Wolves are amazing animals, but they have a reputation that paints them in a grossly vicious fashion. Wolves are not vicious and instead are cautious, take care of their pack, and primarily prey on the old, sick, or young. They rarely face down a healthy adult prey animal and even more rarely attack human beings.
One thing that wolves are known for is the variety of their vocalizations and body language. A lift of the tail, eye contact, or a low howl can communicate immense information to other pack members. They also have a very strict hierarchy in the pack and rarely do members need to fight for position. Most of the hierarchy is determined through posturing and vocalizations. This ability to communicate and knowing their position in the hierarchy can teach us a lot about the way that we communicate with each other. Often times, wolf is reminding us to either step up into our place of power and accept our own authority, or is warning us that we’ve over stepped our bounds and risk encroaching on another’s territory.
Another interesting characteristic of wolves is how they care for the young. Any wolf in the pack is willing to look out for, teach, and help raise the young cubs. If a parent is unable to fulfill this role, other pack members will step into place. The whole pack raises the cubs and in this way, wolf reminds us that it takes a village to raise a child. Our youth is our future and so it is in everyone’s best interest that they are taught and protected.
The most common message I see wolf delivering, however, is the message of the pack. Wolves often go solo for a period of time where they rely on themselves for survival instead of working with the pack. The pack understands this, though, and is always willing to welcome that member back when they are ready. As such, wolf can teach us to determine when we need some alone time and when we need our packs. They also teach us to build and trust packs that will respect our needs as individuals.
In North America, some species of wolf are already extinct in the wild. Only the Arctic wolf thrives, living in the frozen climates of Alaska and Canada. Red wolves and Mexican wolves are extinct or nearly extinct in the wild and Grey Wolf numbers are dangerously low.
To continue to learn from these animal spirits, we must reach out and help support them, they are, after all, part of our global pack. Visit the World Wildlife Fund and adopt a grey wolf today (or another animal).
