Canis lupus hominis

Posted in wild dogs, wildlife, wolves | Tagged arctic wolves, farley mowat, Never Cry Wolf, wolves | 2 Comments

2 Responses

1. on May 10, 2010 at 8:24 am Lane Batot

   I don’t know that wolves would honor such a “border”, but they likely would investigate with interest and remark such spots themselves–of course, as in all things, it depends on the wolves involved, and the circumstances–wolves heavily hunted, trapped, and persecuted by humans would more likely steer clear of ANY human scent they encountered. I know on “territory patrols” I went on with my pack of wolf dogs(and with ANY type dog, for that matter), they all eagerly strove to mark anything I did–and in joining in, I went so far as to imitate dominant male and female pack behaviour and scratch vigorously with my hind feet after elimination! Such scratching usually took place on border areas or places where other canines(outside our pack) regularly visited, not at every elimination spot. And I agree with Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, in that the males DID seem to strive to get their urine spray as high as possible on tree trunks, rocks, etc., where the height of the urine mark could be noted(which it can’t on a low grass clump, for example, so you don’t bother there). So as a bipedal human(sorta), I had some advantage there. Wouldn’t it be funny if dogs/wolves came to admire and submit to humans, NOT because of our “superior” brains, opposable thumbs, or tool-using ability, but because we can piss so dang high! These are the kinds of thoughts and philosophies one develops when one spends more time roaming the bush with canines than associating with humans…….

   
   
   • on May 10, 2010 at 8:43 am retrieverman

     As someone who has urinated in the woods, I can tell you that when I did it, all three of our dogs would mark in the same spot. The two “dominant” bitches (who were essentially equal) would cock their legs, and the other bitch would squat.

     
     

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