Wolves and Humans Series

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Wolf Quiz

Glossary

Do you know Wolves?

Take this short quiz to see how much you know about wolves in the world today. Click on your answer to see if you're right!

Quiz #1

1. What is the scientific designation for the species of wolf commonly known as the Gray Wolf?

• Canis rufus
• Sorry, wrong answer, Canis rufus is the designation for the Red Wolf. See the Red Wolf section of our FAQ for more information.


• Canis lupus
• That's Correct! Move on to the next question!


• Canis latrans
• Sorry, wrong answer, Canis latrans is the name for the animal commonly known as the coyote.

2. Wolf packs have a social structure often referred to as a dominance hierarchy. What is a simple visual cue that may help determine which wolves are more dominant and which are less dominant?

• The dominant wolf always has its ears in an upright position.
• Sounds good, but nope! Wolves have very good hearing and can turn their ears from side to side. They also may lift their ears straight up and bare their teeth to show anger but this is not a clear sign of dominance. Try again.


• To show its confidence in itself, the more dominant wolf often exposes its belly by rolling over on its back, almost daring other wolves to approach it.
• Sorry, this is a psychological trick that wolves have not mastered. Actually the less dominant wolf will often roll over on its back as a sign on submission and the dominant wolf will stand over it.


• A more dominant wolf carries its tail high in the air. A less dominant wolf carries its tail low or tucked.
• Exactly. While there are times when any wolf may carry its tail high, most often the more dominant wolves will have their tails in a high position. Move to the head of the class!

3. What do wolves eat?

• Wolves are herbivores and eat grasses, leaves, flowers and plants.
• Sorry, that is what herbivores eat, but wolves are not herbivores.


• Wolves are carnivores and favor large mammals such as deer, moose, sheep and goats.
• That's correct! They will also eat mid-size mammals such as beavers and hares and occasionally birds, squirrels or other small mammals.


• Wolves are glutivores and search out grains high in gluten.
• Sorry, there's no such thing as a glutivore!

4. Wolves communicate with body language and with sound. What are the four main sounds wolves make that we have recognized?

• Howl, Growl, Bark, and Whimper
• That's correct. Wolves howl to communicate with others, growl to threaten, bark to warn of danger or to challenge an enemy and whimper to calm or call their pups.


• Howl, Yelp, Hiss, and Groan
• One out of four isn't bad, but try again.


• Growl, Whimper, Bellow, and Bray
• Sorry, wolves do growl and whimper but that was an elephant bellowing and a donkey braying!

5. What time of year do wolves live in dens and why?

• Wolves live in dens during the winter when they hibernate.
• Sorry, wolves do not hibernate and do not live in dens in the winter.


• Wolves live in dens year 'round except in the summer when they go to their cabin.
• Oh, you just clicked here to see what this would say!


• Wolves use dens in the spring when they're having pups as a means of shelter for the new litter.
• Yes! Wolf pups are born in the spring and a wolf den is a warm sheltered place to raise them until they're old enough to travel with the pack. Once they reach a certain age, usually 2 months old, the pups leave the den.