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Yellowstone
National Park - Forces of the Northern Range - Wolf Tracks
Location
of sign - on the Forces of the Northern Range Trail between Tower Junction and Mammoth Hot Springs
in Yellowstone National Park.
Photo
taken June 2008
Text
of sign:
Wolf
Tracks
Gray
wolves (Canis lupus) are the largest member of the canine family. They
are well suited to Yellowstone where winters are
long
and severe. Wolves move easily over the snow on their large paws, their
thick fur keeping them warm.
Wolves
have short bushy tails and short, rounded ears. They can run 43 miles
per hour on their long legs!
Howling
is a form of communication that is often heard on a calm Yellowstone night.
Pups
are born in April or May. The entire pack helps take care of them.
Social
Life
Most
wolves are social animals that live in packs of five or more members.
They hunt, eat, and rest together. The alpha pair, one
male
and one female, are the leaders of the pack.
Pups
Pups
are born in spring in their den. While their parents are hunting, other
pack members take turns "babysitting.' Like other
mammals,
young wolves learn important skills while playing with each other.
Hunting
Wolves'
long legs allow them to race across the landscape for great
distances. Their speed, stamina and "teamwork" are extremely
beneficial
while hunting.
In
Yellowstone, wolves' primary food is elk. Because the hunt
cooperatively with other members of the pack, wolves are able to
hunt
large mammals such as elk, moose, or bison. They also eat
small mammals, birds, eggs, berries and carrion.
This
exhibit made possible by a generous grant from the Yellowstone Association.
Graphics
on the sign
In
addition to the text there are pictures of wolves, and a three dimensional
display of wolf tracks.
Please help us
out by submitting
a photo!
You
can find more information about the state of Wyoming here.
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