DESCRIPTION

The European wolf is almost identical to that of the plains of North America, both in size and behavior. His pace is that of a German Shepherd Dog, but he is more powerful and his head is wider. The neck is short, thick, the tail bushy, pendulous and quite long. The ears are pointed and erect. European Wolves have a relatively smooth coloring, ranging from gray gray to dark yellowish gray, often marbled blackish or dark gray. Far North subjects generally have a longer coat; they are bigger, their ears are smaller than those of southern subjects.

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HABITAT

The wolf is able to live in all kinds of environments, but more generally, it frequents more or less open landscapes: clear or dense forests, tundra, plain and mountain (especially where it is persecuted). It shelters in an old burrow, a small grotto, undergrowth, between tree roots, under a rock. Sometimes it digs a burrow or enlarge that of a red fox or a badger. Their territory is established between 1500 and 2500 meters above sea level.

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WAY OF LIFE

Since the dawn of time, the wolf or his myth accompanies men. Little known and mysterious, this intelligent animal, who lives in a group, that we hear but that we hardly see, and that we say dangerous because predator, is surrounded by an aura of terror that is just beginning to fade. The wolf has been a model for hunting peoples. The wolf was a symbol of femininity for the Romans. For Christians, wolves were the embodiment of the devil. Today, the wolf is perceived as a proof of the health of nature. It now arouses more curiosity than fear. The wolf is not a loner, he is a social animal, and the presence of his fellows is indispensable to him. The wolves live in packs of 3 to 15 individuals, all parents between them. Each occupies a specific place in a hierarchy to be respected. Life in the pack is tough and the competition is tough. Fight to win and keep a place, fight for food, fight for females. The strongest eats first, shares the life of a female and can hope for a descent. In turn of him is organized the pack of which it has subjected each member, around him lasts the pack as long as it will submit each member. To be a wolf, is to know what is his rank in the pack, to which congener one owes the respect and those who owe it to you. Without this rule of submission from the weaker to the dominance of the stronger, no pack and no wolves. According to various estimates, the territory of a pack extends over an area ranging from 280 to 720 km2. It is delimited by landmarks that are scent marks that the couple leaves here and there thanks to a gland located under the tail. Sometimes a pack accepts that "foreign" wolves pass over its lands. But, in general, they prefer to avoid any confrontation by staying outside the opposing territory.

In Europe, the wolf is an especially nocturnal animal because of the persecutions it undergoes on the part of the man. Yet contrary to popular belief, the wolf does not attack humans and its presence can be a great tourist asset for the regions concerned.

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FOOD

If it is true that in the wild the wolf, is above all a carnivore (2 kilos of meat keep it in great shape) which attacks most game animals with hairs or feather (he particularly appreciates roe deers and rabbits). It does not hate birds, moles, mice and does not say no to frogs, snakes, pike, wild berries, potatoes and apple trees as well as plants. It is also with great pleasure that it crunches near villages and even houses, foxes, smaller dogs and cats. Good father, the wolf always brings back to its family as much food as it can carry.

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BREEDING

The male is sexually mature at age 3, the female at age 2. The mating season extends from the end of winter to the fall. In theory, only the male and the female dominating the pack mate. This does not prevent the other wolves and wolves from forming faithful and durable couples, but without descendants as long as they are not dominant, we speak of "psychological castration". They will nevertheless be excellent substitute parents. In the spring, 4 to 7 pups are born, but the mortality is very high (60%): few will reach the age of 1 year. A wolf breeds the same way as a dog. At birth, the Cubs weigh about 450 g, their eyes open at twelve days, their coat is dark and the hair is short. During the first 10 days of their existence, Cubs have a vegetative shoot. The little smell they have at birth is used to immerse themselves in the smell of their mother, and, above all, to find her breasts. They gorge themselves on milk. They are also dependent on the mother tongue to urinate and defecate. The following 2 or 3 weeks are decisive. The eyes open, they start to stand up and walk. After weaning (6-8 weeks), they are led by the mother of the den to a much larger site. The pack then takes part in their education by gradually teaching them to eat meat, often regurgitated by adults, then to repeat the gestures of their elders in the form of games.

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THREAT

Like humans, wolves are at the top of the food chain. So they represent a competitor. Indeed, the wolf feeds on most animals hunted by humans (mouflons, chamois, wild boar ...). As a result, the wolf is not appreciated by the people who practice hunting (71% of them voted against the protection of the wolves). It is also a constraint for the man as a breeder. Domestic ungulates are prey for the wolf and his return to the Alps has caused considerable damage to many breeders.

Here are some figures from the Mercantour National Park census:

• 1993 : 36 animals killed

• 1994 : 34 cases of predation due to wolves; 122 animals killed; 3 injured

• 1995 : 87 cases of predation due to wolves; 359 animals killed ; 33 injured

These figures show that the damage is multiplied by 10 in 3 years.

During winter 2016-2017, the population is estimated at about 360 individuals. These statistics show that the wolf population is able to survive in France. But, having killed 9,788 ewes in 2016 (especially in the Alpes-Maritimes), and 8,964 in 2015, it remains under threat of slaughter desired mainly by the agricultural community. Possible cohabitation is hotly debated, especially with the National Sheep Federation.

The wolf is therefore at the origin of a worsening of working conditions of sheep farmers in the mountains. However, sheep are not the only source of food for the wolf. Indeed in France, the latter feeds on wild ungulates (mouflons, chamois), rodents and sometimes fruits. The mouflon constitutes more than half of the wild ungulates consumed. The ibex, the roe deer, the deer and the wild boar represent only 10% of the wild ungulates consumed. The presence of the wolf has increased losses on mountain herds. His return has provoked the discontent of farmers and professional agricultural organizations who see the wolf as a pest whose presence is incompatible with pastoralism.

In contrast to this point of view, the Environmental Associations (A.S.P.A.S, W.W.F, Wolf Group France ...) defend the species Canis lupus and rely on the positive impact of its presence on the ecological level. Indeed, the installation of wolves in the French Alps proves that wildlife is abundant. In addition, the wolf is a regulator of wildlife and contributes to the ecological balance of areas in which it is sedentary.

The question of the cohabitation between wolf and breeding is still relevant and directly involves the problem of protection of the wild wolf on French territory.

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