Fun Facts About Wolves

Wolves run up to 35 miles per hour. They hit these speeds during a chase. Wolves do not usually run at full speed until prey is very near.

Wolves eat five to 14 pounds of meat daily. Deer, elk, moose, and bison make up some of their favorite foods.

Wolves possess 200 million scent cells. Humans have only five million. This lets them smell animals up to a mile away.

A wolf howl signals group members. They use it to gather the pack before a hunt or warn rival packs away. Howls last about five seconds.

The alpha male and beta female mate for life. Their packs act like human nuclear families.

Wolves use facial expressions to communicate, not just howls and barks. They pull ears back or retract lips to show teeth. Their bodies offer many ways to signal.

A wolf's jaw has great power. They possess the largest bite pressure among canines. These jaws easily crush bones in a few bites.

California Wolf Center provided this source.

Pups leave the den when old enough to take responsibility for the whole pack. The entire pack shows affection and trains them.

The outer part of a wolf's retina senses movement well. This gives them great vision, plus they have good night vision and excellent peripheral vision.

Wolves constantly move to hunt prey. This means about a third of their lives are spent roaming.

Wolves can swim up to eight miles. Small webs between their toes help them move well in water.

Source: Random History

Beyond strong jaws, wolves have 42 very sharp teeth.

Wolves have guard and undercoat fur. They shed their winter coats in sheets, a different shedding method than most dogs.

All wolf pups are born with blue eyes. Their eyes turn yellow around eight months old.

Wolves run on their toes. This lets them stop and turn fast. This also stops their foot pads from wearing down.

Wolf pups are born with closed eyes and small ears that cannot hear. They start seeing and hearing the world around them near the 15th day.

The alpha male and beta female lead the pack. These two are usually the only ones who mate.

Wolves set territories bigger than what they need to live. This secures a steady food supply for them.

Wolves sense sound well. They hear six miles away in the forest. They hear ten miles over open land.

Wolves and ravens share an interesting bond. Ravens frequently track wolf packs, seeking food scraps. Wolves also use ravens as a signal for food nearby.