FA+
Shop
318
Views
Views
28
Favorites
Favorites
Category
Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Wolf
Size 1024 x 820
File Size 87.9 kB
Report this content
More from Grrym
Two-year old wolves at play --and pulling some crazy gaping faces as they wrestle. All in good fun. :) Trekkie (gaping) and Roland (grabbing) are half-arctic (Canis lupus arctos) and half-eastern timber (Canis lupus lycaon) wolves, hand-raised at the Center.
Category Photography / Animal related (non-anthro)
Species Wolf
Size 1024 x 820px
File Size 87.9 kB
*hehe* These two are precious! <3 ..wolves are such expressive creatures.. ^o_-^ *wagwag*
A picture is worth a thousand words .. simply judging by this photo, I can tell you several things about them:
1: both are the same age, both males (broad foreheads) and probably siblings.
2: the one on the left (Roland) is obviously the dominant of the two, possibly the beta or up-and-coming alpha of the pack.
3: the averted gaze and lowered posturing of the one on the right (Trekkie) shows submissive behavior and lower ranking, most likely the omega.
Of course, I'm only going by a single photograph, so I may be way off on my estimate .. nonetheless, you have taken an incredible picture .. keep up the good work! >^+^<
A picture is worth a thousand words .. simply judging by this photo, I can tell you several things about them:
1: both are the same age, both males (broad foreheads) and probably siblings.
2: the one on the left (Roland) is obviously the dominant of the two, possibly the beta or up-and-coming alpha of the pack.
3: the averted gaze and lowered posturing of the one on the right (Trekkie) shows submissive behavior and lower ranking, most likely the omega.
Of course, I'm only going by a single photograph, so I may be way off on my estimate .. nonetheless, you have taken an incredible picture .. keep up the good work! >^+^<
Glad you enjoyed the photo. :) They're fun boys. As for your theories . . .
1. They are. Brothers, indeed.
2. Actually, when they were pups, I'd have agreed. Roland tends to be the "chaser" in play, but Trekkie probably is the rising alpha -- because he's sneaky and doesn't get trounced as much. It's difficult to read dominance in play behavior since typical boundaries are in flux during low-intensity play.
3. Nope, although your reasons are very sound. He just happens to be standing across my husband (cropped out of the shot) and can't wrest himself around easily. He's gathering himself for more acrobatics, not lowering himself in submission. But, as you say, it's one shot and completely out of context. I might read it exactly the same way for the same reasons.
Where'd you learn to read wolf behavior?
*wags*
1. They are. Brothers, indeed.
2. Actually, when they were pups, I'd have agreed. Roland tends to be the "chaser" in play, but Trekkie probably is the rising alpha -- because he's sneaky and doesn't get trounced as much. It's difficult to read dominance in play behavior since typical boundaries are in flux during low-intensity play.
3. Nope, although your reasons are very sound. He just happens to be standing across my husband (cropped out of the shot) and can't wrest himself around easily. He's gathering himself for more acrobatics, not lowering himself in submission. But, as you say, it's one shot and completely out of context. I might read it exactly the same way for the same reasons.
Where'd you learn to read wolf behavior?
*wags*
That is an incredible photograph, I just had to fave it .. That Face! .. LOL!.. :D
..Well, It's a good thing I didn't mess up on THAT guesstimate.. *pulls foot out of mouth* ^o_O^ I'm usually a little closer than that on my first impressions..
They look fairly young, maybe 2 - 3 years old at most? .. It was hard to determine pecking order from this one photo, considering their age and the fact that during play they will go back and forth with one another.
Wolves have always held a certain amount of fascination for me, even as a child.
I have always felt more comfortable around a pack of wolves than I do around most groups of people .. their behaviour is much more predictable. ^^
My wife and I had the opportunity to raise some orphaned high-content pups back in the mid-80's, and to help find permanant homes for them.. They were such a joy to have around the house.:) They are definitely high maintenance critters, requiring special diet, care and LOTS of attention and exercise.
We kept one of the black-furred males and named him "Tadg" .. a Middle Irish word meaning "poet" (who my FA 'sona is loosely based on) ..He lived to a ripe old age of 15 when, in 1998 he passed away from renal failure.. his kidneys shut down and there was nothing we or the vet could do for him. It took a long time to get over it .. It was like losing one of our children.
I spent some time in 1995 near Augusta, Montana observing a pack in the wild in the Ninemile Valley area, to see how they behave without any outside influences from humans involved.. sadly, many years later I discovered that ADC had exterminated all but ten pups near Sawtooth Reef, blaming the death of someones Llama on them .. the pups were captured and taken to the Rose Creek pen and eventually to the Nez Perce enclosure in Idaho.
Nowdays, I spend much of my spare time at a nearby Rescue/Sanctuary in Incline Village, Nevada helping out whenever I can.. most of what I know about wolf behaviour is just from simply being around them.
It's good to know that there are still people like you around that care about the wolf, because they do play a very important role in maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment in this world.
Hopefully, all of these myths about the "Big Bad Wolf" will be dispelled someday, and they can once again find their place in nature where they belong..
*hugs* >^+^<
..Well, It's a good thing I didn't mess up on THAT guesstimate.. *pulls foot out of mouth* ^o_O^ I'm usually a little closer than that on my first impressions..
They look fairly young, maybe 2 - 3 years old at most? .. It was hard to determine pecking order from this one photo, considering their age and the fact that during play they will go back and forth with one another.
Wolves have always held a certain amount of fascination for me, even as a child.
I have always felt more comfortable around a pack of wolves than I do around most groups of people .. their behaviour is much more predictable. ^^
My wife and I had the opportunity to raise some orphaned high-content pups back in the mid-80's, and to help find permanant homes for them.. They were such a joy to have around the house.:) They are definitely high maintenance critters, requiring special diet, care and LOTS of attention and exercise.
We kept one of the black-furred males and named him "Tadg" .. a Middle Irish word meaning "poet" (who my FA 'sona is loosely based on) ..He lived to a ripe old age of 15 when, in 1998 he passed away from renal failure.. his kidneys shut down and there was nothing we or the vet could do for him. It took a long time to get over it .. It was like losing one of our children.
I spent some time in 1995 near Augusta, Montana observing a pack in the wild in the Ninemile Valley area, to see how they behave without any outside influences from humans involved.. sadly, many years later I discovered that ADC had exterminated all but ten pups near Sawtooth Reef, blaming the death of someones Llama on them .. the pups were captured and taken to the Rose Creek pen and eventually to the Nez Perce enclosure in Idaho.
Nowdays, I spend much of my spare time at a nearby Rescue/Sanctuary in Incline Village, Nevada helping out whenever I can.. most of what I know about wolf behaviour is just from simply being around them.
It's good to know that there are still people like you around that care about the wolf, because they do play a very important role in maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment in this world.
Hopefully, all of these myths about the "Big Bad Wolf" will be dispelled someday, and they can once again find their place in nature where they belong..
*hugs* >^+^<
"Their behavior is much more predictable." There's the truth! :) And yes, they're only a couple months past 2 years old, so we're into that "almost grown up" wolfy stage now where they're beginning to test boundaries and try to push people they've only known briefly around. But they're very, very good boys for wolves, the easiest I've ever worked with.
Wonderful thta you had a chance to raise some high-content hybrids and seem them into a good home. So many people don't do their homework before falling into a hybrid or wolf ownership situation, and it's so critical for the long-term happiness of the animal (not to mention the owner). Is your icon a photo of Tadg? (BEAUTIFUL name.) And 15 is a grand old age; it shows how well-cared for he must have been. And you have all my sympathies for losing him even at the end of a long life.
I envy your chance to observe a wild pack; I've never done that, not even briefly. And horrified to hear they were destroyed for supposed livestock depredation. Such a common story and it's never good. I understand predator (and all wildlife) management, but wolves seem to suffer more than any species from historic "bad press." "Big Bad Wolf," as you say. Sigh. The delisting of the Rocky Mountains recently from protected status is another example. A thriving, re-balancing ecosystem once again upset because of human interests. Grrrr.
And Rescue/Sanctuary life is good. My photos come from a conservation center here in NC -- some limited breeding of smaller species, rescue when absolutely necessary, and education with a strong ecological conservation message. I'm a volunteer, too, but am lucky enough to have been able to fill a staff role (unpaid) for some years. Most of my wolf experience comes from a few years of volunteer work at Wolf Park in Indiana with their captive packs.
*hugs and wags* Really nice to "meet" you, too!
Wonderful thta you had a chance to raise some high-content hybrids and seem them into a good home. So many people don't do their homework before falling into a hybrid or wolf ownership situation, and it's so critical for the long-term happiness of the animal (not to mention the owner). Is your icon a photo of Tadg? (BEAUTIFUL name.) And 15 is a grand old age; it shows how well-cared for he must have been. And you have all my sympathies for losing him even at the end of a long life.
I envy your chance to observe a wild pack; I've never done that, not even briefly. And horrified to hear they were destroyed for supposed livestock depredation. Such a common story and it's never good. I understand predator (and all wildlife) management, but wolves seem to suffer more than any species from historic "bad press." "Big Bad Wolf," as you say. Sigh. The delisting of the Rocky Mountains recently from protected status is another example. A thriving, re-balancing ecosystem once again upset because of human interests. Grrrr.
And Rescue/Sanctuary life is good. My photos come from a conservation center here in NC -- some limited breeding of smaller species, rescue when absolutely necessary, and education with a strong ecological conservation message. I'm a volunteer, too, but am lucky enough to have been able to fill a staff role (unpaid) for some years. Most of my wolf experience comes from a few years of volunteer work at Wolf Park in Indiana with their captive packs.
*hugs and wags* Really nice to "meet" you, too!
I just looked up the Conservator's Center site today and, My God you folks have quite a variety of animals under your care <3 it must keep all of you very busy .. they all look very happy and healthy. :)
..also sad to hear of Aretha Franklin Caracal's recent passing, I'm guessing due to the many complications associated with diabetes...R.I.P. Aretha.
Yes, the icon I use is an old photo of Tadg, he was about 12 at that time .. I would like to believe that he had a relatively good life compared to what most wolves in the wild must endure. the majority of them never live beyond the age of 7 in the wild.
The delisting in the Northern Rockies has been but one of the many recent setbacks..
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services has also recently proposed to delist the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes (Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin) as well as 29 states in the eastern and south-eastern U.S. (there was more than 43,000 signed petitions opposing this proposal) we won't know if this was enough to change their stance on the delistings for some time, they have up to a year to decide .. I've been trying to find out more information on this matter through the Federal Register, but so far to no avail.
I'm familiar with Wolf Park in Battle Ground, I've never been there but have heard nothing but good things about them. (recently bought a few watermelons for their watermelon party .. wish I could have been there to be a part it) XD
I guess life in a sanctuary is not such a bad deal .. kinda sad they will never see true freedom, but they do get the care they deserve.
And it's very nice to meet you as well, even if it is only over the internet.. *hugs*
..also sad to hear of Aretha Franklin Caracal's recent passing, I'm guessing due to the many complications associated with diabetes...R.I.P. Aretha.
Yes, the icon I use is an old photo of Tadg, he was about 12 at that time .. I would like to believe that he had a relatively good life compared to what most wolves in the wild must endure. the majority of them never live beyond the age of 7 in the wild.
The delisting in the Northern Rockies has been but one of the many recent setbacks..
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services has also recently proposed to delist the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes (Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin) as well as 29 states in the eastern and south-eastern U.S. (there was more than 43,000 signed petitions opposing this proposal) we won't know if this was enough to change their stance on the delistings for some time, they have up to a year to decide .. I've been trying to find out more information on this matter through the Federal Register, but so far to no avail.
I'm familiar with Wolf Park in Battle Ground, I've never been there but have heard nothing but good things about them. (recently bought a few watermelons for their watermelon party .. wish I could have been there to be a part it) XD
I guess life in a sanctuary is not such a bad deal .. kinda sad they will never see true freedom, but they do get the care they deserve.
And it's very nice to meet you as well, even if it is only over the internet.. *hugs*
Comments