Wolves are a type of predatory mammal of the canine family. They are listed in the IUCN Red List. Hunting these animals is forbidden.
Fact number one.
Wolves live on the plains of the Northern Hemisphere, mostly in the steppes, mountains, forests, and tundra. Unfortunately, in some countries, they are completely exterminated. In the Antarctic, white wolves are on the verge of extinction.
Fact number two.
The coloration of wolves often corresponds to the places they live in. For example, desert wolves are reddish, tundra wolves are white, and forest wolves range from light gray, gray-brown to black. In North America only there are wolves with black hair. This coloration is the result of a mutation, which in turn was caused by the crossing of wolves with dogs. As many believe, they are hybrids, not pure wolf species.
Fact number three.
Each wolf is endowed with its own character. There are cautious individuals, self-confident and defiant ones. Some of them behave in the “society” of their tribesmen at ease and freely, while others prefer to keep in the shadows of their more active congeners.
Fact number four.
Wolves are excellent swimmers. They are quite able to overcome the distance of several tens of kilometers on the water. Small membranes between the fingers help them in this. However, they usually do not like to swim.
Fact number five.
The fur of wolves consists of two layers. The undercoat does not let the moisture pass through it and keeps the animal warm in cold weather, and the upper layer gives the color and performs a water-repellent function.
Fact number six.
A wolf’s tail is a kind of feelings indicator. If it is high up and the tip is slightly curved, it means that the wolf is quite confident. A friendly-minded animal has its tail down, but its very tip is up. A wolf with its tail tucked up either fear something or communicates its submissiveness.
Fact number seven.
Wolves are animals that prefer to live in families. Any pack of wolves has its own «charter» where every individual has their own role. The aggressive and strong young ones are in charge, and those who need a firm hand obey them.
Fact number eight.
Wolves are able to smell at a distance of one and a half kilometers. By the way, these animals have the ability to distinguish two hundred million smells. In comparison, humans have only five million. Therefore, wolves are excellent hunters.
Fact number nine.
All day long wolves trot at a speed of up to eight kilometers per hour. In case of danger, their speed can reach sixty kilometers per hour, and when hunting – up to thirty.
Fact number ten.
Wolves have a special reflective layer in their eyes. This layer creates a gloomy glow at night and helps to hunt in the dark as well.
The twenty-eighth of May marks Red Wolf Day. The red wolf occupies a special place among the many endangered fauna species listed in the Red Book.
