detail about wolf-human interaction, but you might find it interesting;
http://www.writingforums.com/non-fic...400-words.html

Battlemage · 04-18-2008, 08:00 PM

I hike alot here in Texas. The best knowledge I can give, is that coyotes, (nothing like a wolf, I am sure) start howling right as the sun goes down. They eat anything and are very hard to spot.

seigfried007 · 04-18-2008, 08:11 PM

Umm, wolves and coyotes apparently have more in common than you think. What differs most is size and habitat. I've never seen a pack of coyotes, but all canines are social.

If I'm given to understand it correctly, red wolves are hypothesized to be a cross between timber wolves and coyotes (not merely wolves with a reddish hue, but a Mexican/Am. SW variety of wolf.) I may be off-base, but that's what I heard last.

Truth-Teller · 04-18-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndigoB

Ashes,

We had a Siberian Husky dog for years. They are very wolflike since their breeding is still very close to the original wolf. Because Siberians can never be off lead and we didn't have a fenced yard at the time, he was outside on a trolley wire line. When it got dark, we'd have the spotlight on from the back of the house facing out to the yard so we could keep an eye on him. He would align himself within the shadow of a tree so when we'd look out, it was as though he was not there. He would do the same in the basement when we came home from work. He'd hide in the shadows and only come out when he was sure it was us. They also play like cats with small prey, but I assume you found that in your research. Good luck in your writing!

See what you can describe with first-hand experience? Could she have come up with this with research at the depth and scope she has done?

Ilasir Maroa · 04-18-2008, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seigfried007

Umm, wolves and coyotes apparently have more in common than you think. What differs most is size and habitat. I've never seen a pack of coyotes, but all canines are social.

If I'm given to understand it correctly, red wolves are hypothesized to be a cross between timber wolves and coyotes (not merely wolves with a reddish hue, but a Mexican/Am. SW variety of wolf.) I may be off-base, but that's what I heard last.

I'm pretty sure coyotes and also foxes (just to give another eaxample of a canine) are mainly independant except for a breif time with mate and kids, but I could be wrong?

*Angel · 04-19-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilasir Maroa

I'm pretty sure coyotes and also foxes (just to give another eaxample of a canine) are mainly independant except for a breif time with mate and kids, but I could be wrong?

they can be independent but are usually family oriented(not as much as wolves though), they often hunt in large groups or at least pairs

seigfried007 · 04-19-2008, 04:43 PM

Often times, independants are young males--as is the case with most pack/pride animals where only one male breeds. According to Wiki, coyotes are usually in pairs--like jackals that shack up for a couple years and then go their separate ways

Among canines, the only no-alpha pack exception is the African Wild Dog (uber cool creatures that they are).

Btw, out of curiosity, why wolves?

Jackals don't form packs either but do form monogamous permanent unions (again, irrelevant but cool).

Just Jim · 04-19-2008, 05:26 PM

Not that it's particularly useful to the question, but the red wolf is a separate species, Canis Rufus. It is definitely a wolf in appearance and behavior, but much smaller, and a dark cinnamon red.

Coyotes in Texas have been misidentified as red wolves, and that, I believe, is where the confusion arises.

The red wolf was almost extinct, and is being restored to the wild in eastern North Carolina.