Mueller State Park
"Wapiti" is the Native American word that means ________?
Elk
In the mid 1800's, wolves could be found in how many states in America?
All 50 states had wolves.
Wolves live in family groups called ___________?
Packs
T or F: Wolves are shy
True: They do not like to encounter humans. They stay away from humans if possible.
T or F: The Wolf Education and Research Center that we toured likes to breed their wolves to create more wolf pups.
FALSE: They are not a zoo and do not purposely breed for wolf pups. They use the wolves that live there to educate the public about the plight of wolves in the United States and wolf behavior.
If a Ponderosa Pine tree is producing cones, you know it is at least ___________ years old.
25 years old
What did humans do that caused the near extinction of wolves in the United States?
Hunting and trapping of wolves
Name a role that member of a wolf family might have.
Alpha (leader)
Omega (provides humor)
T or F: Wolves use their sharp claws on their paws to kill their prey.
False: Wolves use their teeth and strong jaws to kill their prey.
If a wolf has black fur, this fur usually changes to what color as the wolf ages?
Silver or Gray
Aspen trees have very special bark that can help it survive the winter by producing_______________.
Chlorophyll for food.
T or F: A leg trap is a humane and painless way to capture a wolf.
False: A leg trap is a very painful and stressful experience for the wolf.
Wolf babies are called ________________.
Pups
Describe one way bringing wolves back to Colorado would help our natural ecosystems.
Control the overpopulation of deer and elk
Keep deer and elk herds strong and healthy
Prevent the over grazing of our wild lands
Keep erosion from occurring due to overgrazing
T or F: A wolf can have blue eyes.
False: A wolf's eyes can be yellow, gold or goldish green. Blue eyes only occur if the wolf is a hybrid with a dog.
Limber Pines get their name because their branches are very____________________.
Flexible or bendable without breaking
Do wolves live in the wild in Colorado?
NO. Wolves are not currently living in Colorado in the wild.
T or F: Wolves share their food equally with all members of the pack.
False: There is a rank order that the pack will eat in. Alphas usually first. Pups or Omegas might eat last.
The large furry paws help a wolf do what?
Walk in snow and ice.
Keep feet from freezing in the winter
Give two reasons why a wolf dog hybrid would not make a good pet for humans.
1. They destroy homes/property
2. They become more like wolves in behavior as they age so could be dangerous to humans
3. They need a raw meat diet which is hard to provide.
4. They can jump so high it is hard to keep them fenced in a yard.
T or F: The hillside which is South facing would have more trees growing there.
False: A south facing hillside gets more sun exposure and is therefore drier and will not support trees that need a lot of water.
Describe one way that bringing wolves back to Colorado could help our natural ecosystems.
Control the population of elk and deer
Keep elk and deer from over grazing
Keep coyotes from adapting pack behavior
Keep elk and deer herds strong and healthy
T or F: Wolves hunt alone which is why we rarely see or hear them.
False: Wolves typically hunt in a pack, working together to bring down large prey. We don't hear or see them because they are not living in the wild in Colorado at this time
How do wolves communicate with other members of their families?
Yips other sounds.
Body movements like play bows, teeth barring
What are two things an ambassador wolf must be able to do?
1. Be happy around groups of people
2. walk on a leash
3. Be calm
4. Allow humans to touch them