Grey+wolf


 * WOLVES IN SLOVAKIA

Wolves are the largest members of the dog family. Grey wolves are by far the most adaptable and hence most common. They were once found all over the Northern Hemisphere but a long history of conflict with man has seriously depleted their numbers. ||
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 * Slovakia is situated at the westernmost point of the Carpathian Arc. Few grey wolves survive in Europe, but one of the remaining strongholds is the Carpathian Mountain region and in particular the Tatras in Slovakia. The scientific name of the subspecies of wolf that lives in Slovakia is Canis lupus lupus. It has one of the largest distributions from western Europe to the Far East. ||
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 * Although the diet of wolves can also include mice, fruit and even refuse, the most important component is ungulates. In Slovakia these are red deer, wild boar and roe deer. Predators have evolved to be able to catch prey. Their adaptations include sharp teeth and claws, keen senses and strong limbs. Likewise, animals that are their prey have inherited strategies to avoid predators. They can hide, are fast, wary, keep in groups and they also have weapons such as strong hooves and antlers. Scientific research has shown that wolves hunt mostly weak individuals: the sick, injured, very young or old.

Mating takes place from February to March. The alpha female prevents other females from mating, so that the pack can manage to raise and feed the young that are born. If there is a shortage of food or a lot of pack members, no young are born at all.

The den can be dug out under tree roots, in a slope, in a cave or hollow. Wolf pups are born after 63 days in April-May. Most often 4-6 young are born. They are blind and deaf. They start to hear after several days and their eyes open after about two weeks. When they are around two months old the pups are already playing in front of the den. Even the adults frolic with the young, chase them and play with their tail tips. ||
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 * Wolves communicate among themselves and with other packs in three ways: with sounds, body language and scent marks. The most well-known form is howling, which probably serves to assemble the pack, mainly as motivation before a hunt or in order to relocate each other, or to warn other packs that the territory is occupied. When wolves howl, they use harmonised tones and it can seem as if there are more animals than there are in reality.

The grey wolf is the largest of the canids, among which belong for example. the fox, jackal, coyote and dingo, but also dogs. It has a stout body: its weight is about 30-60 kg, its height is 70-90 cm and its lenght is about 130 cm. Females are smaller. In the wild, wolves live for 12-13 years. ||
 * ~ [[image:wolf-small.jpg width="423" height="294"]][[image:2638241-458158-gray-wolf-on-small-hill.jpg width="400" height="294"]] ||

1,3-1,7 m from nose to tail, tail is 25 % of its lenght ||
 * ** FAST FACTS: ** || ** THE GREY WOLF ** ||
 * ** TYPE: ** || MAMMAL  ||
 * ** DIET: ** || CARNIVORE- deer, wild boar...  ||
 * ** AVERAGE LIFESPAN: ** || 8-13 years ||
 * ** SIZE: ** || Up to 75 cm tall at the shoulder,
 * ** WEIGHT: ** || Average male 50-60 kg ||
 * ** SPEED: ** || Up to 65 km/h ||