Loved, hated, maligned, revered; the wolf stirs the emotions of man like almost no other animal. Although there are many who respect, and even revere, the wolf, there are at least as many who vilify this noble hunter. While I believe that it is important to respect all life, I dedicate much of my energy to the preservation of the wolf, whose spirit is extremely important to me.

In a society that has grown up with children's stories such as The Three Little Pigs, The Boy Who Cried "Wolf", and Little Red Riding Hood, as well as fantastic tales of evil, often associating wolves with the darkest of forces, it is no wonder that so many fear the wolf. Add to this baseless fear the fact that wolves often hunt the same game as do humans, and it's no wonder that modern man, in his arrogance and his desire to control (rather than live in harmony with) Nature, has long sought to eradicate the wolf from the wild.

And yet, others have venerated the wolf, sometimes referring to it as the true King of Beasts. Few animals rival its skill as a hunter. Fewer still can equal its ability to adapt. Early man respected the wolf for its prowess as a hunter and its ability to survive in even the worst conditions. In many indigenous cultures which revere animal spirits, the wolf is seen (in general) as the teacher and the personification of loyalty.

Due to its extreme adaptability, the wolf was able to survive in all but the most inhospitable climates. In earlier times the wolf lived in virtually every environment of the Northern Hemisphere, from full desert to frozen tundra. Its use of territory and its hunting methods assured that its prey populations would not only survive, but in most cases thrive, due to the wolf's harvesting. Early man easily understood that the wolf kept its prey strong by weeding out the weaker specimens.

I know of no proven case in which a healthy wolf ever attacked humans. Although there are instances in which rabid wolves have done so, the same can be said of many other rabies infected animals, including "man's best friend", the dog. In fact, there are many well documented cases in which a dog has turned on its owner for no apparent reason, and yet the dog is considered one of man's best tamed companions.

One complaint about the wolf is that it will attack livestock. This is true, but it is man's fault at the root of the matter. Humans decimated the communities that wolf originally hunted, often for no better reason than to mount their heads on walls as proof of the killer's manhood. Humans replaced the wild herds of prey animals with the domesticated species that serve as food. As with all animals, wolf must eat, and if their natural food is removed, it must eat something.

Let me make clear that, in the above paragraph, I am not referring to indigenous peoples that have long hunted for their food. These people understood (and still understand) that it is imperative to take only what is needed for survival. It is only when they have been infected by the standards of a wasteful society that some have resorted to poaching. These cases are minute when compared to the length of time that indigenous peoples have survived off the land, coexisting with their environment in harmony.

Wolves carried a bounty on their heads in the US until 1965; one year later they were finally classified as endangered. Thanks in part to their long overdue inclusion on the Endangered Species list in 1975, wolf populations in the United States have begun to increase. In addition , many organizations have in recent years begun projects to reintroduce the wolf into the wild where their populations had been completely removed. One can only hope that soon the wolf will once again roam free.

Many liken the wolf to a big German Shepherd dog, except that its head is somewhat larger and more broad. I personally think of it as an Alaskan Malamute with a much larger "yard" and no master, but this is done in humor and, in fact, is misleading. The wolf is actually the predecessor of the domesticated dog, regardless of breed. However, having once had the honor of being owned by a Mal, I believe that of all domesticated breeds, they are the closest to the wolf.

In addition to the Gray Wolf, there are several other species of Canis, including Red Wolf, Indian Wolf, Arabian Wolf and Ethiopian Wolf. Except where noted, information herein describes the species most familiar to North America, the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus). It is currently estimated that there may be as many as 24 subspecies of Canis lupus.

At one time the wolf was the planet's most widely distributed mammal, ranging across most of the Northern Hemisphere. Today, however, their territory is much smaller and wolves of every species face extinction. The largest populations of wolves in the wild are currently found in Canada, Russia and Alaska. In addition, various attempts are being made to reintroduce the wolf into areas of the lower 48 states of the US, thanks to the diligence and commitment of many individuals and organizations.

Averaging about 30 inches at the shoulder, wolves range in weight from about 40 pounds to as much as 150 pounds or more, with the average being around 95 pounds for a male, and a few pounds lighter for females. While pure white and black are the color extremes, most wolves are gray, lightening to white on the legs and underbelly, and marked by black throughout. Often they will have blond, brown, or rust blended into their thick coats.

The average paw is 4-1/2 to 5 inches, measured front to back, and is fairly wide. The size of its paws allows the wolf to travel easily, even over mud, snow and ice. Their long legs and narrow chests are well suited to traveling over uneven terrain, even in deep snow. Being creatures of great strength and stamina, wolves can reach speeds over 35 mph, and can "cruise" at slower speeds for hours at a time.

The wolf's senses are finely tuned, especially its smell and hearing. Its acute senses are crucial to its ability to hunt effectively. Research has shown that wolves are able to hear the howls of other wolves up to 6 miles away. Wolves also have an exceptional memory, which has been demonstrated in several studies. Many researchers feel that wolves know every rock, tree and shrub in their territory intimately, even if they have not visited a certain area for a considerable time.

Although not as fast as the cheetah, the wolf can hunt its prey over far greater distances. In fact, wolves travel more often, and for greater distance, than any other animal in North America except the caribou. Wolves have been known to travel as much as 50 miles in a 24-hour period and one wolf was tracked from Minnesota to Saskatchewan, Canada, over 550 miles away.

Another physical trait that allows wolves to hunt large game is the strength of their jaws. Studies have shown that an adult wolf can exert as much as 1500 lbs. per square inch with its bite; this is approximately twice that of all but the strongest dogs.

Depending on pack size and game density, a wolf pack will control territory between 25 and 500 square miles, though the average tends toward the lower end of these numbers. Territories are marked by wolves in two ways: scent and sound. Wolf packs will urinate and/or defecate all along the boundaries of their territory as a warning to other packs that the area already has a community. They will also mark their game trails in a like manner. Because of their respect for each other's boundaries, wolf packs seldom engage in territory battles, except in times of extreme need.

Wolves also howl together to provide additional warning to others. They have the unique ability for howling at different pitches. Each pack member will adopt a slightly different pitch, thereby making it sound as if there are more wolves in the pack. The reason for this is that the ear is confused by the very close, but distinct, pitches. This can be very important in nature, where it is imperative to portray the appearance of strength. It has often been said there is strength in numbers, and for a wolf pack to seem larger than it really is can be a significant deterrent to others near their territory.

Many times over, modern research has proven what indigenous peoples have long known: that the wolf is as important to its prey as the prey is to the wolf. Consider the fact that wolves are seldom able to take down healthy specimens of large game. Instead, they cull from the herd the sick and weak, the old and the very young (usually the least viable young). In this manner, the wolf perfectly executes Darwin's theory of survival of the fittest, leaving only the strongest specimens to continue the species.

Wolves are well adjusted to the conditions in which they live. When game is scarce they are able to go without food for many days and will often feed much of their kill to their young while going hungry themselves. When a pack does bring down a large kill, they can eat more than 20 lbs. of meat at one sitting and often will stay near a carcass for several days until the entire animal is consumed.

It is obvious to even the casual observer that wolves are extremely intelligent. It is this intelligence that allows wolves to hunt in a cooperative fashion. Without this cooperation, wolves would be unable to hunt large game animals and would be forced to hunt much smaller game (as does its cousin, the coyote) even when larger game is present. Working cooperatively, a pack can take down animals that weigh up to ten times as much as an individual wolf. This would be virtually impossible if wolves hunted alone.

Often, a pack member will engage in reconnaissance before a hunt. A lone member will travel throughout the pack's territory in search of a herd of prey. Upon its return, the scout will communicate its find to the pack, which then will become quite excited and energetic in preparation for the hunt. After such scouting trips, the pack's hunters will often travel straight to the prey herd, demonstrating the truth of this theory.

Certainly, it makes sense for a wolf pack to work together to bring down large game; less energy is expended and more food is obtained with each kill. However, when large game is unavailable, wolves will hunt smaller animals. A study in Wisconsin conducted in the early 1980's found that the diet of the wolves studied consisted of 55% white tail deer, 16% beaver, 10% snowshoe hare and 19% smaller mammals, such as mice, squirrels and muskrats.

Further demonstrations of the wolf's intelligence can be seen in its social life. Wolves are very loyal and most often mate for life. If its mate dies, a wolf will not normally mate again, often mourning its loss for a considerable length of time.

Wolf packs also demonstrate their cooperative nature in the rearing of pups. All adult members of the pack will take part in protecting and training their young. If a female with pups dies, another will immediately take her place as "mother". In this and many other ways, the wolf demonstrates that it is far more caring and compassionate than modern man.

Wolves mate in late winter or early spring, with only the Alpha pair normally mating. Other wolves that attempt to mate are usually harassed until they cease their efforts. However, in areas where there is a high amount of prey, other pairs may mate as well. The pups are born in March or April after a gestation of approximately two months. A litter may consist of two to as many as twelve pups; the average number of pups per litter is between four and six.

Deaf and blind at birth, pups weigh about a pound and are covered with dark, fuzzy fur. They will spend the first several weeks of life protected in a den the mother has prepared. If no suitable location is available for a den, the mother may use a hollowed out log or build a nest of sorts within bushes or shrubs.

The young pups will grow at the rate of 3 lbs. per week for the first three months. They can begin to see at two weeks of age and to hear at three weeks. They will nurse from their mother until they are six weeks old, at which time they are weaned and begin to eat meat the adult members of the pack bring them. All members of the pack will assist in the feeding and other care the young wolves require.

Pup survival is directly related to the amount of game available: the more game, the greater their chance of surviving to adulthood. The chances of survival vary greatly depending on location and range between 50% to as high as 80%. Higher success rates are seen in areas where wolves are being reintroduced.

Today, there are numerous organizations and individuals engage in wolf research, as well as efforts to save them from extinction and reintroduce them to parts of their original habitat. However, there is far more we do not know about this wonderful creature than what we do. The wolf's timidity and desire to be left alone make it a difficult subject for study. Many researchers admit they sometimes go for months, even years, without actually seeing a single subject. A significant amount of information is based on the study of signs left by wolves rather than study of the wolves themselves. Also, significant amounts of research are conducted with captive packs that are part of the reintroduction programs mentioned previously.

There is much work left to do. Not only is considerable further research necessary in order to fully understand the wolf, extended efforts regarding public education are required if the wolf is to ever receive the respect it deserves.

Wolves are not the demon-possessed hounds of Hell that European myth would have us believe. Rather, as Native Americans still know today - as do other indigenous people - the wolf deserves respect as an animal that embodies those traits which man has time and again claimed to admire. Strength, ingenuity, intelligence, understanding (of its own kind, of those around it and of nature as a whole), loyalty, compassion, and the ability to balance itself within its ecosystem: these are the traits of the wolf.

Perhaps the most compelling reason to work for the preservation of the wolf as a species may be summed up in the following quote:

Are we not brothers, created by the same God?

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