Wolves use body language and facial
expressions to communicate with
each other. Dominant wolves will freely look other animals
directly in the eye, this declares and reinforces their
superior rank.
A subordinate wolf will cringe
towards the leader with tail low and bent legs,
ears back and down, in a submissive nature. At other times,
active submission involves a group of subordinate wolves
surrounding the dominant wolf with their noses up against
it. Sometimes the pack will howl.
Various facial muscles, eyes, ears and the nose are extremely
important when wolves are expressing their feelings. Bared
teeth, an open mouth, ears erect and pointed forward indicate
a threat by a dominant wolf.
Wolves are also very territorial
animals and do not readily share
it with wolves who are not members of their pack.
Wolves communicate and mark their
territories by scent. They often do this by urinating
near the edges of their territory, and on stumps, rocks
and logs that are within their territory. Most of this
is done by the dominant wolves, usually the alpha male.
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