The Wolves' Voices

Wolves are the top predator in most environments in which they live and the trickle down effect of their presence is astounding. In Yellowstone, prior to the wolves’ reintroduction in 1995, elk basically roamed wherever they chose and tended to spend most of their time in the river valleys. This excessive streamside grazing prevented willow and cottonwood tree growth along the river banks. But when the wolf returned, the elk quickly learned they couldn’t set up permanent housekeeping in the valleys and they moved on to make a living in other areas. This, in turn, allowed young trees to grow along the riverbeds. The new trees shaded the river water, creating improved habitat for trout, which thrive in cooler, darker waters. The new willows and cottonwoods attract additional migratory birds and provided new food sources and building materials for beavers. The beavers then built dams which created new marshes and wetlands that in turn attracted otters, ducks and other species. Wolves provide tremendous economic benefits. Ecotourism is quickly moving to the forefront of family recreational activities. The longing to see animals in their natural habitat has created an economic boom throughout the United States. In Yellowstone, fishing has always been a big industry and the improved environment along the river caused by the wolf’s presence has improved fishing opportunities. The wolves themselves are also a huge tourist draw, with many people making Yellowstone their vacation destination expressly for the purpose of seeing wolves. Indeed, most sunrises in Yellowstone are accompanied by rows and rows of nature lovers with spotting scopes, all straining for a glimpse of the elusive wolf. Wolves pose little threat to livestock and humans. In fact, their prey of choice has been wild game like deer and elk for centuries. The same is true for human/wolf interactions. Despite claims by wolf opponents, the fact remains that aggression by wolves against humans is a very rare event.

http://www.feedsee.com/animals/wolves.html

Mother Moon

by Ken Kash

I look up toward Mother,

She’s smiling down at me.

All I sing are laments,

Yet she looks down with glee.

I pray to Her to help us,

With weather, pack, or prey.

She’s always up there listening,

Forever helping in that simple way.

I ask for Her to be there always,

This small thing I do plea.

She must go form time to time,

This makes it hard to lead.

My Pack depends solely on me,

While I depend on Her to guide.

She bestowed on me greatness,

Therefore I cannot hide.

We together protect the pack,

Ready we are to die, all to soon.

I love my Mother more then anything,

To She only can I croon.

She is here for me and I, Her,

I shall never disgrace, My Mother, The Moon.

Gray wolves once populated large portions of North America, Europe, and Asia, but were hunted to near extinction. Their numbers have rebounded due to conservation and reintroduction efforts.

The Tundra Wolf Canis lupus albus is one of the largest subspecies of the gray wolf

Did you know these Wolf Facts?

• Loss of habitat and persecution by Humans are leading factors in the Wolves “Endangered Species Status”.   This protection has been removed in Montana and Idaho in 2009.
• Wolves lost the protection of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in Idaho and Montana in 2009.  Those states are now managing Wolves.
• In 2009 hunting of Wolves during specified seasons and in certain areas is now legal in Idaho and Montana.  This is unprecedented in the history of the ESA.
• The weight of the North American Wolf can be as little as 40 pounds or as large as 175 pounds.
• The length of the North American Wolf varies between 4’6” and 6’6” from muzzle to tip of tail.
• The height of an average Wolf is between 26 and 32 inches at the shoulder.
• Wolves have large feet, the average being 4 inches wide by 5 inches long.
• Wolves can live up to 13 years in the wild but the average is only 6 to 8 years.
• Wolves in captivity have been known to live up to 16 years.
• Wolves have 42 teeth.
• Wolves breed once a year, December through March, depending on latitude, the gestation period is 63 days.
• Wolf pups are born in northern climates as late as early June and in southern climates as early as late February
• The average litter size is 4 to 6 cubs.
• The cubs weigh approximately one pound at birth and cannot see or hear.
• Fur color varies from gray, tan and brown to pure white or black.
• Packs can have as little as 2 members or as many as 30 members. Average Pack size is 6 to 8.
• Pack Territories vary with location. In the Alaskan or Canadian Wilderness the territory for one pack ranges from 300 to 1,000 square miles while in the continental U.S. the territory is between 25 and 150 square miles.
• A Wolf in a hurry can go as fast as 35 miles per hour for short distances.
• The Wolves’ diet of choice consists of deer, moose, caribou, elk, bison, musk-oxen and beaver. They have been know to survive on voles and mice if need be.

http://www.everythingwolf.com/ourlnk.aspx

This correctly sums up today.

Hungry?

The Gray Wolf
by Stacy Smith - 1998

Gray wolves are such beautiful creatures and are so misunderstood.
So many people hate them and would kill them if they could.

They are actually afraid of people and just want to be left alone.
They are presently endangered species and their future is unknown.

Most of the animals they hunt are injured or weak.
Deer and elk are what many of them seek.

Sometimes they howl to locate their pack.
They find each other when another howls back.

Their fur can make them withstand the harshest of weather.
They do not like to live alone and tend to stay together.

They try to avoid humans as much as they possibly can.
They mean no harm and are endangered because of man.

They live in the wild and they deserve to run free.
People need to understand them better and just let them be.

Wolf-Pirate

thanks Dragon

hehehe, whole new meaning to “nom your face” :P

actionbastard:

…I was always Team Shut The Fuck Up, because pussy ass wolves and sparkling vampires aint got shit on Lycans, real Vampires, and Vampire Hunters.

I wish Blade or Van Helsing was in that movie sooooo bad…

So i thinks i’m gonna writes a poem bout woofys :)

I love you Dragon, and i just wish you could be happy and stay happy for once. I really hate seeing you down all the time, and especially when your sick.. Just do what ever you have to to be happy thats all i really care about, don’t care how, who, what, anything. just be happy Dragon, all i ask, you deserve it… I’m here for you.. I love you..

Dragons drew for me :D