I am the grey wolf,
who hunts and still is hunted,
hear my lonely howl!
I often think of the behavior of animals in the wild and what a gift they are to us. I know their instinct is for survival. Therefore their behavior can appear aggressive. In ways they react the same way we do. When hungry they eat. When their young are threatened they protect. When tired they find shelter to sleep. As for their emotions, we can only project our understanding of the great beasts created in our care.
A lone wolf howls to attract the attention of his pack, while communal howls may send territorial messages from one pack to another. Some howls are confrontational. Much like barking domestic dogs, wolves may simply begin howling because a nearby wolf has already begun.
National Geographic
“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know; That the hand of the Lord has done this, In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind? Job 12:7-10
The wolf is built for travel. Its long legs, large feet, and deep but narrow chest suit it well for life on the move. Keen senses, large canine teeth, powerful jaws, and the ability to pursue prey at 60 km (37 miles) per hour equip the wolf well for a predatory way of life
Britannica
Patti Wolf 
‘As for their emotions, we can only project our understanding of the great beasts created in our care.’ So true! We can never truly understand their experience and emotions. There are around 250 wolves in Slovenia but quite far from where we live. I would spend a night in the wild just to hear them!
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Gayle, it is LOVELY to see you at earthweal! Truly. I adore wolves, as you know, and love this poem.
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Sorry, i mean Patti. Sigh.
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No problem… I Really like it here!
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In anatomy and physiology, there is always the complementarity of structure and function. We have wolves in MI, mostly in the northern lower peninsula and the upper peninsula. The state dnr vacillates between protecting them and enabling farmers to kill them, yet at the same time deer overrun everything. Farmers bait wolves then use their natural behaviors to justify shooting them. When will the madness end?
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We need to be good observers and good neighbors as well. (K)
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Lovely haiku.
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I love this (of course!) On the west coast, we have coastal wolves, so beautiful and elusive. I listen for their lonely howl.
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I only hear coyotes. But I can dream 😉
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