What Do Wolves Eat

 What Do Wolves Eat 

Wolf is a carnivore animal, live in and hunt in packs. In each pack has 6 to 10 wolves. They are considered one of the most terrifying natural predators in the world. They hunt mainly wild herbivores hoofed mammals. The variation in diet between wolves living on different continent is based on the diversity of hoofed mammals.  

What Do Grey Wolves Eat?

Gray Wolf or Gray Wolf is a large canine of Eurasia and North America. Grey wolf or timber wolf is a type of wolf, found in the Great Lakes region and southeastern Canada. Timber wolves are nocturnal, meaning they look for food at night and sleep during the day. The timber wolves are carnivores and eat small animals like mice, squirrels, crabs, fish and also carrion. When there is enough food, they eat a lot of food in one meal, but when there is a shortage of food, they can live without food for several days. In one sitting, a grey wolf can eat around 22.5 pounds of food. 

 They prefer to hunt large size animals, weight between 240kg to 650kg and also hunt medium size animals, weigh 23kg to 130kg. They attack vulnerable individuals of large prey. The wolves also attack smaller and domestic animals. In the wild, wolves hunt deer, bison, moose, elk, hares, rodents, beavers, fish, lizards, snakes, birds, mountain goats and even insects. The wolves also eat fruits and grasses such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries. The grey wolves living in Asia and Europe, mainly feed on medium-sized mammals and domestic animals but they attack domestic animals when they do not get sufficient food in the wild. In Eurasia, the wolves mainly hunt red deer, roe deer, wild boar and also moose. The wolves, living in North America mainly feed on elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, caribou, elk. They also eat waterfowl and their eggs. The wolves living in northern Minnesota, catch northern pike from the freshwater streams. The wolves living in coastal areas in Alaska, hunt salmon which makes 20% of wolf’s diet. The wolves living in coastal areas in British Columbia and those on nearby islands also depend on the marine sources. As the wolves are carnivores, the flesh of other animals is their main food item but the wolves also eat fruits and grass. The wolves living in Europe, eat fruits such as figs, apples, pear, berries, melons, cherries. In North America, the wolves eat blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and also eat grass to get some vitamins. The grey wolves also eat lily of the valley, cowberries, mountain-ash and also grain crops. 

When there is lack of food, the wolves eat carrion. In harsh winter, when there is scarcity of food, the wolves often attack and kill the weak or injured pack members to meet food needs. 

What Do Red Wolves Eat? 

Red Wolves are Native to the United States and most endangered member of the dog family in the world. Red wolves are carnivores. However, their diet depend on what prey is available. They prefer to hunt smaller prey like rabbit, rodents, raccoons, white-tailed deer. Occasionally they eat berries and insects. Red wolves are nocturnal and mostly active at night. Red wolves can eat up to 5 pounds of food in one sitting. They also eat carrion. 

What Do the Baby Wolves Eat? 

 Wolves live in packs with 6 to 10 animals. A pack consists of an adult breeding pair or the alpha male and alpha female and their pups of different ages. The female cares and defends the pups. Female wolf gives birth four to six pups after a gestation period of about two months. This time male wolf brings food for mother as she does not want to hunt herself. The pups are born blind and deaf and only feed on mother’s milk and continue to drink milk from their mother until they are 8 to 10 weeks old. When the pups are hungry, make noise such as squeaking, whining and grunting. After two weeks they can see and hear. Now the pups start to eat solid food although the pups’ jaws aren’t strong enough to chew meat. Members of the pack feed them regurgitated foods. When Their age is 12 weeks, they start joining the pack on a hunting trip. 

How Do Wolves Hunt 

Wolves have incredible sense of smell and excellent hearing abilities that help them to find prey. They kill their prey, spending the least amount of energy and reducing the chance of injury. Wolves can be killed or injured by the hooves or antlers of the moose or a caribou while hunting or attacking them. They choose injured, sick, old, very young or genetically inferior animals. First the wolf pack separates out and surrounds its prey and attack it. They attack the animals from behind and bite on the animal’s neck or on the snout and usually dies by shock, muscle damage or blood loss. The youngest wolves in the pack often do nothing more than observe and learn. As female wolves are lightly built and speedy, they take on herding roles. They dart back and forth in front of the victim, causing confusion and preventing escape. The powerful males are then able to take down the larger animal more aggressively and faster. 

Do wolves eat fruits and vegetables? 

Wolves are mainly carnivores and eat the flesh of other animals. They hunt smaller to medium-sized animals but also hunt large animals like moose, bison, deer etc. They also eat elk, hares, rodents, beavers, fish, lizards, snakes, birds, mountain goats and even insects, mice, squirrels, crabs, fish and also carrion. The variation in diet between wolves living on different continent is based on the diversity of hoofed mammals. The wolves also eat fruits and grass to get some vitamins to stay healthy. The wolves living in Europe, eat fruits such as figs, apples, pear, berries, melons, cherries. In North America, the wolves eat blueberries, strawberries, raspberries. 

Do wolves eat seafood? 

The wolves living in northern Minnesota, catch northern pike from the freshwater streams. The wolves living in coastal areas in Alaska, hunt salmon which makes 20% of wolf’s diet. The wolves living in coastal areas in British Columbia and those on nearby islands also depend on the marine sources.