Tag Archives: alpha wolf

Dec

2017

Domesticating Wolves: Why Did Humans Do It? Are There Any Consequences?

The process of domesticating wolves started thousands of years ago but how has it fared so far?

Wolf Training At Wolf Science Center, Ernstbrunn, Lower Austria: domesticating wolves

Wolf Training At Wolf Science Center, Ernstbrunn, Lower Austria (Photo: Wolfgang Glock, cc 3.0)

Scientifically called Canis Lupus, humans acknowledge wolves as wild animals since they became aware of this creature’s existence many thousands of years ago.

The Canis part of its scientific name is what gave rise to our popular name for domesticated dogs: canines. In addition, we know that wolves and dogs are related genetically and this has been proven time and time again.

We have successfully domesticated dogs (Canis Lupus Familiaris), but wolves on the other

Nov

2017

Who’s Afraid Of The German Wolves?

Many people are scared at their return, but are German Wolves actually a threat to human life?

A Wolf In Saxony (Photo: DPA)

Wolves suffered a lot of persecution in ancient Europe largely due to superstitions and harmful folklore. As these animals gradually reestablish themselves across modern Europe, some of these superstitions are rearing their heads again.

Basically giving the wolf a bad name so as to have an excuse to “hang” it. German wolves are a part of this dynamic and as they slowly return to the country, reactions are mixed. As expected,

Nov

2017

7 Reasons We Are So In Love With Wolves

Wolves continue to fascinate us and here are 7 reasons we are so in love with them.

No doubt, wolves remain one of the most fascinating terrestrial creatures sharing the planet with us. These animals were even regarded as gods – or companions of the gods – in Norse mythology and were instrumental in the history of places like Rome.

Traditionally, wolves inhabited all of North America. But by the time more Europeans started to settle in North America, the wolf population began dropping rapidly due to intense hunting practices.

That’s because Europeans back then feared and hated wolves based on prejudices passed on

Oct

2017

Non-Lethal Wolf Control: 5 Strategies That Work

Executing wolves to end conflicts could make matters worse. Here are some better wolf control strategies instead.

There Are Several Effective Wolf Control Measures That Are Non-Lethal.

For generations now, livestock breeders had one method of getting rid of troublesome wolves: Just execute them. Especially the Alpha of the pack.

However, with time it’s becoming clear that this doesn’t solve the problem. It may even make it worse.

In fact, a study indicates that killing a wolf can increase the risk of future attacks from other wolves.

Below we take a quick look at the major issues in wolf control, lethal and non-lethal, as well as

Sep

2017

Wolves And Livestock Conflict: Some Humane Solutions To This Problem

The conflict between Wolves and Livestock (and their owners), is an age-old one.

Ranchers killing wolves in the 19th century: Wolves and Livestock

A Painting Of Ranchers Killing Wolves In The 19th Century. This Practice Has Been Going On For Centuries Now. (Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain. Author Unknown)

Suggestions and solutions for ending the conflict between Wolves and Livestock continue to elude humans for centuries now. And sadly, the most common solution they have found is the execution of these predators.

Though it may sound logical to anyone – lowering wolf population would lead to a decrease in the loss of animals such as sheep and cattle herds. But it’s an extremely lazy and reprehensible act. In the long run, wolf execution is not be as viable as everyone thinks.

Aug

2017

10 Of The Most Memorable Wolves In Movies And TV

There are many stories about Wolves in Movies and TV but here are a few you need to know.

A Pair Of Wolves: Pixabay

There are literally countless species of animals featured on the silver screen but none can lay a greater claim to coolness than the wolf.

Wolves have featured in movies for so long that it can be quite a task keeping up with all of them.

And, the roles are versatile too. From the cute to the tear-jerker to the downright mean and scary bad guy wolf.

Jun

2017

Wolves And The Wolf Pack Mentality

Unlike other major land predators, wolves live mostly in a wolf pack. Why is this so and how do they maintain order?

A Typical Wolf Pack

A wolf pack is a group of wolves that live and act together as a social unit.

The wolf pack is a family that consists of the breeding pair (parents), and their daughters and sons. The parents are known as the alpha male and alpha female. Sometimes, the sisters and brothers of the leading pair also live in the pack.

Though the alphas may not necessarily be the biggest wolves in the pack, these individuals are generally the toughest and most respected.