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the wolf is most famous is its howling. However,
howling is only one kind of sound the wolf
delivers.
system adopted by Joslin in 1966 in his extensive
study of the subject seems to be the most
objective. He listed the following basic types
of wolf vocal sounds:
(1) the whimper,(2) the growl,
(3) the bark, (4) the howl,
To these must also be added the "social squeak".
The most commonly heard wolf sound is howling.
Subjectively, the howl has been described in
many colorful ways, often depending on one's
attitude.
One Canadian trapper described it as, "Take
a dozen railroad whistles, braid them
together and then let one strand after another
drop off, the last peal so frightfully piercing
as to go through your heart and soul....". In
actuality, the howl may described as a long,
low, mournful moan. The howl is a continouous
sound from about half a second to eleven seconds
in length. It consists of a fundamental
frequency
which may lie between 150 and
780 cycles per second, and up to 12 harmonically
related over-tones. Most of the time, the pitch
remains constant or varies smoothly, and may
change direction as many as four to five times.
Total intensity does not vary throughout.
There are variations in howling between
different wolves. The session usually lasts
an average of thirty-five seconds, the animal
howls several times and when one wolf begins,
the rest of the pack usually joins in.
After a pack of wolves end a howling session,
there is usually a period of fifteen to twenty
minutes during which the animals will not
howl.
Like a community sing, a howl is a happy social
occasion. Wolves love to howl. Researchers
have determined that one of the main functions
of howling is to aid in assembling the pack.
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a hungry Wolf came on a well-fed Mastiff. He
could seethat the Dog was having a better time
of it than he was and he inquired what the Dog
had to do to stay so well fed. "Very little",
said the dog. "Just drive away beggars, guard
the house, show fondness to the master, be
submissive to the rest of the family and you
are well fed and warmly lodged."
The Wolf thought this over carefully. He risked
his own life almost daily, had to stay out in
the worst of weather, and was never assured of
his meals. He thought he would try another way
of living.
As they were going along together, the Wolf
saw a place around the Dog's neck where the
hair had worn thin. He asked what this was
and the Dog said it wasnothing, "just the place
where my collar and chain rub." The Wolf
stopped short, "chain?" he asked. "You mean
you are not free to go where you choose?"
"No", said the Dog, "but what does that mean?"
"Much," answered the Wolf as he trotted off,
"Much."
his lovely wolf pictures.
"Through Eagle Eyes" CD
Used with permission by:
©Elan Michaels
