The wolf is a majestic animal that fascinates all generations. Unfortunately, it has practically disappeared from Europe today. Like humans, wolves are social animals; they live in packs and use their own mode of communication for various reasons that we will discuss together. Indeed, there are several ways for wolves to communicate: yelps, growls, whimpers, howls… Each sound is used to communicate in a specific context and thus deliver a message to their fellows.
HOWLING, THE WOLVES' PREFERRED MODE OF COMMUNICATION
The wolf's howl is used for two specific reasons: first, the wolf howls to gather its pack for hunting. In this context, howling serves to be heard for miles around, so the howling wolf knows how to be located by others, and its cry thus marks the beginning of the hunt for food.
In addition to indicating its position to its pack, howling also serves to inform other animal species that the territory is occupied by wolves. The second reason why wolves howl is that they use this cry to find a partner. By howling, wolves indicate that they are available for mating and are therefore looking for a relationship to start a family. The wolf's howl is similar to what a song would be for us: it is a mode of communication that creates social cohesion in the pack and thus strengthens the bonds between individuals.
WHY DO WOLVES HOWL AT THE FULL MOON?
A widespread misconception is that wolves only howl at night: this is completely false! Wolves howl during the day to give various indications to their fellows, but it is true that they use this cry much more intensely at night, simply because night is the ideal time for hunting. Thus, the wolf howls in the middle of the night but also at dusk, just before sunrise.
However, the wolves' favorite time to howl is during the full moon, but this actually has nothing to do with the moon, as it matters little to the animal whether the moon is full or not. This correlation between the wolf and the full moon is simply explained by the fact that full moon nights often correspond to the mating period and thus the breeding season, which generally occurs between February and March. Wolves therefore howl much more during this particular and important period for them.
DO WOLVES HOWL TO EXPRESS THEIR SUFFERING?
Another widespread idea is that wolves, through howling, express a feeling of suffering. Although this is not always the case, the wolf's howl also serving to express its joy, it is indeed true that wolves can howl to express a feeling of sadness. This is for example the case when a wolf decides to leave its pack. The alpha, the dominant wolf of the pack who could be compared to a leader, can then start howling at the top of its voice to express its refusal to see a member leave the clan. Through this cry, it expresses its wish for him to stay with his own and to remain close to him.
WHY DOES THE WOLF HOWL WITH ITS HEAD UP?
Here again, the answer is very simple. The wolf howls with its head up because if its cry were directed downwards, it would be inaudible. Indeed, by howling with its head in the air, the wolf can be heard within a 10-kilometer radius, which would not be the case with its head down, so the range of the sound would be greatly reduced.
THE MYTH OF THE WEREWOLF AT THE FULL MOON
The myth of the werewolf, also called Lycanthrope, originates from Europe and dates back to Antiquity. Indeed, the werewolf phenomenon is primarily based on Greek mythology, where legend has it that the King of Arcadia named Lycaon was punished by the God Zeus for serving human flesh to his guests during a festive banquet. He was then transformed into a werewolf as a sign of divine punishment.
WHY ARE WEREWOLVES FEARED?
Generally speaking, the wolf is an animal symbolizing dread and fear. For a long time, the Greeks believed that people living near the Black Sea could transform into wolves, and these beliefs persisted year after year, passed down from generation to generation until today.
It was said that some men were cursed for a sin they had committed and that at nightfall, especially during full moons, they would transform into a werewolf, a hybrid creature halfway between man and wolf. They were then condemned to wander all night until they returned to their human form in the morning.
During the night, they would kill many victims, especially children, but in the morning they would have no memory of their crimes. Obviously, nowadays, it has been proven that werewolves cannot exist and that they are simply a fictional character. Thus, this figure continues to be used notably in the arts: horror films, literature, and even board games continue to keep the myth alive.
THE CRY OF THE DOG: WHY DO DOGS IMITATE WOLVES?
There are many similarities between the wolf and the dog, and these two species are closely related. Indeed, the wolf is the ancestor of the domestic dog. It is therefore not uncommon to see a dog imitating a wolf; thus, dogs sometimes howl at death, but like the wolf, this does not mean they are suffering.
However, a dog's howl has several meanings that should be listened to and considered: first, a howling dog may be expressing a lack. Through howling, it tries to make you understand that a need is not being met: this mainly concerns food but also the affection you give it. Moreover, a dog may start howling when it feels insecure and/or in danger, for example, when the animal hears a stressful noise such as a horn sound or music that is too loud.
Finally, and quite surprisingly, a dog might simply amuse itself by imitating a wolf when it's bored! It should be noted that the dog breeds that most often imitate wolves are those that are genetically very close to them: the best known are Huskies and Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs, but there are also several other dog breeds very close to wolves.
Thus, it is common to hear a Husky howl like a wolf, but it is less common to hear a chihuahua do the same, because many dogs never howl. This is simply explained by the fact that genetically modified breeds lose this ability, unlike dog breeds that remain close to those of wolves.
