Great communicators

If you’ve watched domestic dogs play, you already know something about how wolves communicate. Within a wolf pack, communicating successfully with each other is key to every member’s survival and well-being. Like dogs, they may bare their teeth and growl if they are angry or upset. They hold their tails high as a sign of leadership, and lower their bodies and tails in front of another pack member to show submission. Ears flattened back against the wolf’s face means it is afraid or cautious. Wolf packs also follow the cues of the head male and female, called the alphas. In any pack there is only one alpha male and female, and only these wolves have pups. The alphas are usually the oldest and strongest members of the pack and organize the pack to hunt as a group.

Wolves, like many other animals, also communicate by scent marking: leaving their urine and feces on trees or rocks where other wolves will find it. There are many research studies going on to determine what these "messages" mean. One of the best-known ways wolves communicate is by howling. No one knows for sure all the ways that wolves use this communication tool. Some researchers believe wolves howl for fun, as well as to announce their presence to each other or start a hunt

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