35 interesting facts about wolves. Rabid wolves are extremely dangerous

Perhaps no other animal on Earth has been as important to humans as the wolf. The wolf was the first to be domesticated by man, but the process itself is still shrouded in mystery, which took place more than 10,000 years ago. Wolves were and are our friends and terrible enemies, and yet there is still so much we don't know about them. Below is a list of ten interesting little-known facts about wolves.

Black wolfs

Fact: the black wolf is not found in nature.

In 2008, a Stanford University study found that mutations associated with black fur occur only in dogs, so black wolves are the result of a mutation in gray wolves. The mutation is a dominant trait, like dark hair in humans, and is inherited. It is not entirely clear what benefits black fur has for animals, they do not have the skills of successful hunters, they do not show a noticeable improvement in immunity to certain infections. Black wolves are much more common in North America than in the rest of the world.

hybrid wolves

Fact: a large percentage of coyotes are actually wolf hybrids.

In areas where wolves have been largely wiped out, coyotes have thrived. For the last few year s large groups These hybrid animals have moved east and are found in suburban areas and even major cities such as New York and Chicago. A genetic test showed that for every 100 coyotes caught in Maine, 22 had wolf genes. Coyotewolves tend to be larger than regular coyotes but smaller than wolves and are said to be very cunning. They show fearlessness towards human civilization, as well as a more developed hunting instinct and high level aggression.

Cannibalism

Fact: cannibalism is common among wolves.

The wolves will not miss the chance for food. They are sometimes forced to feed on sick or injured pack members. When two packs come into contact, they will most likely fight to the death, and the alpha male of one of the packs is most often killed. Sometimes they even eat their own offspring.

Big weight

Fact: the weight of the heaviest wolves can approach 90 kilograms.

Wolves in the tropics often do not exceed the average size of a dog, but in the Far North (Alaska, Canada and Russia) they can reach 55 kilograms. The largest wolf killed in North America in Alaska in 1939 had a weight of 80 kilograms, and caught in Ukraine, in former USSR, weighed 86 kilograms.

rabid wolves

Fact: rabid wolves are extremely dangerous.

Although wolves are not the main vector of rabies, they can be infected from other species such as raccoons and foxes. Unlike some rabid animals, which are disoriented, wolves go berserk almost immediately when they get sick. A significant number of attacks on humans are directly related to rabies.

american wolves

Fact: wolves in America attack people less often than anywhere else in the world.

Historical estimates point to more than 3,000 people who died in France between 1580 and 1830. In the Middle Ages, throughout Europe, special structures were built along the roads for travelers to hide from stray packs of wolves. The wolves of India and Russia are also particularly well known for their loss of life. During World War II, soldiers from Allied and German forces were sometimes forced to band together to protect themselves from starving wolves who were attracted to the smell of blood on the battlefield.

dog eaters

Fact: wolves find dogs delicious.

Although these animals are closely related to each other (almost the same species) and can easily interbreed, many wolves view dogs as prey. Often one wolf lures a dog and leads it into an ambush, to his pack. Only large and fierce dog breeds, such as Caucasian Shepherds, can usually defend themselves.

People on the wolf menu

Fact: the plague put humans on the menu as a delicacy for the wolf.

The plague that ravaged Europe during the Middle Ages created a tense dynamic between wolves and humans. Naturally, the wolves gathered on the edge of the city to feast on the dead, which they did not have time to burn. In doing so, generations of wolves developed the familiar taste of human flesh, and presumably the wolves began to view us as one of their prey. There is no doubt that at this time very superstitious people began to invent fairy tales and believe in the existence of werewolves, vampires and ghouls.

smallpox

Fact: smallpox too.

Smallpox was brought to the Americas by European settlers who had a devastating effect on local residents. Sensing a light meal, wolves invaded villages, devouring corpses and helpless patients. While many Native Americans revere wolves, they also showed a healthy fear, especially in wooded areas where one might encounter them.

eaten alive

Fact: wolves eat their victims alive.

Wolves eat almost everything to stay alive, but their preference is for large ungulates (deer, elk). Unlike bears or big cats, wolves do not have such an arsenal adapted to quickly kill large animals. They basically drive the victim, tearing the legs and stomach until the animal collapses from exhaustion. Predators start eating immediately, even if the prey has been alive for some time.

Wolves have always played a big role in human life. They were gods in Norse mythology, nurtured Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. They are also the first animals tamed by man. Wolves have always been our best friends and sworn enemies, and yet we know so little about them.

Black wolfs

Fact: Black Wolves Don't Happen Naturally Research at Stanford University in 2008 showed that the mutation responsible for black coats only occurs in dogs, so black wolves are the result of mating gray wolves with domesticated dogs. This mutation is dominant, like dark hair in humans, and passes on to most offspring. It is still not clear what is the advantage of black wool for animals. They do not become more successful hunters, but show improvements in resistance to certain infections. Black wolves are most common in North America.

hybrid wolf

Cannibalism

Big mass

rabid wolves

american wolves

dog eaters

people on the menu

smallpox

eaten alive

Wolves eat almost everything to survive, but prefer large ungulates (deer and elk). Unlike bears or big cats, wolves do not have anatomical weapons capable of quickly killing such large animals. They kill by exhaustion, the whole pack pounce and tear the prey, grabbing the legs and entrails, until the victim collapses from exhaustion. Wolves start eating immediately, although often their prey is still alive for some time.

Probably no other animal on Earth has been as significant to people as the wolf.
They were gods in Norse mythology, the she-wolf brought up Romulus and Remus - the founders of Rome. And the most interesting - the wolf was the first domesticated animal.

1. Black wolves.
In 2008, researchers at Stanford University found that the mutations associated with black fur are only found in dogs, so black wolves are nothing more than the offspring of hybrids. Most often, such wolves are found in North America.

2. Hybrid wolves.
In areas where wolves were subject to mass extermination, coyotes flourished. Recent studies have shown that 22% of all coyotes in North America are descendants of wolves. Such animals are usually larger than ordinary coyotes, but smaller than wolves, and also distinguished by extreme cunning. They combine the absence of fear of a person and pronounced wolf instincts and a high level of aggression.

3. Cannibalism.
Wolves never miss a chance to eat. Often, living in the most severe corners of the planet, wolves often eat their wounded or sick relatives. In addition, a trapped wolf should be removed by hunters as soon as possible, as there is a very high risk that other wolves will find it and eat it.

4. Extreme weight.
Some wolves can reach a weight of 100 kg. The size of wolves grows exponentially with the degree of remoteness from the equator. Tropical wolves are often the same size as normal dogs, but the wolves of the far north average over 60 kg.

5. Rabid wolves.
Although wolves are not the main carriers of rabies, they can easily pick it up from raccoons and foxes. Unlike other animals, which become lethargic and disoriented when infected, wolves are instantly enraged. Most cases of attacks on people are provoked by rabies. And the desire of wolves to bite on the neck or head often leads to the fact that the rabies virus enters the human brain much earlier than medical care is provided.

6. American wolves.
The wolves of America are less likely to attack people than their other brethren. Historical records show over 3,000 people killed by wolves in France between 1580-1830. The wolves of India and Russia do not lag behind them. In contrast, in the US and Canada, there are very few officially confirmed wolf attacks.

7. Dog eaters.
Despite their close relationship, wolves perceive dogs mainly as prey. In Russia, at one time, stray dogs served as a staple food for wolves.

8. Human for lunch.
The plague that ravaged Europe in the Middle Ages caused tension between humans and wolves. In those days, corpses were destroyed much faster by wolves, and not by fire or burial underground. Such methods of "burial" have instilled a taste for human blood in generations of wolves. Probably, since then, wolves have included human meat in their "menu".

9. Smallpox.
Smallpox brought to the Americas by European settlers had a disastrous effect on the natives. Its victims were 80-90% of all people who inhabited the continent. Feeling easy prey, wolves attacked Indian villages, devouring the bodies of helpless patients.

10. Eaten alive.
As we said above, wolves eat almost everything. Of course, they also have their preferences, such as large ungulates. Unlike bears or big cats, wolves do not have anatomical weapons that can quickly kill the victim. They devour their prey alive, rushing in as a pack and tearing off chunks of flesh.

1. Black wolves do not occur in nature.

In 2008, Stanford University researchers found that the mutations responsible for the black coat color are found only in dogs, so black wolves are the result of crossbreeding wolves with domestic dogs. The mutation is a dominant trait, as is dark hair in humans, and it is passed on to most offspring. It's not entirely clear what benefits black fur has for animals, but it makes them seem more the best hunters. Black wolves are much more common in North America than in the rest of the world.

2. Greater percentage coyotes are actually wolf hybrids.

In areas where wolves were largely eradicated, coyotes thrived. Over the past few years, large groups of the population have moved east to suburban areas and big cities such as New York and Chicago. Genetic testing done on 100 coyotes captured in Maine showed that 22 of them were the ancestors of wolves, which were generally larger than normal coyotes but smaller than wolves and are said to be very cunning.

3. Cannibalism is common among wolves.

Wolves are predators, so they will not miss the chance to feast on food. In some areas of our planet, conditions lead to the fact that members of the pack die, and wolves are sometimes forced to eat sick or injured members of their pack. When two packs fight, very often it ends fatally for one of them, alpha males most often kill. There are cases when wolves even ate their own offspring.

4. The heaviest wolves can reach 100kg

The farther from the equator wolves live, the larger they become in size. In the tropics, wolves are often no larger than average dogs, while in the north (Alaska, Russia) they are larger. The weight of the largest wolf ever killed (North America, 1939) was 80 kg. Even more massive wolves lived in Ukraine, one of them weighed 86 kg.

5. Rabid wolves are extremely dangerous.

Although wolves are not the main carriers of rabies, they can catch it from other animal species such as raccoons and foxes. Unlike some animals that go into lethargy after being infected, wolves go into a rage almost immediately. A significant number of attacks on humans are directly related to rabies.

6. Wolves in America attack people less often than anywhere else in the world.

There are very few verifiable records of wolf attacks in the US and Canada, but in Europe and Asia, wolves are much nastier. Historical records show that over 3,000 people were killed in France between 1580-1830. During the Middle Ages, throughout Europe were built special structures along the road for travelers so that they can hide from wolves roaming in this area.

7. Wolves find dogs delicious.

Even though they are closely related (almost the same species) and interbreed easily, many wolves view dogs as prey. In Russia, where stray dogs became a major problem after the fall of the Soviet empire, they have become a staple in the diet of wolves. Only large species dogs, such as Caucasian Shepherds, have the ability to defend themselves.

8. People on the menu.

The plague that ravaged Europe in the Middle Ages can be explained by the strained relationship between wolves and humans. Before people could bury the dead, the wolves would eat their bodies. In doing so, generations of wolves have become accustomed to the taste of human flesh, and have probably begun to view us as prey. No doubt, in horror, many people began to make up tales about vampires and werewolves.

9. Smallpox.

Smallpox was brought to the Americas by European settlers and had a devastating effect on the natives. Since people had no previous exposure to the disease, their immune systems were defenseless and 80-90% of the population died. The Swedish naturalist Peter Calm, sent to America in 1748, wrote that in the period leading up to the Revolutionary War, smallpox was especially devastating along the east coast. Feeling light food, wolves attacked Indian villages, devouring the bodies of helpless patients.

10. Wolves eat their victims alive.

As mentioned above, the wolf eats almost everything to stay alive, but their preferred food is large ungulates (eg deer, elk). They kill for exhaustion, the whole flock pounces on the prey, tearing it to shreds until the victim falls from exhaustion. They start eating immediately, even if the prey has been alive for quite some time.

Wolves have always played a big role in human life. They were gods in Norse mythology, nurtured Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. They are also the first animals tamed by man. Wolves have always been our best friends and sworn enemies, and yet we know so little about them.

• 10. Black Wolves

Fact: black wolves do not spawn naturally

Research at Stanford University in 2008 showed that the mutation responsible for the appearance of black hair occurs only in dogs, so black wolves are the result of mating gray wolves with domesticated dogs. This mutation is dominant, like dark hair in humans, and passes on to most offspring. It is still not clear what is the advantage of black wool for animals. They do not become more successful hunters, but show improvements in resistance to certain infections. Black wolves are most common in North America.

• 9. Wolf hybrid

Fact: a large percentage of coyotes are actually wolf hybrids

In areas where wolves have almost disappeared, coyotes thrive. Over the past few years, large populations of coyotes have moved east to suburban areas and even to big cities like New York and Chicago. Genetic tests on 100 coyotes captured in Maine showed that 22 of them had wolf ancestors. Wolf coyotes are larger than their counterparts, but smaller than wolves, and also very cunning. They are not afraid of humans like coyotes, but retain a hunting instinct and a high level of aggression.

• 8 Cannibalism

Fact: cannibalism common among wolves

Wolves are opportunistic carnivores who will not miss an opportunity to feast on meat. Living sometimes in the most unfavorable conditions, wolves are forced to eat sick or injured relatives from the pack. The wolves driven into the trap must learn to hunt, otherwise they will simply be torn apart by other wolves. When two packs meet, very often a deadly fight is started between them, in which alpha wolves die. Sometimes they are even eaten by their own offspring.

• 7. Large mass

Fact: The heaviest wolves weigh up to 100 kg.

The farther wolves live from the equator, the larger their size. Wolves from the tropics are no larger than an ordinary dog, but northern wolves (in Alaska, Canada and Russia) reach 70 kg. The largest wolf killed in Alaska in 1939 weighed 90 kg.

• 6. Rabid Wolves

Fact: rabid wolves are extremely dangerous

Although wolves do not often get rabies, they can pick up the virus from other animals, such as raccoons and foxes. Unlike some animals that become lethargic and disoriented, wolves immediately fly into a rage. A significant number of attacks on humans have been associated with cases of rabies. There are fewer such attacks, but some do happen. Although there is a cure for rabies, wolves aim directly at the head and neck, so the virus often reaches the brain before help arrives.

• 5. Coyote

Fact: Wolves in America attack humans less than anywhere else on earth.

Compared to the high number of attacks per person in Europe and Asia, there are significantly fewer attacks in the US and Canada. In France, 3,000 deaths were recorded between 1580 and 1830. In the Middle Ages, special fences were built along the roads, which were supposed to protect travelers from wolf packs. Wolves in India and Russia are also known to attack humans. During World War I, soldiers from Allied and Central units were often forced to fight off hungry wolves who were attracted to the smell of blood on the battlefield.

• 4 Dog Eaters

Fact: wolves love to eat dogs

Although wolves and dogs are close relatives and can interbreed, that doesn't stop many wolves from trying "dogs". In a fight, even large dogs often lose, as wolves of the same size have larger teeth. Often a single wolf can lead a dog right into a trap with the rest of the pack. Only the largest and fiercest livestock guardians, such as the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, can defend themselves.

• 3. People on the menu

Fact: the plague put a man on the wolf's menu

The Black Plague that ravaged medieval Europe may explain the close relationship between wolves and humans. When corpses accumulated at such a rate that they did not have time to burn or bury, it became natural for wolves to appear on the outskirts of cities. Thus, entire generations of wolves have learned the taste of man and have come to regard him as prey.

• 2. Smallpox

Fact: also tried smallpox

Smallpox, brought to America by European settlers, had a devastating effect on the local population. Their immune system was defenseless against this disease, and 80-90% of people who came into contact with it died. The Swedish naturalist Peter Kalm, sent to America in 1748, noted that in the period before the Revolutionary War, smallpox was especially rampant on the east coast. Sensing easy prey, wolves flooded Indian villages, devouring corpses and helpless patients. Although many indigenous people revered wolves, the fear of them was great.

• 1. Eaten Alive

Fact: wolves eat their prey alive

Wolves eat almost everything to survive, but prefer large ungulates (deer and elk). Unlike bears or big cats, wolves do not have anatomical weapons capable of quickly killing such large animals. They kill by exhaustion, the whole pack pounce and tear the prey, grabbing the legs and entrails, until the victim collapses from exhaustion. Wolves start eating immediately, although often their prey is still alive for some time.

Bonus - facts about wolves.

• Under certain weather conditions wolves can hear sounds at a distance of 9 kilometers in the forest, and 16 kilometers. in open area.
• The Vikings wore wolf skins and drank wolf blood before the battle, which they took with them to raise their morale.
• The earliest depictions of wolves are found in caves in southern Europe and are over 20,000 years old.
• A wolf cannot be tamed and made a guard dog, he is afraid strangers and will hide from them, not bark.
• The autoimmune disease lupus, or skin tuberculosis, literally means "red wolf" because in the eighteenth century doctors believed that the disease developed after a wolf bite.
• Wolves distinguish about 200 million shades of smell, people only 5 million. The wolf family is able to smell the smell of other animals at a distance of 1.5 kilometers.
• The eyes of wolf puppies are always blue at birth. They turn yellow only by eight months.
• The gestation period of a she-wolf is about 65 days. Wolf puppies are born deaf and blind, and weigh only half a kilogram.
• Wolves were once the most common land predators, the only places where they did not live were deserts and rainforests.
• Enormous pressure is created by the teeth in the cleft palate, approximately 300 kilograms per square centimeter (compared to 150 kg/cm^2 in a dog).
• North American population gray wolf in 1600 there were 2 million individuals. Today there are no more than 65 thousand of them left in North America.
• A hungry wolf can eat 10 kilograms of meat in one sitting, it's like a person eating a hundred hamburgers in one sitting.
• A wolf pack can consist of two or three individuals, or maybe ten times more.
• Wolves are descended from ancient animals called "Mesocyon" that lived about 35 million years ago. It was a small dog-like animal with short legs and a long body. Perhaps they, like wolves, lived in packs.
• Wolves can swim for distances of up to 13 kilometers, helping themselves when moving in the water with small webs between their fingers.
• Between 1883 and 1918, only one US state Montana killed over 80,000 wolves.
• Adolf Hitler (whose name means "leading wolf") was fascinated by wolves and sometimes demanded to be called "Herr Wolf" or "Conductor Wolf" as a pseudonym. "Wolf Gorge" (Wolfsschlucht), "Wolf's Lair" (Wolfschanze) and "Werewolf" (Wehrwolf) were Hitler's code names for various military headquarters.
• In the 1600s, Ireland was called "Wolfland" because there were so many wolves there at the time. Wolf hunting was the most popular sport among the nobility, who used wolfhounds to locate the wolf and kill it.
• Biologists have determined that wolves will respond to humans imitating wolf howls. It would be strange if it were different...
• In 1927, a French policeman was convicted of shooting a boy he thought was a werewolf. In the same year, the last wild wolf was killed in France.
• When the Europeans sailed to North America, the wolf became the most popular prey among them in hunting animals in all American history. These animals were on the verge of extinction at the beginning of the 20th century. The U.S. federal government even enacted a wolf eradication program in the Western states in 1915.
• Dire wolves ("canis dirus") are one of the representatives of prehistoric wolves that lived in North America about two million years ago. They hunted mainly prey of such sizes as mammoths.
• Wolves can run for a minute or two at a speed of 32 km / h, and in moments of danger or pursuit - up to 56 km / h. It has been observed that during the day they run at a “trot” (about 8 km / h) and can travel at this speed throughout the day.
• The smallest representatives of wolves live in the Middle East, where they reach a mass of no more than 30 kilograms. The largest wolf individuals live in Canada, Alaska, and Russia, where they gain weight up to 80 kilograms.
• Wolves use howls to communicate with disunited members of their group to rally before a hunt, or to warn rival packs to stay away from them. Lone wolves howl to attract mates or simply because they are alone. In fact, the wolf howl lasts no more than 5 seconds, just because of the echo it seems that the sound is longer.
• The reflective layer in the eyes of the wolf is called "tapetum lucidum" (Latin for "bright tapestry"), it glows in the dark and also promotes night vision in the animal.
• Where wolves live, crows (sometimes called "wolf birds") are often found. Crows often follow packs of wolves to finish off the remains of the hunt, and also use wolves as protection.
• According to Pliny the Elder, a Greek scholar of the first century, she-wolf of tongues rubs the gums of puppies to relieve the pain when they appear. He also believed that wolf dung could be used to treat stomach cramps and cataracts.
• The Aztecs used wolf liver in the treatment of melancholy as an ingredient in medicines. In addition, they pricked the chest of the dying man with a sharpened wolf bone in an attempt to delay the date of death.
• During the Middle Ages, Europeans used wolf liver powders to relieve the pain of childbirth.
• The Greeks believed that if someone ate the meat of a wolf that kills lambs, then he is exposed to high risk become a vampire.
• The Cherokee Indians did not hunt wolves, because they believed that the brothers of the dead would take revenge on them. In addition, the weapon with which the wolf was killed was considered "corrupted."
• The British King Edgard introduced a special annual tax of 300 skins for Wales, as a result of which the Welsh wolf population was quickly destroyed.
• In 1500 the last wild wolf was killed in England, in 1700 in Ireland, and in 1772 on Danish soil.
• Germany was the first country to place a wolf population under conservation laws in 1934. Under the influence of Friedrich Nietzsche (b. 1844-d. 1900) and Oswald Spengler (b. 1880-d. 1936), society became convinced that natural predators matter much more than their value after being killed. By the way, in Germany, all wild wolves were exterminated by the middle of the nineteenth century.
• Unlike other animals, wolves have a range of distinctive facial movements that they use to communicate and maintain relationships within a pack.
• IN Japanese the word wolf is characterized as "great god".
• 6000 to 7000 wolf skins is still sold annually in the world. They are supplied mainly from Russia, Mongolia and China, and are most often used for sewing coats.
• In India, simple traps are still used to catch wolves. These traps are pits camouflaged with branches and leaves. Wolves fall into the pit on sharp stakes, and people finish them off from above with stones.
• Wolves were the first animals to be listed as endangered in 1973.
• John Milton's famous poem "Lycidas" takes its name from the Greek "wolf cub" lykideus.
• In the world of Harry Potter, there was a werewolf Remus Lupine, whose name is directly related to the Latin word "lupus", but the surname most likely came from Remus, the founder of Rome, who was fed by wolves.
• The last wolf in Yellowstone Park was killed in 1926. In 1995, people managed to restore the wolf population, and after ten years, approximately 136 wolves roam the park, huddled in 13 packs.
• Currently, there are about 50 thousand wolves in Canada and Alaska, 6500 in the USA. On the European continent, in Italy - less than 300, in Spain about 2000, in Norway and Sweden - less than 80. There are about 700 wolves in Poland, and 70 thousand in Russia.