Whenever I visit this place, which I do two or three times a
week, I think of Canis Lupus, the grey wolf. Though once
abundant over much of Eurasia, North Africa and North America, the
gray wolf inhabits a reduced portion of its former range due to
widespread destruction of its territory, human encroachment, and
the resulting human-wolf encounters.
Gray wolves are social predators that live in nuclear families
consisting of a mated pair, their offspring and, occasionally,
adopted immature wolves. They primarily feed on hoofed mammals,
which they hunt by wearing them down in short chases.
Locally, one can learn more about Canis Lupus through
Wolf Conservation Center,
located in South Salem, NY.
Wolves have fascinated humans for thousands of years. Here are
some more famous wolves in history:
* The Big
Bad Wolf, who tried to eat the Three Little Pigs.
* The wolf in Little Red
Riding Hood, who amazed Little Red with his big eyes, ears, and
teeth.
* Lon Chaney Jr. as The Wolf Man in
1941.
* Warren Zevon’s 1978 hit Werewolves of
London.
* Remus Lupin in the Harry Potter series, played in the
movies by David
Thewlis
Who’s your favorite wolf of all time? If you'd
like, put it in your log!