Between Winter & Spring

SUMMER:

Summer is the time of growth, the winter coat is long gone, replaced by a short summer coat.At this time the pups are still using the den. The mother will again start hunting with the pack. While she hunts other wolves watch the pups so they are never left alone. This is a time of play and fun for the wolf pups, for it is nice outside and everything is new and green. During this time the adult wolves put up with a lot of puppy abuse! At about eight weeks of age they abandon the den and move to a rendezvous site (which you read earlier). These areas are located closer to the area at which the wolves hunt.

During the summer is when wolves learn to hunt. Eventually the adults will make the pups part of the hunt. This will also determin the pups place in the pack. Wolves mostly do their activities at night. They do this so they can escape the heat of the summer days. Wolves will follow river beds, gravel bars, and keep to high ridges so that they have a good view of possible prey.

AUTUMN:

Wolves begin their winter preparations in the autumn. The wolves coat will become much thicker. Wolf pups at this time know about snow instinctively, yet the first experience with snow is a exuberant experience for them.

The pups have now been on the packs hunts, they still have much to learn. At this time the young wolves are around 50 pounds, they will not reach their full size for months. The pack will now have to migrate with their prey, for the predator must stay close to the prey species. The fall is a natural disperal time for most wild animals. Some wolves may leave and find mates and to start their own pack. The wolves that leave are usually two and a half years old.