Biology

Gray wolves live in packs of as few as 2 wolves, to as many as 15. Occasionally a larger pack will form, however eventually individuals will break off to form their own packs.

These packs are a family group and typically consist of a male and female parent/leader (breeding pair), and the pups/other wolves. It is unclear if the male or female parent is the more dominant one.

Wolves can use their sense of smell to communicate through chemical messages known as pheromones. These pheromones are emitted from glands across the body, on the toes, tail, eyes, and skin. In addition they will also communicate through body language, such as: posture, facial expression, and ear and tail positioning.

Wolves will also vocalize to communicate, using a variety of growls, barks, whines, yips, and whimpers. Whines and whimpers are often used to indicate friendly interaction, frustration, or anxiety. Growls and snarls are often threatening/defensive. Across large distances, wolves will communicate by howling.

Growling

Groups Howls

Scent Communication

Submissive Posture

Mating

Wolves usually only breed once per year. Giving birth to 1 litter of pups from April to May. Each litter is, generally, 4-6 pups.

The mating ritual is not as elaborate as that of other animals. Before they mate, they sleep close together; the might touch noses, maybe even mutually groom/nibble the other, and they may walk while pressed close together. They may even sleep side by side. As the courtship process begins the male will smell the genital region of the female to determine if she is ready to mate, tasting the air for traces of her sex hormones. If she is not, she will repel the male with growls and snaps of her jaws.

Immediately before copulation, the pair might act jubilant, by nuzzling, whipping tails in each other's face, and even urinating. Then the male mounts the female from behind, like dogs; an interesting part of this is that the male's penis will swell and cause the two to be stuck together for a time (up to half an hour)

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