The center of a wolf's universe is its pack, and howling is the glue that keeps the pack together. Some have speculated that howling strengthens the social bonds between packmates; the pack that howls together, stays together. That may be so, but chorus howls can also end with nasty quarrels between packmates. Some members, usually the lowest-ranking, may actually be "punished" for joining in the chorus. Whether howling together actually strengthens social bonds, or just reaffirms them, is unknown.
We do know, however, that howling keeps packmates together, physically. Because wolves range over vast areas to find food, they are often separated from one another. Of all their calls, howling is the only one that works over great distances. Its low pitch and long duration are well suited for transmission in forest and across tundra, and unique features of each individual's howl allow wolves to identify each other. Howling is a long distance contact and reunion call; separate a wolf from its pack, and very soon it will begin howling, and howling, and howling...
When a wolf howls, not only can its packmates hear it, but so can any other wolf within range. These other wolves may be members of hostile adjacent packs that are competitors for territory and prey. Howl too close to these strangers, and they may seek you out, chase you, even kill you. In northern Minnesota, where wolves are protected from humans, the primary cause of death for adult wolves is being killed by wolves from other packs. So howling has its costs (running into the opposition) as well as its benefits (getting back with the pack). Consequently, wolves are careful about where and when they howl, and to whom they howl .:
2007-03-21 01:13:33
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answer #1
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answered by Hope Summer 6
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The website below says:
"Wolves may be more active on moonlit nights, when they can see better, or we may hear them more often on such nights, because we feel more comfortable tramping about in the light of a full moon, but a wolf howling at the moon would be wasting its breath."
2007-03-14 02:17:04
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answer #2
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answered by sarcastro1976 5
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They howl anyway. Its just that people notice it more when the moon is full
2007-03-21 21:45:05
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answer #3
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answered by Shark 7
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I'm not aware of any 'cause' of why animals act differently because of moon phases although much evidence to the fact has been documented in most mammals (and other animals). I think its still one of those mysteries concerning how we (and all life) came to be (particularly, what has always been a constant influence, or observable/predictable phenomenon, in our evolution).
2007-03-14 02:23:08
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answer #4
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answered by jftz 1
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Lon Chaney jr.
2007-03-14 02:11:49
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answer #5
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answered by cesare214 6
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because during the white nights the sextial power increse so they do that as way to call fimals our the getrid of this power
2007-03-21 22:28:35
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answer #6
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answered by maherrashdan 2
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they howl because it's cold !
2007-03-14 02:14:20
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answer #7
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answered by fire chief!!!!!!!!!!! 2
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