Transcript Wolves in MN

Wolves in MN
Minnesota Wildlife
Physical Characteristics
• Conformation
– Largest member of dog family
– Weight – adult males 95-100 lbs., females 80-85 lbs.
– Height – most adult wolves stand 26-32 inches,
reaching as tall as 3 feet at the withers.
– Length – males are 5-6 1/2 feet nose to tail tip, females
are 4 1/2-6 feet.
– muscular, powerful and strong
– Long legs and large blocky feet
– Long furry tail
– Long powerful muzzle to crush bones
Physical Characteristics
• Coat
– 2 layers of fur
• Underfur: short, soft and thick; insulation
• Outerfur: long stiff hair; repels water
– Variety of colors
• White, buff, tawny, grayish, black
• Black is dominant color in the north
Physical Characteristics
• Senses
– Acute Smell
• Detect over 1 mile away
• 100 times better than human
• Helps locate food (for survival)
– Acute Hearing
• Hear up to 4 miles
– Sharp Vision
• Detects movement
Species of Wolf
1. Red Wolf (Canis Rufus)
• Preferred habitat is Mexico, Southern India and
Southeast and Southwest United States
• Hybrid between the gray wolf and a coyote
• Shorter, reddish outer coat and they live in
warmer climates
• An endangered species and protected by law.
• Reintroduced back into the wild at the North
Carolina Wildlife Refugee
Species of Wolf
2. Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus)
• Also known as the Timber Wolf, Tundra
Wolf, Arctic Wolf or Lobo.
• Lives in the Northern Hemisphere.
– Approximately 2500+ live in northern
Minnesota.
• Long pointed canine teeth or “fangs.”
• Highly intelligent.
Relationship to Dog
• Similarities
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Original dog
Cross breeds: demiwolf (dog-wolf cross)
“Canidae” family: fox, dog, wolf and jackal
Same gestation, teeth, shed, vocalization
Relationship to Dog
• Differences
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Scent gland: precaudal tail gland not in dogs
Wolves carry tail low; dogs have curled or high
Gait: hind legs swing in line with front legs
Wolves breed once/year; dogs breed twice
Skull: longer, wider and flatter than dogs
Relationship to Dog
• Population
– Gray wolves “endangered” in most of US
– “Threatened” in MN, WI, and MI
• Threatened – approaching danger of extinction
• Endangered: edge of being extinct
– 15 million dogs unwanted and euthanized each
year
– About 5,250 wolves in lower 48 states (6,0008,000 in Alaska)
Social Structure
• Pack
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Highly structured
Partnership to hunt if prey is large/strong
One breeding pair and offspring (1 pack)
Pack size: 2-20
Average size: 6
Social Structure
• Social System
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Pecking Order/Dominance Order-individual ranking
Social ladder-each member has rank
Alpha male/female-highest male/female
Others:
• Mature Subordinates
• Juveniles
• Outcast/Omega-lowest
– Rank established when pups: 3 weeks old
Wolf Communication
• Purpose
– Pack presence
– Maintain territory
– Assert dominance
• Methods
– Audible: howl, bark, whimper, or growl
– Visual: posture, tail movement, and facial expression
– Olfactory: body rubbing, rolling and ritual displays
(urine and gland excrements)
Wolf Communication
• Howling
– Use to:
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Keep track of wolves within a pack
Assemble the pack
Declare territory
Announce a kill
Declare unification of a pack
*Prey animals generally ignore howling
See overhead
Reproductive Stages of the Wolf
1. Courtship
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February-April
Male initiates: bows down to female, shows
interest through wagging tail, nipping, or
mounting
Female returns affection by lifting tail
(indicates receptivity)
Reproductive Stages of the Wolf
2. Mate Preference
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Alpha male will only breed alpha female
Female will seek other mate if alpha male not
available
One female (alpha) gives birth to pups
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If something happens to her, the next in line will
be bred
Reproductive Stages of the Wolf
3. Denning
– Gestation: 60-63 days
– Female digs den 3 weeks prior to birth
• Burrow type den – underground
– Dens has tunnel as entrance with chamber at the
end (6-14 feet)
– Placed near water on high plane (for lookout
post)
– Pups remain in den until 8-11 weeks old
Reproductive Stages of the Wolf
4. Whelping and pup development
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Litter size: 4-7 pups
Whelping: 2-3 hours (giving birth)
Entire pack raises pups
Mortality high: 50% in 1st year
Pups begin hunting at 3-5 months
Yearlings join pack or leave
Hunting and Feeding
1. Digestive system
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Carnivore – “Meat eater”
Simple stomach – easily digest fat and protein
Storage – storage; 95% will be digested
Hunting and Feeding
2. Feeding habits
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20 pounds of prey at once
Does not eat daily (consumes entire prey)
Females feed pups meat with regurgitation
Immediately eat catch; may bury large pieces of
meat
– 6-10 hours to consume
Hunting and Feeding
3. The Hunt
– Primary prey is white tailed deer
– Target weak, crippled, or old prey-easier to catch
– Locate prey by:
• Scent
• Chance encounter
• Tracking
Hunting and Feeding
The Hunt continued…
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Four stages to hunt
1. Stalking: the first method of attack
2. Encounter: prey detects the predator
3. The rush: critical stage because determines if
wolf catches prey
4. The chase: only lasts a few miles or minutes
*Wolf quickly decides if prey is worth the chase
Purpose of Wolf Protection
• Effects of Predation
– Food chain reaction
• Carcass of prey decomposes adding nutrients to soil
• Vegetation grows from nutrient rich soil
• Vegetation attracts small rodents and animals
(rabbits, etc)
• Small animals provide food for predators (fox, etc)
• Remains of prey provide food (ravens, eagles,
weasels, etc)
Purpose of Wolf Protection
• Scientific research
– Study ecology of natural communities and
predator-prey relationships
• Sociology
• Behavior sciences
• Aesthetic and Economic Value
– Tourism
– Enjoy watching nature (beauty)
History of Wolf Protection
• Early settlement and livestock were killed
• Bounty hunting became popular (19001950’s)
• Federal protection laws established (1960’s)
• Wolves research and not the enemy
• Yellowstone Park re-introduction to control
elk population
• Minnesota controversy
– Should wolf remain as “threatened”
Delisted
areas
Minnesota Wolf Population
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1973: 500 to 1,000
1979: 1,235
1989: 1,500 to 1,750
1998: 2,450
2004: 3,020 (485 packs)
What habitat is favored by
wolves?
1. Wolves prefer forested areas that are
remote, and inaccessible by humans.
2. Prefer an area that has prey availability. The
higher the prey supply the higher the
population.
3. Wolves’ primary habitat in Minnesota is in
the northeast and north central forested
areas.
What habitat is favored by
wolves?
4. Wolves utilize dens dug into sandy
hillsides for raising pups. They also may
use large trees, hollow logs, or caves for
denning.
5. Adult wolves prefer bedding sites that
allow them to over look the den. This kind
of habitat allows the wolves to detect
intruders.
What habitat is favored by
wolves?
6. Wolves are very territorial and will chase or
kill any outside wolf intruders that come
into the pack’s established territory. Their
ranges may overlap but territories are well
established and will never overlap
intentionally.