Wolf (Canis lupus)

[Spalea]

Ronan Donovan: " An old male wolf called Mr. Blue stands in the Yellowstone River next to a bison carcass. Old in the life of a wild wolf is anything over 6 years old. The average life expectancy for wolves in Yellowstone is 4 years old. Since their prey can weigh 5-10 times their body weight, they put thmselves through incredible feats of stamina and strength every time they get hungry. Teamwork is the key to the success and survival of wolves. Mr. Blue was 8 years old in this photo and the oldest known wolf in Yellowstone was 12 years old.

Mr. Blue was born a black wolf and his fur has changed from black to this cool steely blue-gray color. He’s lived most of his life within the borders of Yellowstone National Park and throughout that time has had at least 6 different female mates. Some have been killed by rival packs, some by hunters and one was taken by a rival pack. But on of the amazing aspects of Mr. Blue’s character is that he has this ability to mingle his way into existing wolf packs. He must have that perfect personality mix of non-threatening, submissive behavior and perhaps his age shows in the color of his fur. Knowledge is power in both humans and in wolves, so perhaps Mr. Blue’s epic life experiences make make his acceptance into other packs possible. "

Fascinating account... Reply