Have you ever heard the saying that once a wolf leaves a pack, it will never howl again? This sounds plausible, because the purpose of wolf howls is to keep in touch with their companions, and wolves abandoned by wolves do not have this need. But is that really the case? Today, we're going to uncover the secrets of wolf howls and see why they make that creepy sound.
1. Features of wolf howling
The sound of a wolf howl is very special, it can travel over a great distance, and it has a strong penetrating power. The frequency of wolf howling is generally between 150-780 Hz, lasts between 1-11 seconds, and can reach 90 decibels. Each wolf has its own unique howl that, like a human fingerprint, can be used to identify individuals. Different wolves also have different howling styles, just like human dialects, which can be used to distinguish regions.
When wolves howl, they usually raise their heads and open their mouths, revealing their sharp teeth. This has two benefits: it can make the voice clearer and louder, and it can make you look more dignified and confident. Of course, this also depends on the mood and purpose of the wolf, and sometimes the wolf also bows his head or lies flat and howls, such as when showing obedience or pleading.
2. The reason for the howl of wolves
Wolves are very social animals, they usually form a nuclear family, consisting of a couple and their children, and sometimes adopt some exotic cubs. Wolves have complex social relationships, and they express their emotions in a variety of ways, such as playing, grooming each other, sleeping next to each other, etc. And howling is one of the most important ways for wolves to communicate, it can convey a lot of information, such as:
- Localization: Howling wolves can let companions know where they are, especially during hunting or migration, to prevent getting lost or getting lost.
- Gathering: Wolf howling can summon companions to gather together, such as when in danger or when food is found.
- Emotion: Wolf howls can express one's emotional state, such as happiness, sadness, anxiety, fear, etc.
- Social: Howling wolves can enhance the bond between peers, such as in occasions such as welcomes, farewells, celebrations, etc.
- Challenges: Wolf howls can send challenges or warnings to hostile wolves, such as when fighting for territory or food.
3. Do wolves that leave the pack still howl?
Based on the above analysis, we can see that wolf howling is not a meaningless act, but has a clear purpose and intention. So, when a wolf leaves its pack, does it continue to howl? The answer is yes. In fact, wolves that leave a pack may need to howl to find new partners or territories.
Some wolves leave their birth pack as adults and wander around until they meet another single member of the opposite sex, and then start a family and start a new pack. These are the so-called lone wolves, and they are the stages that most head wolves must go through. Lone wolves don't look for a place to stay quiet, but are constantly exploring new territory and howling to find potential mates or competitors. If the lone wolf hears the response of other wolves, it will judge whether the other party is friend or foe, same-sex or opposite, strong or weak based on the sound, and then respond accordingly, such as approaching, moving away, attacking or retreating.
Of course, not all wolves will voluntarily leave the pack, and some wolves will be expelled by the pack for various reasons, such as old age, disability, personality incompatibility, breaking the rules, etc. These abandoned wolves are even more lonely and dangerous, finding new partners or territories and becoming prey to other wolves or predators. These wolves also howl, but more out of desperation and despair, hoping to receive sympathy or help, or at least scare away some enemies.
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