The Birth of Wolves

Wolf pups are born after a gestation period of 9 weeks. They are born in litters of between 2 and 10 pups. When first born, wolf pups can't see or hear, and they need to stay close to their mother for warmth. They only weigh about one pound. They stay in the den for the first few weeks of their lives, spending most of their time eating and sleeping. After the first two weeks, their eyes open. After three weeks, they can hear and walk, and they start eating solid food. When the wolf pups are about a month old, they finally get to meet the rest of the pack.

Once the pups leave the den, they are looked after by the entire pack. The pups bond with the other wolves in the pack. (If a wolf is raised by people instead of wolves, it will bond to people at this point.) The older apck members help by bringing food back for the young pups and watching for predators like eagles and hawks who might try to take the pups. After the wolf pups are nine weeks old, the pack moves from the den area to a site where the pups can safely play while the rest of the pack hunts.

Through playing, the pups practice skills that will be important later in their lives, like pouncing, fighting and chasing. They even attack the older wolves, who put up with all their energy pretty well. Playing helps the pups establish a social order among themselves.

Wolf pups do not begin to hunt until they are at least a year old. Wolves mate at the end of winter, generally between January and April, so that the wolf pups are developed enough by the arrival of next winter to grow strong and perhaps even help with hunting. Wolves do not usually become sexually mature enough to mate until they are at least three years old.
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