Hunting for Prey
Time passes, and the pups are now old enough to help the pack hunt. T e beta and other pack members have taught the pups everything they need to know. T e pups know this land. T ey know the animals that live here, and they know how to hunt them. To hunt large prey, the wolves must work
together. T e first step is finding prey. Wolves rely on their sense of smell to find prey. Of all a wolf ’s sharp senses, its sense of smell may be the strongest. It’s estimated to be up to 100 times more sensitive than a human’s. Wolves can smell prey several kilometers
away. From the smell, they can tell how close the prey is. T ey can also tell if the prey is in poor health, old, or injured. So when the alpha male catches the scent of
elk on the wind, he is ready to lead the pack. T e wolves spread out to cover more ground. When wolves track an animal, they follow the scent from the animal’s hair, skin, hoof-prints, urine, and droppings. Aſt er several hours of searching, one of the
pups spots a small herd of elk. T e wolves move closer, but don’t act yet. First, the pack studies the elk. T e wolves are looking for any animals that seem weak, old, or sick. T ese elk might be slower than the others and easier to catch. Hunting is difficult and dangerous work.
A kick from an elk can shatter a wolf ’s jaw. Wolves have neither the strength of a bear nor the claws and fangs of a cougar. T eir greatest strength is in their numbers and in their ability to work together to bring down large prey. Silently and cautiously, the wolves move closer to the elk. Suddenly, the wolves charge. T e elk bolt
forward, but one of them lags behind. It can’t keep up. T e wolves dart toward it. T ey know to chase the slowest prey. T e chase doesn’t last long. T e wolves
quickly surround the lone elk. As the pack closes in, the alpha male dives forward and bites the elk, knocking it to the ground. T e other wolves attack the elk, killing it.
8 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER
Obeying the Alpha
T e alphas usually eat first. T e alpha male also chooses the order in which the other wolves eat. T e wolves prowl around the elk carcass, waiting for their turn. A smaller wolf gets restless. He thinks he might be able to take a bite without the alpha male noticing. He creeps up to the elk and bites down. T is is a mistake. T e alpha male stops eating. His head snaps
up. He curls his lips to bare his teeth and snarls. His ears flatten against his head. He bares his teeth again and growls. Instantly, the smaller wolf hunches down.
He backs away with his tail tucked between his legs. T is wolf is the omega, the lowest ranking wolf in the pack. He has angered the alpha male by eating before his turn. T e omega is hungry, but he’ll have to wait. T e alpha male goes back to his meal. T e pups learn two important lessons. Every wolf has a role in the pack, and no one questions the alpha. Eventually, all of the wolves get a turn to eat,
even the omega. Now they sit and rest. T is pack is a family. T e wolves play an important role in their ecosystem. By working together, the pack will survive.
WORDWISE
apex predator: a predator that is rarely killed by other predators and may kill smaller predators
food web: shows how energy fl ows through an ecosystem
territory: an area occupied by a pack of wolves that can provide suffi cient prey to support the pack
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