If you are writing a story a wolf then please read this:

[CleopatraWolf]

Hi everyone,

I decided to make this topic so people get the facts right. I have seen many people getting warnings because they have wolf facts wrong (I have done it once too).

So here are a few things you should read before making a story and posting it:


Pups:


Stages of development:
* 10 - 13 days: the eyes open
* 3 weeks: the milk teeth appear, they start to explore the den
* 4 - 5 weeks: short trips outside the den, begin to eat meat
* 6 weeks: moving up to a mile from the den (with adult wolf)
* 6 - 8 weeks: pups are weaned, traveling to rendezvous site.
* 12 weeks: begin to travel with the pack on hunts (with adult wolves)
* 15 - 28 weeks: milk teeth are replaced
* 7 - 8 months: begin to hunt with the pack

Pups need their mother to survive. They cannot look after themselves at a young age and if their mother is not there then there are slim chances of the pups survival. Although some wolf packs will accept a young pup into their pack.


Pup mortality ranges from 30% to 60%. Pups die from diseases, malnutrition and starvation, life in the wild can be difficult.


Adults:

Quote: "Species: Almost all North American wolves belong to the species called gray wolves (Canis Lupus). A separate and endangered species called the red wolf (Canis Rufus) exists in the southern United States; however, almost all of them are in captivity.

Size: Adults range from 5 feet to 6 1/2 feet from nose to tip of tail, stand from 26 to 36 inches high at the shoulders and weigh between 75 and 120 pounds. Female wolves are smaller than males.

Primary Food: Deer, moose, caribou and elk, although they will eat rabbits, beaver, rodents and fish.

Habitat: One of the most adaptable of all animals, wolves can live in a variety of habitats, preferring large areas of heavily wooded wilderness.

Range: Once widely distributed across North America, most gray wolf populations are in Canada and Alaska. Minnesota has a population large enough to maintain itself while Wisconsin, Michigan and Montana have less stable populations. Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995.

Life Span: Approximately 10 years in the wild.

Natural Enemies: None. Wolves are at the top of the food chain. Only humans pose a threat to their existence.

Disposition: Although there are no reliable reports of a healthy wolf ever attacking a human, avoidance is recommended. Wolves will almost always avoid humans, though some curious animals will watch a human from a safe distance.

Observation Opportunities: Very limited because of their small numbers, solitary nature and because they are most active at night. During heavy snows, wolves may be seen on or along infrequently traveled roads."


Another thing:
Wolves do not have magic powers or magic features and this is supposed to be realistic.



That is all for now but I will look up more if this is helpful. My helpful sites are:
http://members.tripod.com/Lonewolf00/
http://www.wolfcountry.net/information/WolfPup.html


~Cleo

[TimberWolfie]

thank you very much Cleo for putting this together. I am sure many people will now understand more about the general side of things.

Thank You Once Again!

TimberWolfie

[Vargen]

Thanks, this helped a lot. Now I don't have to get one of my many wolf books or go on the internet to look up information.

[bslome]

lol, like vargen said! thanks!

[Blindseer]

http://wolfquest.org/wolf_info.php

also, you got some of your facts wrong.

also, wolfcountry.net is not a reliable site from what I have read on there.

[kay]

some of that i didn't know but it's still fun to write them with magic powers
(as long as it's to your self it's not aloud on wolf quest.)