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Pack Holiday Suggestions

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:50:02 +0100

I believe it is necessary that we continue to find ways to strengthen our bonds and loyalty to each other. Celebrations are a positive social outlet that forges a sense of communion and pride. A holiday would be a fun way to spend our time together and a sure way to have a source of lasting memories. What are your suggestions for White Shadow Holidays?

Thanks and much love,
Miki

Summer Mist

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:10:04 +0100

White Shadow's very own pack mate, Rain, has moved on to form her very own pack that shall be known as the Summer Mist Wolf Pack and she is now the Alpha Female. We ask that you show your love and support to our sister pack and keep the bonds strong.

Thirteen Suns

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:53:40 +0100

-throws her head back and emits a long, beautifully mellow howl from her throat, her long white tail swaying moderately. she would slowly lower her head at the conclusion of the howl-

We, the White Shadow Wolf Pack, have now forged an alliance with the Thirteen Suns Wolf Pack. They match the mellow side of our pack style, a sure fire guarantee that things will run smoothly between both packs. Please make them feel welcomed whenever they visit our lands and treat them kindly. This is a pack, though small in number, seems big at heart. Their Daikkel [male leader], Chinook, has given us permission to visit their land at any time. I ask that should you choose to do so that you show him the same respect that you show Mazin and me and adhere to all of their pack laws.

http://thirteensuns.wetpaint.com/

Excited for the alliance,
Miki

++Pack Members+++
Daikkel: Chinook
Daissel:

Beta Male:
Beta Female:

Delta Male:
Delta Female:

Kappa Male:
Kappa Female:

Sigma: Kiba
Sigma: Viona
Sigma: SwiftHeart
Sigma: Axis
Sigma: Dusky
Sigma: Moonrise

Omega #1:

Trainee:

Pup:

Loner: Shayala

Your Lengthy Absence

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:00:08 +0100

Please leave a message here if you are going to be away from the pack for more than 2 full days. Write out your explanation here, or if it is too personal, send PM [ONLY IF IT IS A PERSONAL MATTER THAT YOU DO NOT WISH FOR OTHERS TO KNOW ABOUT].

Thank you for your cooperation,
Miki

Darkest Envy

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 04:49:03 +0100

-throws her head back and emits a long, beautifully mellow howl from her throat, her long white tail swaying moderately. she would slowly lower her head at the conclusion of the howl-

We, the White Shadow Wolf Pack, have now forged an alliance with the Dark Envy Wolf Pack. They are truly an awesome ensemble, fully of energy, enthusiasm, and best of all, respect. Please make them feel welcomed whenever they visit our lands and treat them kindly. This is a pack I hope to remain allies with for as long as both packs survive. Their Alpha Female, Envy, has given us permission to visit their land at any time. I ask that should you choose to do so that you show her the same respect that you show Mazin and me and adhere to all of their pack laws.

http://darkestenvys.wetpaint.com/

This is truly something to celebrate ^^
Miki

Famliy Funnies

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:53:38 +0100

What are your most memorable funny moments with your White Shadow Family? :D

If you could include the actual posts or PM messages, that would be great!

Behavior and Communication Pt. 2

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:35:58 +0100

Communication

Body Postures

Wolves communicate not only by sound (such as yipping, growling, and howling), but also by body language. This ranges from subtle signals-such as a slight shift in weight-to the obvious, like rolling on the back as a sign of submission.

Here are some other examples of Body postures:

Dominance - A dominant wolf stands stiff legged and tall. The ears are erect and forward, and the hackles bristle slightly. Often the tail is held vertical and curled toward the back. This display shows the wolf's rank to all others in the pack. A dominant lupine may stare penetratingly at a submissive one, pin it to the ground, "ride up" on its shoulders, or even stand on its hind legs.

Submission (active) - In active submission, the entire body is lowered, and the lips and ears are drawn back. Sometimes active submission is accompanied by a rapid thrusting out of the tongue and lowering of the hindquarters. The tail is placed down, or halfway or fully between the legs, and the muzzle often points up to the more dominant animal. The back may be partially arched as the submissive wolf humbles itself to its superior. (A more arched back and more tucked tail indicate a greater level of submission.)

Submission (passive) - Passive submission is more intense than active submission. The wolf rolls on its back and exposes its vulnerable throat and underside. The paws are drawn into the body. This is often accompanied by whimpering.

Anger - An angry lupine's ears are erect, and its fur bristles. The lips may curl up or pull back, and the incisors are displayed. The wolf may also snarl.

Fear - A frightened wolf tries to make its body look small and therefore less conspicuous. The ears flatten down against the head, and the tail may be tucked between the legs, as with a submissive wolf. There may also be whimpering or barks of fear, and the wolf may arch its back. Defensive - A defensive wolf flattens its ears against its head.

Aggression - An aggressive wolf snarls and its fur bristles. The wolf may crouch, ready to attack if necessary.

Suspicion - Pulling back of the ears shows a lupine is suspicious. In addition, the wolf narrows its eyes. The tail of a wolf that senses danger points straight out, parallel to the ground.

Relaxedness - A relaxed wolf's tail points straight down, and the wolf may rest sphinxlike or on its side. The wolf's tail may also wag. The further down the tail droops, the more relaxed the wolf is. Tension - An aroused wolf's tail points straight out, and the wolf may crouch as if ready to spring.

Happiness - As dogs do, a lupine may wag its tail if it is in a joyful mood. The tongue may loll out of the mouth.

Hunting - A wolf that is hunting is tensed, and therefore the tail is horizontal and straight.

Playfulness - A playful lupine holds its tail high and wags it. The wolf may frolic and dance around, or bow by placing the front of its body down to the ground, while holding the rear high, sometimes wagged. This is reminiscent of the playful behavior executed in domestic dogs.

Relationships With Other Animals

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:32:27 +0100

Animals the wolf may come in contact with are:

Coyotes - They will avoid wolves most times. but when encounters occur they are aggressive.

Grizzly bears - Are known to eat wolf pups, wolves will chase away bears from the den area.

Cougars - Although rare in nature, the cougar being a lone hunter is at a disadvantage in a fight with a wolf pack.

Foxes - Foxes have been observed stealing from wolf kills, wolves have been know to steal fox dens, wolves have been known to kill foxes, though it is rare, more often than not they ignore these tiny predators, the exceptions is in the arctic region where wolves will usually kill a fox on sight.

Ravens - One of the most fascinating relationships between animals is the one that seems to exist between wolves and raven. The raven, scavenger of food of all types, will often follow wolf packs in hopes of morsels of food. and wolves have learned to watch for circling ravens as a sign of possible food below.

Dogs - Although wolves are physiologically capable of breeding with dogs, such crossed usually happen in captive situations, trappers tales of wild wolves mating with dogs is usually a campfire myth. Most encounters between wild wolves and dogs are aggressive in nature, it is only natural a dog would be a trespasser in a wolf's territory, small yapping dogs may be attacked as nuisances.

Rank: Establishment and Loss

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:27:15 +0100

ESTABLISHING RANK
Rank order is established and maintained through a series of ritualized fights and posturing best described as ritual bluffing. Wolves prefer psychological warfare to physical confrontations, meaning that high-ranking status is based more on personality or attitude than on size or physical strength. Rank, who holds it, and how it is enforced varies widely between packs and between individual animals. In large packs full of easygoing wolves, or in a group of juvenile wolves, rank order may shift almost constantly, or even be circular (e.g., animal A dominates animal B, who dominates animal C, who dominates animal A).

LOSING RANK
Loss of rank can happen gradually or suddenly. An older wolf may simply choose to give way when an ambitious challenger presents itself, yielding its position without bloodshed. On the other hand, the challenged individual may choose to fight back, with varying degrees of intensity. While the majority of wolf aggression is non-damaging and ritualized, a high-stakes fight can easily result in injury for either or both parties. The loser of such a confrontation is frequently chased away from the pack or, rarely, may be killed as other aggressive wolves contribute to the insurgency. This kind of dominance encounter is more common in the winter months, when mating occurs.

Hunting Technique

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:13:12 +0100

Wolves kill only to eat - to survive. Because wolves usually hunt for large animals, (although wolves are opportunistic and will eat smaller prey) they work together to catch their prey. Wolves will eat a healthy, strong animal if they can catch it.(Wolves need an average of three to ten pounds of meat each day).

Hunting is not always successful, so their bodies are designed to feast (eat a lot)or famine (eat nothing). Wolves can eat as much as 22 pounds of meat at a time and then may not eat again for many days. Wolves require from one to three quarts of water per day, depending on the size of the animal, the climate, and the moisture content of the prey.

When hunting in winter the wolf will conserve energy when ever possible, by following the same trail as the prey animal, staying upwind, and staying out of sight of the prey as long as possible. When it is time to strike the wolf will start wagging their tails with excitement. Some times when young pups are with the hunt they may dash after the prey in the excitement and spoil the hunt.

Wolf Hunting Tactics

Wolves are primarily nocturnal animals that avoid the heat of day. They generally commence hunting at dusk.

Wolves detect prey by three primary means, sent (most common), tracking, and chance encounters.

After prey is detected, wolves may split up to search through brush, travel on ridge tops searching for the prey below, or test herds looking for signs of weakness.

It has long been recognized that wolves often take advantage of wear members of the herd.
Although it does not prey only on the weak and the ill, the wolf is opportunistic, and it is inevitably the disadvantaged that are the easiest to catch.

The Selection

Weakened animals may show thier condition to predators through body stance, uncoordinated movements, the smell of wounds or infection, or some other tangible signal. The reading and evaluation of these signals comprises what Barry Lopez has poetically termed "the conversation of death."

Once a weak individual is selected by a pack, wolves will usually travel upwind. By traveling upwind, the sent of any prey will be carried to them. They will follow the air currents directly to the game. Or, they may follow the sent trail left by a game animal's foot tracks and body odors.

The Chase

Just before the chase wolves prefer to make there final approach downwind so there body sent is not carried to the prey species, alerting it to their presence

Prey that runs is usually chased. Prey that stands its ground may be able to bluff off its pursuers. Moose and Elk often take to deep water or swift rivers and await departure of the pursuing wolves, But more often than not the wolves wait. While the majority of the pack rests, one or two members test the prey for signs of fatigue.

Contrary to popular belief, most prey chased by wolves actually gets away. In one study, only three percent of the moose that were tested ended up being killed. The percentage of prey that is killed is called the "predation efficiency," and in spite the wolf's prowess as a hunter, the majority of his prey escapes.

The Attack

When the attack comes, the prey is usually seized by either the nose or the rump. Rarely, if ever, does a wolf hamstring a prey animal. This is one of the oldest and most pervasive false beliefs held about wolves. As late as 1980, the Aubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals stated that the wolf kills "by slashing tendons in the hind legs.", this is pure myth. The actual death of the prey is usually caused by massive blood loss, shock, or both. Sometimes with smaller prey a neck bite will snap a backbone.

The Alpha wolf will eat first, Wolves usually begin to feed on the rump, if it was exposed during the chase, or else on the internal organs. The muscle and flesh is the last portion of the prey that is eaten, in contras with human habits. Having strong jaws allows the wolf to crush bones to get to the soft marrow, it also helps the wolf eat most of its prey leaving very little waste at the killing site.

There is evidence that wolves have some knowledge of proper prey management. L. David Mech found one pack in Minnesota that varied its killing by hunting in a different part of its territory each year, allowing prey numbers elsewhere to recover, aiding the long-term survival of the pack.