COMPOSITION
How Do Wolves Hunt Their Prey?
Wolf is known as a cold-blooded, fierce, and merciless predator even though it has a noble bearing and beautiful appearance. Hunting for food is most important for wolves’ survival, but hunting alone may be dangerous and has a lower success rate. As a result, wolves usually hunt in packs, so cooperation is required while hunting together. Wolves use a set of hunting modes, which includes four steps in the hunting process: locating the prey, confronting the prey, chasing the prey, and killing the prey.
01
First of all, wolves start their hunting process by locating the target prey. A wolf pack usually occupies an area as territory. The more wolves are in the wolf pack, the bigger their territory is. Inside their territory, wolves detect the prey via their sensitive sense of smell and hearing. After deciding their target, they will start stalking the prey. In brief, wolves focus on the location of target prey and secretly follow up on them, looking for accurate timing to act.
02
The second step of hunting is confronting their prey. After moving towards the prey, wolves keep harrying their target and surround them with a circle. Wolves usually target the sick, hurt, elderly, or young ones, their tactic is to launch a stampede and force a miserable worm to be separated from the herd. Wolves attack when they have an advantage over the prey. However, if the prey is ready to fight back, they may decide to retreat. In other words, normally, when wolves confront their prey, they tend to surround them and find chances to attack.
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Subsequently, wolves will chase the prey to complete the hunt if the herd flees. Wolves usually run for about 56 kilometers per hour for no less than one kilometer. They test their prey while chasing and find the easiest one to hunt, which can save them some energy and decrease the possibility of getting hurt. However, if the target is too big or it outruns the wolves, wolves will not pursue the predation on their own. They chase after it in packs and cooperate to circle the predation around. Randall Pierce J.D. (2019) pointed out that wolves have set tactics in pursuing prey, the target will be surrounded and caught by the waiting wolves or the lagging member of the pack. Some approach from the back, and some attack the shoulders and noses to beat up their predation. In short, if the prey evades, wolves would chase after prey, circle around when needed, and the target would be captured by backup members of the pack.
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In the end, wolves will kill the prey. After catching the prey by latching on its nose or bottom, wolves can take it down to the ground. During this step, numerous wolves take down the prey together. Wolves usually let prey die from shock or deadly blood loss. Lastly, they have their meal hierarchically in turn, until every wolf in the pack takes the meal. After killing the prey and feeding themselves to the full, wolves will get ready to launch the next hunting.
In conclusion, wolves always complete their hunting process through four steps: locating the prey, confronting the prey, chasing the prey, and killing the prey. The hunting process may look simple but actually complicated in the ecological system. Wolves stay in the pack not only to increase the possibility of hunting and reduce the risk of injury but also to provide the young wolf the opportunity to study. Hunting is the main mission for every wolf, youngers observe and emulate adult wolves to learn hunting tactics and skills as they grow up. Although hunting seems to be cruel to us, it is the only way for wolves to survive and continue their bloodline.
Sources
https://www.livingwithwolves.org/how-wolves-hunt/
https://sciencing.com/do-wild-wolves-hunt-pack-8769011.html
https://wolfhaven.org/conservation/wolves/predation/
Pictur sources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wl8ZxAaB2E
https://www.livingwithwolves.org/how-wolves-hunt/
References
Randall Pierce J.D. (2019) How Do Wild Wolves Hunt in a Pack?
Retrieved from: https://sciencing.com/do-wild-wolves-hunt-pack-8769011.html
COMPOSITION