About the Wolf Howl

About the Howl

Ask anyone about wolf vocalizations 

and the howl invariably springs to mind. 

Even though wolves bark, woof, whine, whimper, yelp, growl, snarl and moan a

 lot more often than they howl, it is howling that defines the wolf, and fascinates us.

 So why do wolves howl?
                                                                                                                                                                                   
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.

 

Although some people believe wolves howl at the moon at night. Scientists have

 discovered that saying is just a myth. Drawings and articles have been of wolves howling

 at the moon - but it's a myth.