Wolves are legendary because of their spine-tingling howl, which they use to communicate with each other.  A lone wolf howls to attract the attention of its pack whilst communal howls are used to send territorial messages from one pack to another.  Some howls are confrontational and much like barking domestic dogs, wolves may simply begin howling because a nearby individual has already begun.

Wolves are the largest members of the dog family.  Grey wolves are by far the most adaptable and hence most common.  They were once found all over the Northern Hemisphere but a long history of conflict with man has seriously depleted their numbers.  Though they almost never attack humans, they do attack domestic animals and countless wolves have been shot, trapped and poisoned because of this tendency.

Few grey wolves survive in Europe, but one of the remaining strongholds is the Carpathian Mountain region and in particular the Tatras in Slovakia.

Wolves live and hunt in packs of typically six to ten animals.  They are known to roam large distances, sometimes 20 kilometres in a single day.  These highly social animals cooperate in hunting their preferred prey which include animals as large as red deer and elk.  When successful, they gorge themselves and at a single sitting can consume 9 kilograms of meat.  There is a strict hierarchy around the carcass with the alpha pair always consuming the heart, liver and kidneys.  This dominance extends to breeding rights with the rest of the pack performing a subordinate role helping to care for young pups by bringing them food and guarding them while others hunt.

Fast Facts
Type: Mammal
Diet: Carnivore
Average lifespan in the wild: 6 to 8 years
Size: Head and body, 91 to 160 cm; Tail, 33 to 51 cm
Weight: Average Male 50-60 kg
Protection status: Endangered