Wolf communication

Gray wolf pair touching

Wolves communicate using vocalizations, body postures, scent, touch, and taste.[1] The lunar phases have no effect on wolf vocalisation. Despite popular belief, wolves do not howl at the Moon.[2] Gray wolves howl to assemble the pack, usually before and after hunts, to pass on an alarm particularly at a den site, to locate each other during a storm or while crossing unfamiliar territory, and to communicate across great distances.[3] Other vocalisations include growls, barks and whines.[4] Wolves do not bark as loudly or continuously as dogs do but they bark a few times and then retreat from a perceived danger.[4] Aggressive or self-assertive wolves are characterized by their slow and deliberate movements, high body posture and raised hackles, while submissive ones carry their bodies low, sleeken their fur, and lower their ears and tail.[5] Raised leg urination is considered to be one of the most important forms of scent communication in the wolf, making up 60–80% of all scent marks observed.[6]

  1. ^ Mech & Boitani 2003, p. 66-103.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Busch2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Lopez 1978, p. 38.
  4. ^ a b Lopez 1978, pp. 39–41.
  5. ^ Mech & Boitani 2003, p. 90.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Peters1975 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).