TIMBER WOLF PUPS EMERGE FROM DENSHere’s a program from our archives.Throughout upper North America this week, timber wolf pups are venturing out of their dens for the first time. Today we’ll trace the development of these young predators, through sound. I’m Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.ambience: wolf pupsIt’s a far cry from the howls you might expect, but this is how a group of wolf pups sounded earlier this month. According to Karlyn Atkinson Berg, the Director of the Wildlife Education Program, this litter of pups is about a week and a half old, and they’re huddled in a den tunneled six feet underground. Berg: These are the whimpering sounds of these young pups. They’re still down in the den, bunching together. They usually spend their time, instead of wiggling around together, getting close to mom when she’s there available, close to each other for warmth.ambience: four week old wolf pupsToday, the pups should sound something like this. They’re about a month old now, and they’re taking some exploratory steps outside.Berg: Wolf pups at about four weeks old now have come out of their den. In alarm, the mother would send off a whoof signal for them to scramper down into the den again. At this point, they’re playing, looking around a little bit of their new world, but they will not go very far from the den. There’s still a ways to go before the pups turn into full grown wolves. Now here’s a peek at what they’ll sound like in a few weeks, while they’re still romping and playing close to their motherambience: six week old wolf pupsBerg: These are sounds of pups at six weeks old. Still whimpering, seeking to solicit attention. Older pups will use sounds like this when they want to appease more dominant animals, especially when they might feel questioned.In parts of North America, these timber wolf pups will grow up in an environment where they’re range is once again expanding, both with and without the help of humans. We’ll hear more in future programs. I’m Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.
TIMBER WOLF PUPS EMERGE FROM DEN
A month in the life of young wolf pups.
Air Date:06/27/1997
Scientist:
Transcript:
TIMBER WOLF PUPS EMERGE FROM DENSHere's a program from our archives.Throughout upper North America this week, timber wolf pups are venturing out of their dens for the first time. Today we'll trace the development of these young predators, through sound. I'm Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.ambience: wolf pupsIt's a far cry from the howls you might expect, but this is how a group of wolf pups sounded earlier this month. According to Karlyn Atkinson Berg, the Director of the Wildlife Education Program, this litter of pups is about a week and a half old, and they're huddled in a den tunneled six feet underground. Berg: These are the whimpering sounds of these young pups. They're still down in the den, bunching together. They usually spend their time, instead of wiggling around together, getting close to mom when she's there available, close to each other for warmth.ambience: four week old wolf pupsToday, the pups should sound something like this. They're about a month old now, and they're taking some exploratory steps outside.Berg: Wolf pups at about four weeks old now have come out of their den. In alarm, the mother would send off a whoof signal for them to scramper down into the den again. At this point, they're playing, looking around a little bit of their new world, but they will not go very far from the den. There's still a ways to go before the pups turn into full grown wolves. Now here's a peek at what they'll sound like in a few weeks, while they're still romping and playing close to their motherambience: six week old wolf pupsBerg: These are sounds of pups at six weeks old. Still whimpering, seeking to solicit attention. Older pups will use sounds like this when they want to appease more dominant animals, especially when they might feel questioned.In parts of North America, these timber wolf pups will grow up in an environment where they're range is once again expanding, both with and without the help of humans. We'll hear more in future programs. I'm Jim Metzner, and this is the Pulse of the Planet.