wolves

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Ok much of what you hear is ‘Hollywood’ fiction.</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>I met a wolf many years ago as my dad was a keen wildlife photographer and became a researcher before becoming a cameraman. Often he’d be away for what seemed like years but around 9 months and little window to see us kids, on rare occasions he would sneak us out to the hide where they were filming a Wolf pack getting prepared for a hunt. My dad showed me the leaders, the stalkers, the chasers, the rear guard, and the pup sitters, every wolf knew its mission.</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Later that evening a howling erupted, it was awesome it rattled my chest. They announced their presence and intent, they messed around biting, nibbling, licking, and rubbing to reinforce bonds. Suddenly I turned around and the biggest wolf I’ve ever seen appeared, out of nowhere. My dad said ‘Dont panic he’s a sentry, he’s just sniffing the air around us there’s one over there too’ and there was, hard to spot cause he was laying down and watching. I could hear this wolf breathing he was so close, he sniffed the air and flicked out his tongue like a snake tasting the air, he looked directly at me, it was scary but at the same time I was over awed by his presence, my dad said ‘He’s curious that’s all, let him smell you, go on he won’t hurt you'</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Now this beautiful animal could so easily have turned on me and although a gun was present he would have got to me before anyone could raise a weapon. Trust me this guy was awesome.</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>But there was a definitive respect, he had no wish to attack us, he and his pack were used to my dad and his fellow researchers, I could actually see by the look in his eyes he was just curious.</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Now of course I asked my dad about wolf attacks, he personally had only once come across a wolf that took a ‘dislike’ to him, and he said to me ‘The most important thing to understand is that wolves avoid humans at all costs, their trust is earned, and if ever you find yourself face to face with a wolf never, ever turn your back, do not under any circumstances run. Here’s why, you are the tresspasser, if you think they aren’t watching you’re wrong, they see you, smell you, much like big cats if you turn your back he knows you can no longer see him, if he doesn’t like you or trust you he’ll be upon you.’ basically if you cross paths with a wolf remember this…you cannot outrun him, do not run. Stand your ground and its scary but you have to, look him in the eyes and let him know you’re not taking your eyes off him, make a lot of noise. Don’t try the ..aahhh pretty wolf..cause he ain’t interested. He wants and needs to know you’re not a threat but if he attacks you…you’ll fight.</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Wolves rarely attack humans, they’re intelligent, social animals and they know where there’s one there’s more. Wolves have a bad rep because of heresay and myth.</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>The likelihood of being attacked by a wolf is as likely as me turning against all I’ve learned about these magnificent predators.</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Watching intently. The pack.</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Spotted prey. Now the planning stage..</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Every wolf knows their responsibility..Reinforcing bonds before the hunt.</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>On the trail. Paws that act like snow shoes, silent, co ordinated, and out for blood.</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Prey sighted. Stand guard till reinforcements arrive.</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Wary. No-wolf wants to get injured, plan, strategize, make the kill. All over.</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Did you know that when wolves are howling together no two wolves howl the same note. They harmonise giving the illusion that there are more of them than there actually are.</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>He doesn’t want to hurt you. But come for him and his pack? You’re in trouble.</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>The female in this picture looks as though she is cowering beneath her mate, dead wrong. What she is actually doing is protecting his throat from the aggressor who cannot attack either wolf without serious injury. He goes for the males face the female will grab his throat, he goes for the female the male will grab his head. A mated wolf pair is formidable. Wolves mate for life.</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>There is no such thing as the ‘alpha’ male in wild wolf society, only captive bred packs have a hierarchy, wild packs share all responsibilities, parents raise, teach, and care for their pups until they can go out on their own, there are no fights in wild packs for dominance, no single wolf is in charge therefore fights and challenges are usually situational. Brothers fight each other, sisters fight each other, brothers fight sisters…so what’s new! Wild wolf packs operate like human families, the kids do as they’re told.😊</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Wolf society is so much like our own, but one overriding difference separates us, wolves dont hunt for sport.</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>You’d better believe it. 😊</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>EDIT: The response to this post has been brilliant and I hope to get around to answering your comments. Thank you. Keep loving those wolves. As a way of a thanks I’d like to introduce you to the very special Coastal wolf.</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>On the coast of British Columbia, along the coastline of Alaska’s south east, and the Islands of the Alexander Archipelago live small populations of a grey wolf that survives mostly on seafood. Salmon, clams, seals, fish eggs.</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>They have evolved away from being meat eaters to becoming sea food eaters and some researchers go as far as to classify them as ‘Marine mammals’ or ‘Sea Wolves’ and here’s why; They are excellent swimmers and are known to swim for miles between the mainland and the Islands, they ‘Island hop’ along the coast in open seas and are as much at home in the water as on land.</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>They are genetically distinct from their inland grey wolf family, a little smaller and their fur contains red and brown accents rather than the black accents of the grey.</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Fortunately for these guys there are few roads into their habitat, which also makes finding and photographing them incredibly difficult. There are tours for those that specialise in research, observation and photography, however many that venture will tell you that a week in this habitat you are considered lucky to find one shot of an encounter with these shy, and magnificent coastal wolves.</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Hungry pups on the coast howling together.</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>It’s the dedication of chaps like wildlife photographer and very patient chap Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven….</p>

<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>that give us an insight into the lives of these stunning animals.</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>Photo’s courtesey of friend Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven.</p>
<p class=”q-text qu-display–block qu-wordBreak–break-word qu-textAlign–start”>RE:EDIT…Sorry folks but I hate having to do this re editing…So some have mentioned in comments that we shouldn’t think of these predators as fluffy, won’t harm you, cuddly dogs…I think that everyone here is intelligent enough to know these are still wild animals, as I said wolf society is a close knit family affair, any outsider is going to be scrutinised. Wolf attacks do happen, they are extremely rare. Certainly rarer than attack by your neighbour. Wolves are not your cuddly German Shepherd or Husky, but two words folks..Mutual Respect.</p>