Photo (c) PSolfest, 1999

Wolf Communication

Wolves have a very special communication system which is of great importance to the social order of the pack. They need to be able to communicate with one another to coordinate activities like hunting or caring for pups. Wolves learn to communicate dominance, territory, aggression and friendliness to members of their pack and to other wolves. Wolves must possess a wide range of ways to communicate messages using facial expressions, eye contact, body posture, scenting and, of course, sounds.

Facial Expressions and Eye Contact
Wolves have a mask-like appearance, with dark circles around the eyes surrounded by a lighter area and black lips. All of these help to emphasize the expressions on a wolf's face.

When a wolf displays an aggressive or dominant expressions, all parts of his body are forward. The eyes stare directly ahead, the ears are standing up and pressed forward, the corners of the lips are pushed forward and the hairs of the neck and back (hackles) are raised. The teeth are bared. This combination creates the impression of large size and aggressiveness and is intended to intimidate an enemy.

A submissive expression is nearly the opposite. It involves, smoothing, flattening, and appearing restrained. The lips, for instance, are pulled back. The eyes look away. The ears are flat to the head.  This makes the wolf look smaller and less threatening.

Photo credit: Ron Wulff Volunteer Wildlife
Reptile and Exotic Pet Rescue
 

Body Posture
The normal posture of a wolf is relaxed with its tail hanging and a smooth expression. In friendly and submissive postures, the wolf tries to look smaller. It may even lie down or roll over. Aggressive postures are "puffed up", with stiff legs and hair raised.

Aggressive Behaviors
Wolves will use posture and movements to communicate to other wolves. A wolf may lay its chin or paws on the back of another wolf to show dominance. It may lunge and snap at another wolf or run at the wolf, slamming into its body. It may even jump high into the air ending in a "body bash." The other wolf is supposed to run away from this charge. These behaviors allow the wolf to express a strong message with little damage to the other wolf.

Photo (c) PSolfest, 1999

Play Behaviors
A wolf that tries to get another to play will raise its front paws and wag its tail. Play is an important part of wolf activity. It helps to maintain social contact and is useful for establishing relationships. Play can also hide some aggression. Play behavior can become more aggressive as it continues. Play can also be used by wolves to lessen aggression.

Submissive Behaviors
A wolf demonstrating submission will have a crouched, low body posture, appearing to crawl. It looks like the wolf is creeping forward, moving its hips from side to side as it does so. The tail is low, often between its legs. It may raise its front paws as if to play. A submissive wolf will roll over exposing its stomach to the dominant wolf as a way to signal helplessness and lack of aggression.
 

Scenting
A wolf's sense of smell is so sensitive that it can smell prey a mile away. Wolves use this strong sense of smell for identification. Each wolf has its own unique smell that allows other pack members to recognize it. Wolves also use urine and scat to mark the borders of their territory. The scent lasts up to three weeks. These signs warn other wolves away.

Howling

To see a wolf howl, click here.

Howling is a long distance way for wolves to communicate. On a clear night, humans can hear a wolf howl from four to ten miles away. Wolves have incredibly good hearing. They are also able to turn their ears from side to side which allows them to tell the direction from which a sound is coming. So, wolves can use their howls to communicate with other members of their pack throughout a territory of over one hundred miles.

Wolves also howl more often near the borders of their territory. They even seem able to howl in such a way as to sound like more than one animal. Thus howling seems to be an important part of keeping other wolves out of the pack's territory. One kind of howl is the howl to assemble. It may be used by the alpha wolf to call the other wolves together.

There is also a "chorus howl" which is begun by one wolf and then joined in by others. It is accompanied by tail wagging and face nuzzling and may take place for pure enjoyment. It adds to the social contact among the pack members.

Finally, there is the  "lonesome howl". It is made by a single wolf that has become separated from the rest of the pack. Wolves in captivity have been heard to make this howl when another wolf has been removed from the area and also when a pup has died.

Despite the common belief, wolves ordinarily don't howl while hunting. They rely on stealth and silence to hunt.