Gray wolves communicate in a variety of ways, including howling, barking, growling, and body language. They live in packs with distinct social hierarchies. Alphas are the breeding pair that maintain order, while betas are mid-ranking and omegas are at the bottom. Pups are born in the spring and cared for by the entire pack. Wolves use scent marking, pheromones, and visual cues to communicate within packs and mark their territories.

1. {
Wolf Social Groups
and Communication
Gabbi Lucy and Corey Mckown
Vertebrate Zoology Summer 2017
Lab Report C https://www.livingwithwolves.org/wp-
content/uploads/2014/08/kyngs4_0023_1.jpg

2.  Gray Wolves are a part of the Carnivora order,
suborder Caniformia
 Family: Canidae
 Scientific Name: Canis Lupis
 Common Name: Gray Wolf
Background
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Canis_lupu
s/#geographic_range

3.  No wolves have been seen since the Red Wolves
according to Arkansas Game and Fish
 Most were exterminated in the 1930’s in the lower parts
of the US
 Phylogenetics: evolved from similar ancestor as foxes,
coyotes, dogs, jackals
 Closest relative: Coyote
 Native to Nearctic and Palearctic regions
Background cont.
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Canis
_lupus/#geographic_range

4. Geographic Location
 Found in Canada,
Alaska, the Great
Lakes, northern
Rockies and Pacific
Northwest
 Yellowstone National
Park is a popular place
to see them
http://www.defenders.org/gray-wolf/basic-facts

5.  Habitat: temperate; terrestrial
 Food:
 in packs: elk, bison, oxen, etc.
 lone wolf: rabbits, beavers, etc.
 Migration
 stationary phase: spring and summer, while pups are being
reared
 Nomadic phase: fall and winter
Background cont.
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Canis_lupus/#behavior
Photo:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved
=0ahUKEwjaxri97L7UAhVn5YMKHQyODacQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fi
nfogr.am%2Fgray-wolf-
1202442&psig=AFQjCNH76dQuX_t_hVGg8TF_HcWqbFBd0A&ust=14975815

6.  Front
Alphas- Known as the breeding pair
 Maintain order and cohesion of the pack
 Does this by facial expressions such as crouching, chin
touching, and rolling over.
 Middle
Betas
Mid-ranking Wolves
 Back
Omegas
The Pack
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Canis_lupus/#comm
unication
https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAh
HAAAAJDhjNDdmN2E3LWU2NTItNGViZS1hZGU5LW
MzMzI4MDVkNjExOQ.jpg

7. Nursery Care and Breeding
 Breeding Season
 January to March
 Pups are born blind and defenseless
 First 45 days they are fed by all pack members
through regurgitation
 after they are fed meat
 Once the pups leave the den for the first time their
hierarchy in the pack is determined
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Canis_lupus/#reproduction
https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlar
ge/1/wolf-nursing-cubs-jean-louis-klein--marie-luce-hubert.jpg

8.  Alerts others of territory
 Identification of wolves
 Assemble pack
 Video on wolf communication
 https://youtu.be/Ioibqi1YSWQ
The Howl
http://www.wolf.org/wolf-info/basic-wolf-info/biology-and-
behavior/communication/
http://wallpapercave.com/wp/SzgI3PM.jpg

9.  Bark
 Alert of nearby danger
 Sign of aggression in defense
 Whimper
 Used by pups when first born
 Mother’s willingness to nurse
 Surrender when dominated
 Growl
 Used as warning against intruding predators
 Indicates dominance
 https://youtu.be/dvHHi3GI1XU
Other Vocalizations
http://www.wolf.org/wolf-info/basic-wolf-info/biology-
and-behavior/communication/
Photo:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&so
urce=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjO
h-
GV7r7UAhVpyoMKHZLWA8UQjRwIBw&url=http%3A
%2F%2Fdavewelling.photoshelter.com%2Fimage%2FI
0000pGELHNresxw&psig=AFQjCNHFWsUqY6bsBZL

10.  Tail high and standing tall
 shows dominance
 typically shown by breeding pair
 Tail between legs, body lower to ground
 less dominant wolves
 shows submission
 Anger
 ears straight up
 bared teeth
Body Language

11.  Suspicion
 Ears back
 Squints eyes
 Fear
 Lays ears flat against head
 Wants to play
 Dances around
 Bows
 Raised Leg Urination
 Position used to urinate
 Shows dominance
Body Language cont.
http://www.wolf.org/wolf-
info/basic-wolf-info/biology-
and-behavior/communication/

12.  Behavior shown toward dominant wolves
 Two types of submission:
 Active submission
 crouching, muzzle licking, tail tucking
 first used by pups for feeding
 Used later on as intimacy/role acceptance
 Passive submission
 inferior wolf lays on side or back, exposing most vital organs
 typically done before a fight begins
Submission
http://www.wolf.org/wolf-info/basic-
wolf-info/biology-and-
behavior/communication/

13.  Smell approximately 100 times better than humans
 Scent-marking
 mark territory from other packs with waste material
 urine also used to mark empty food spots
 Pheromones used between members of same species
 glands on toes, anus, eyes, genitals, etc
 allows for an intruder alert
Scent
http://www.wolf.org/wolf-info/basic-wolf-
info/biology-and-
behavior/communication/
http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/61/6171E3D9-10CD-4C31-B562-
4538582BE8CC/Presentation.Large/Juvenile-grey-wolf-
investigating-bear-scent-on-tree.jpghttps://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8226/8584876706_3f329e
5163_b.jpg

14.  http://www.wolf.org/wolf-info/basic-wolf-info/biology-and-
behavior/communication/
 http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Canis_lupus/#communication
 http://www.defenders.org/gray-wolf/basic-facts
References