Wolves do not bark as loudly or continuously as dogs do in confrontations, rather barking a few times and then retreating from a perceived danger. Other vocalizations include growls, barks and whines. Wolf howls can under certain conditions be heard over areas of up to 130 km 2 (50 sq mi). Wolves howl to assemble the pack usually before and after hunts, to pass on an alarm particularly at a den site, to locate each other during a storm, while crossing unfamiliar territory, and to communicate across great distances. The phases of the moon have no effect on wolf vocalization, and despite popular belief, wolves do not howl at the moon. Wolves communicate using vocalizations, body postures, scent, touch, and taste. Wolf packs are typically settled, and usually leave their territory only when there is severe food shortage. Wolf packs travel constantly in search of prey, covering roughly 9% of their territory per day. Territory size depends on the amount of prey available and the age of the pack's pups. They generallly establish territories far larger than they require to survive in order to have a steady supply of prey. In some cases, a lone wolf is adopted into a pack to replace a deceased breeder. Adoptee males may mate with an available pack female and then form their own pack. This usually occurs between the months of February and May. In the rare cases where other wolves are adopted, the adoptee is almost invariably an immature animal of one to three years old, and unlikely to compete for breeding rights with the mated pair. Wolf packs rarely adopt other wolves into their fold and typically kill them. Some stay in the vicinity of the parental group, while other individuals may travel great distances of upwards of 206 km (128 mi), 390 km (240 mi), and 670 km (420 mi) from their natal (birth) packs. Offspring typically stay in the pack for 10–54 months before dispersing. The average pack across Eurasia consists of a family of eight wolves (two adults, juveniles, and yearlings), or sometimes two or three such families, with examples of exceptionally large packs consisting of up to 42 wolves being known. The average pack size in North America is eight wolves and in Europe 5.5 wolves. The wolf's basic social unit is the nuclear family consisting of a mated pair accompanied by their offspring. Most lone wolves disperse from packs to form their own or join another one. Its populations consist of packs and lone wolves. Wolves will also swallow food and then bring it back up for pups to eat. They will eat up to 2/7 their body weight. Wolves have very sharp teeth which helps them tear large chunks of meat from a dead animal. Sometimes (especially if the prey they have killed is large) wolves may store food and come back that day to feed on it. Sometimes only one out of twelve hunts are successful. They do not always catch what they stalk. It is easier for the wolves to take down the sick because they are slower and less powerful. Wolves usually stalk old or sick animals. They also eat moose, bison, deer and other large animals. Some wolves have been seen eating salmon, seals, beached whales, lizards, snakes and birds. Wolves are carnivores and eat mostly medium to large size hoofed animals (unguligrades), but they will also eat rodents, insectivores and foxes. They can live in captivity for up to 17 years. They howl to communicate with each other from long distances and to mark the edges of their territory. Adult females usually give birth to five or six pups in a litter. Young wolves are called 'pups' or 'whelps'. Their territory is marked by scent and howling they will fight any intruders. The leaders are called the parent (breeding) male and the parent (breeding) female. Packs are usually up to 12 wolves, but they can be as small as two or as large as 25. Wolves that are not family may join if they do not have a pack of their own. The members of the pack are usually family members, often just the parents and offspring. The color of their fur can be any combination of grey, white, taupe, brown, and black. The top layer is resistant to dirt, and the under-layer is water resistant. Wolves usually measure 26–38 inches at the shoulder. The wolf has a long muzzle, short ears, long legs, and a long bushy tail.
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