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Description
Two shots again, though the first one of Tristan is not mine. It is Monty Sloan's, the second one of the moon does belong to me. I merged them added a halo effect in Eye Candy. I wish I could take such good images of them. For those that want to see more of his work go here [link] The photo of the day link is updated with new shots, as advertized, daily.

This one is a gift, for the man that brought me to DA. Wolf I hope this finds you well and in good spirits. I thought of you alot while working on the image, wondering if you had taken up your wandering ways again.

Why do wolves howl?

Scientists have come up with various interpretations of howling behavior. Wolves sometimes howl to assemble the pack, but not always. They sometimes howl before or after a hunt, but not always. Howls sometimes serve as an alarm, a locating device in storms, or long distance communication, but not always. Some researchers think howls are triggered by restlessness or anxiety. This vocalization might also act to strengthen the bonds between pack members.

They tell a story at Wolf Park or rather they did a few years ago, when I first started going out there. The Main Pack at the time included seven wolves; Seneca the Alpha male, his mate and daughter Marion, the Alpha female, his brother Miska, the Beta male, and a cousin Chetan, the Omega male. They also had three puppies, Maya, Tristan, Erin. No one knew then what they would be for they were still fitting into the pack. They were wonderful to watch, especially at night during the howls. They have a special evening class every Friday and Saturday night, a shortened version of their regular program. Where they bring the wolves out, introduce us all (We stayed outside the fence, only the interns and staff members went in) and try to get them to howl.

Of course the staff started it, and the wolves didn't always cooperate. Being wolves of course you can't ever tell them what to do, just encourage. So they'd get the audience in on it, ask us to howl too, and sometimes even the coyote, though he was all the way across the lake, would join in. There were days when Wild Bill(the coyote)'s howl was the spur for the rest. If you've never heard them up close and personal, you're a missing one of the wonders of the wild. That first howl was spellbinding. I had chills, I still get them to this day.

You can tell them apart by their howls, if you have good ears, and Tristan(pictured here), had this booming howl. It's a deep resonating bass howl that is wonderful to hear, lower and smoother than all the rest. But on to the story, for little Tristan was just a pup then, not Alpha as he is today with pups of his own. Then it was Seneca who lead the howls, his voice called them all to rally up against him, nip at his throat, offer their submission. The tale we were told was this: There is a train that borders Wolf Park, it runs once or twice I day I can't remember now, but as a young wolf Seneca was usually the dominant male of the puppy pack. He innherited the Alpha position and became the youngest wolf to acquire leadership(He was only a year and half old), and he seemed to take the train to be an encroaching animal. When the train would come by and barrel out it's whistle, Seneca would bay a warning howl. As if to say, "NO, this is my pack you can't be here." It worked too, the train never came into the enclosure. It just ran alongside it.

`lns

Description
Two shots again, though the first one of Tristan is not mine. It is Monty Sloan's, the second one of the moon does belong to me. I merged them added a halo effect in Eye Candy. I wish I could take such good images of them. For those that want to see more of his work go here [link] The photo of the day link is updated with new shots, as advertized, daily.

This one is a gift, for the man that brought me to DA. Wolf I hope this finds you well and in good spirits. I thought of you alot while working on the image, wondering if you had taken up your wandering ways again.

Why do wolves howl?

Scientists have come up with various interpretations of howling behavior. Wolves sometimes howl to assemble the pack, but not always. They sometimes howl before or after a hunt, but not always. Howls sometimes serve as an alarm, a locating device in storms, or long distance communication, but not always. Some researchers think howls are triggered by restlessness or anxiety. This vocalization might also act to strengthen the bonds between pack members.

They tell a story at Wolf Park or rather they did a few years ago, when I first started going out there. The Main Pack at the time included seven wolves; Seneca the Alpha male, his mate and daughter Marion, the Alpha female, his brother Miska, the Beta male, and a cousin Chetan, the Omega male. They also had three puppies, Maya, Tristan, Erin. No one knew then what they would be for they were still fitting into the pack. They were wonderful to watch, especially at night during the howls. They have a special evening class every Friday and Saturday night, a shortened version of their regular program. Where they bring the wolves out, introduce us all (We stayed outside the fence, only the interns and staff members went in) and try to get them to howl.

Of course the staff started it, and the wolves didn't always cooperate. Being wolves of course you can't ever tell them what to do, just encourage. So they'd get the audience in on it, ask us to howl too, and sometimes even the coyote, though he was all the way across the lake, would join in. There were days when Wild Bill(the coyote)'s howl was the spur for the rest. If you've never heard them up close and personal, you're a missing one of the wonders of the wild. That first howl was spellbinding. I had chills, I still get them to this day.

You can tell them apart by their howls, if you have good ears, and Tristan(pictured here), had this booming howl. It's a deep resonating bass howl that is wonderful to hear, lower and smoother than all the rest. But on to the story, for little Tristan was just a pup then, not Alpha as he is today with pups of his own. Then it was Seneca who lead the howls, his voice called them all to rally up against him, nip at his throat, offer their submission. The tale we were told was this: There is a train that borders Wolf Park, it runs once or twice I day I can't remember now, but as a young wolf Seneca was usually the dominant male of the puppy pack. He innherited the Alpha position and became the youngest wolf to acquire leadership(He was only a year and half old), and he seemed to take the train to be an encroaching animal. When the train would come by and barrel out it's whistle, Seneca would bay a warning howl. As if to say, "NO, this is my pack you can't be here." It worked too, the train never came into the enclosure. It just ran alongside it.

`lns