Wolves: Social Behavior Trivia Quiz

Answer: By licking at each other's muzzles.

A wolf may greet a pack member by licking and nipping at its muzzle. This is typically done to higher ranking wolves.

Answer: To frighten their prey.

Wolves howl before a hunt to bring the pack together, as well as after a hunt, but they do not howl while they are hunting, as that would alert potential prey to the wolves' presence, giving them more time to escape.

Answer: In the spring.

Wolf pups are always born in the spring, and there are typically 4-6 pups born in a litter, but sometimes as many as 10.

Answer: They are born with no sense of smell.

Wolf pups are born blind and deaf, and are often born with blue eyes. They are typically around 1 pound upon birth, and are completely helpless but for the care of the pack.

Answer: The entire pack assists in the upbringing.

The entire group will assist in raising the pups. They help to feed the mother and pups with food from the hunt, protecting the area from large predators such as grizzly bears, and acting as nursemaids when the mother goes hunting.

Answer: Dispersers

Wolves even have different personalities. Many are very social animals, some are natural leaders, while others are "lone wolves". Dispersers are wolves which leave their pack and go out in search of a mate and new territory.

Answer: Wolves attack humans whenever they can.

Wolves are generally afraid of humans and typically avoid them whenever possible. Wolves in general have never hunted humans as prey. They'll typically hunt moose and caribou where they're abundant, and smaller prey such as squirrels and rabbits when available.

The only known attacks by healthy wolves in North America were by wolves which had been fed by humans, or wolf-dog hybrids. Rabid wolves have also been known to attack humans, although it is rare in North America.

Answer: By facial gestures and body postures.

The position of a wolf's tail and ears in particular can indicate where it stands. During social interactions, alpha pack members will hold their tail up high, while subservient ones will hang it low. Alpha wolves will hold their ears erect, while lower ranking wolves will flatten them, especially when approaching an alpha wolf.

Answer: It stares or growls at it.

The alpha will try to get the subservient wolf to submit. Sometimes, only a stern stare will suffice. It may need to growl and bare its teeth at the offender.

Answer: It lies on the ground, side and belly exposed.

The alpha wolf will accept this as an apology. While the hierarchy is very important for wolves, serious contests against the dominant wolves' authority are rare, and few wolves are ever injured by their packmates.