Leaders of the Pack from National Geographic Explorer

"A wolf pack is basically a family that stays together while the children learn to live on their own," says Doctor David Mech.  He is a wolf biologist who has been studying wolf behavior for many years.   The wolf pups have a lot to learn before they can make it without their parents.

"Wolves learn the ropes by watching other members of the pack," says Doctor Mech.  First the new pups learn the basics.  They learn how to ask for food.  They learn how to howl and how to beat a brother at wrestling!  Meanwhile, teenagers take prey such as rabbits and mice.  By early fall, the pack's youngest pups are ready to travel.  The pack spends the fall and winter roaming its territory in search of moose and elk.  The lessons get harder as the young face large animals with dangerous antlers and hooves.

When they're ready to hunt alone, the older children leave.  Some travel hundreds of miles to find mates and raise families.  It's their turn to be leaders of the pack.

By the numbers

1 litter of pups is born each year in a typical pack.

3 times bigger than a coyote, they gray wolf is the largest wild member of the dog family.

22 pounds of meat may be eaten at one wolf's meal.

40 miles an hour is a wolf's top running speed.

Questions

Question Number 1
About how many pounds of meat might a pack of 8 wolves eat at one meal?  Write a number sentence to solve the problem.

Question Number 2
If there are 6 pups in every litter, how many pups would be born in 3 years?

Question Number 3
Why do you think wild animals live together in packs?