[fancypost bgcolor=; width: 500px; border: 0px][justify]Before emerging yourself into this, hopefully, fun RP. I want to dish out some detailed information about Grey Wolfs, information that will better help you play your character more realistically. Which is the key, most especially since the number one rule here is realism.
Learned all this thanks to Wiki and Defenders of Wildlife!
Some Quick Facts.
- The grey wolf is the largest member of the canine family.
- At the shoulder they can stand 26-32 inches tall.
- They tend to weigh 55-130 lbs.
- Keep in mind males are typically heavier and taller then females.
- In length, from nose to tail tip, they are about 4.5-6.5 feet.
- And their lifespan in the wild is about 7-8 years, however good health can expand that life to 10 years or more.
Physical Description.
These canines are large, powerful, and slender. Their dense, fluffy coats range from colors of grey and brown, to black and white. With shifty eyes of amber, brown, cooper, yellow, or black.
Behavior.
- Wolves, generally, travel in packs. The size averaging between 4-11 animals. Lead by a mother and father, the alpha pair. Their pups, perhaps older children, other relations, or several other subordinates follow them.
- It is the alpha's that mate, usually the only pair allowed to do so, they lead hunts, chose den sites, and establish the pack's territory.
- Wolves are social creatures that will form close bonds with their pack mates, fondness they often demonstrate.
- They are highly territorial, with territories far larger then needed. However being animals that follow their prey they need a lot of space to track and hunt them. Size of their territory also depends on the prey that is available to them, as well as their water supply.
- They defend their territory by means of scent-marking their borders, direct attacks on intruders, and howling [see communication]. Scent-marking is 'territorial advertisement', letting others know that the land belongs to someone, It involves urination, defecation, and ground scratching. Signs not unnoticed by strangers.
Communication.
Wolves have many ways of communicating, both with pack mates and with strangers. Their expressive behavior more complex then that of the coyote and golden jackal. I've jotted down a few of their more notable visual behaviors and what they mean.
- The body is loose, not tense anywhere. With a smooth expression and loose, hanging tail. This is a neutral position, maybe even relaxed.
- A body that is tense, moving slowly and deliberately, with high posture and raised hackles is an aggressive or self-assertive wolf.
- Submission can be seen in a wolf that carries their body low, with a loose or tucked tail and ears. These wolves even sometimes roll to reveal their vulnerable belly to more dominate wolves.
- Wolves howl, not at the moon, but for rather important reasons. They do it to assemble the pack, to pass an alarm, to warn off strangers, to locate each other when lost, and to communicate over long distances.
- Other vocalizations from wolves are growls, whines, and barks. However, unlike domesticated dogs, wolves usually do not bark as loud or as continuously.
Reproduction.
- Wolves are very committed animals, pairing up with only one mate and usually remaining partners for life. Or until the death of that partner, in which wolves generally are quick to replace them.
- Generally wolves are not able to mate until 2 years of age, females able to have one litter a year [mating generally occurs in January and February]. At average of course. Each leader containing 4-6 pups, as wolves tend to have larger pups then other canines.
- A females gestation period lasts at average 63 days, in which after the pups are born. Completely blind and deaf, helpless. These pups and their mother won't leave the birthing den, as food will be brought by pack mates.
- Around 9-12 days after birth pups will begin to see and hear. After about 3 weeks they will leave the den for the first time. The pups will begin to eat solid foods at around 3-4 weeks of age. The pack will care for them until the are about 10 months of age.
Diet.
- The grey wolf is a hunter of ungulates, or large hoofed mammals, like elk, deer, moose and caribou.
- They have been known to prey upon smaller creatures, such as rabbits, beavers, etc.
- Wolves are also scavengers, eating animals that have died of other causes. Disease or starvation, for example.
- Packs often have the best chances for bringing down large prey. Which single wolves or a pair have lesser chances, which is likely what provokes them to take on smaller prey.[/justify]
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[justify]Now that all the facts are out of the way we can move onto learning more about the RP in question here. To give you a little heads up about what you'll be seeing next: ooc rules, landmarks, the pack [and their personal rules], and loner wolves. Oh! And I almost forgot, there will also be a list of thread.[/justify]
Obey all WCRPG rules.
Be realistic! Other then the rule above this one, this is the most important rule here. So these wolves can't talk to other animals, they don't have any powers at all, no wings, etc. They would likely think such things are unholy and try to squish it or something. To break this rule will get one booted from the RP.
Be active. I'll boot characters from the list that aren't.
Other packs can only be made official [to this rp of course] under these conditions: you have 5 or more wolves [with five other members], at least five active threads, and 2,000+ posts [this might jump depending on how active this RP gets].
Inactive packs will be taken from the list, although former members made revive the pack if they will. To have it put back up however it must meet half of each condition above.
All threads made for this RP must be given to me so that I can put it up and keep track of it all.
Rules can be added/changed at any time. But for now I think this is all of them.
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[justify]If you're interested, and I hope you are. Then fill out the form below and have fun![/justify]
- [b]Name:[/b]
- [b]Gender:[/b]
- [b]Pack or Loner:[/b]
- [b]RP Sample:[/b]
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