Do Wolves Mate for Life? 20 Amazing Facts About These Loyal Animals - A-Z Animals

Wolves are creatures that fascinate most people, and for good reason. Without wolves, we would never have a dog to play ball with or snuggle up to on the couch. Afterall, every single dog on earth originated from wolves. It’s hard to believe looking at some of the breeds out there! Wolves are beautiful, ferocious animals that live in bonded, family-oriented packs that have intrigued the young and old for centuries. Let’s dive right in and find out whether or not these noble beasts mate for life.

Do Wolves Mate for Life?

Yes, most of the time, alpha wolves are monogamous and spend their lives with each other. They are the only two wolves in their pack that have breeding rights. The pack is made up of grown pups and possibly some other close relatives. The pair of alphas are the only two to mate to keep the pack population under control and because all except for the alphas are typically related. The two alphas hunt, sleep, groom, play and mate together. They are seldom seen apart. However, if one of the alpha pair dies, the other will choose another mate. Basically, their status is “until death do them part.”

Mating

For a mere seven days during January through March, the alpha female comes into oestrus. The alpha pair may go on “vacation” together at that time to be alone. They also don’t want to mate in front of the prying eyes and constant needs of their children. After they mate, the female will seek out the perfect spot for a den in which to give birth to her new pack members. This is always close to a water source so that she doesn’t have to go far to drink, which is important to any nursing mama. When the female is pregnant, she becomes the boss of all bosses and the entire pack works to make sure she has enough food and is well protected.

Pups

The alpha female’s reign over all continues once she has her pups. The alpha male brings her food and the other members will bring her and the pups food and always let her enjoy the kill first if she chooses to leave the den. As the pups are weaned and old enough to meet the pack, the female will bring them out to eat with the pack when she eats. The entire pack will help educate the little wolves and show them all the ropes to being great pack members.

Times When Wolves Might Not Mate for Life

Sometimes, the unexpected happens and an alpha must pick another mate for the health of the pack. This may happen if one alpha dies. It might also happen if either alpha is not able to reproduce or has created pups with health issues. Another time it could happen is when there is a big change to the pack’s stability and the numbers are too low. Sometimes betas will mate or other ranks.

Obviously, this would mean brothers and sisters or mother and brother mating, which isn’t going to be an optimal way to aid the pack. Sometimes, they must do what’s necessary so the pack does not die out. With wolves being heavily hunted, trapped, and losing their habitats, they must keep from becoming extinct.

Interesting Facts About Wolves

1. Wolves do not mate for the first time until they are two or three years old.
2. The red wolf is almost extinct, with less than 50 living in the coastal region of NC.
3. Most wolf packs consist of four to 12 members.
4. Wolves will kill other large predators like coyotes, mountain lions and other wolves in order to secure their territory.
5. Wolves can hear a sound in the woods from six miles away
6. The front paws of a wolf are larger than the rear paws.
7. Grey wolves measure four to six and a half feet long, including their tail.
8. Wolves do not have a foveal pit, which aids them in focusing on prey from far distances.
9. Wolves have over 200 million olfactory cells, which allows them to pick up scents from far away.
10. The maximum speed at which a wolf can run is 35 miles per hour, but they are long-distance runners that wear down their prey.
11. Wolves eat once a week as a pack. Their usual kills are caribou and deer if they’re lucky. One wolf can consume 20 pounds of meat in one sitting! The scraps also serve an important purpose for other animals where prey is scarce.
12. When going in for the kill, a wolf will leap up and grab the victim by the nose, throat, or rear to bring them down.
13. Alpha wolves hold their tails high in the air, while the less dominant might even have their tails tucked between their legs.
14. A pack of wolves can journey anywhere from 20 – 100 miles every day.
15. A lone wolf may be a grown pup from one pack that is off to find their own mate.
16. Pack territories can be as large as 1,000 square miles, as seen with the Arctic wolves.
17. Wolf pups cannot hear until they are three weeks old. They open their eyes for the first time between one and two weeks old.
18. Only about 50% of wolf pups survive. Many adults do not live past five years old in the wild.
19. Wolves prey on elderly, sick, or weak animals, which leaves the healthy, mature elk, deer, or caribou to continue on.
20. A single wolf howl can be heard for six miles.

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