The myth that wolves howl 'at' the moon and all the myths with the wolf and the moon are kinda interesting but I wonder where they come from. Werewolves are the most popular and the myth of wolves are somehow connected to the moon is kinda odd; I wonder who came up with that one.

I think it just fits in nicely with the rather whimsical idea that wolves are Beings of the Underworld

Seriously, though, the amount of moonshine can affect animal behaviour, or at least it appears to. I don't mean it turns dodgy humans into werewolves, but bright moonlight helps some prey species to avoid predators. It's not unreasonable to assume that predators like wolves, which have good eyesight, may be more active themselves on moonlit nights. That way it wouldn't be different from some creatures preferring the daytime to the dark.

Another, probably better, hypothesis is that humans themselves are more active when they can see more. Inferring that

a) They would be more likely to be wandering around on the night of the full moon

b) As they are wandering around, they would be more likely to hear wolves

Or, possibly:

Authors and filmwriters needing a prop think coyote yips and a full moon add atmosphere!

I guess the amount of light would have some big changes with noturnal animals and such but it's weird how wolves were the animal to be most closely linked to the moon; maybe just because they howl and make lots of noise during the night so they're noticed more

I've, myself, always taken an interest in the moon. I like it when it's a full moon out and I will sometimes go outside just because of it. A full moon is coming sometime soon here though; so I guess I kinda watch it's phases as well

Wolves just have a way of forcing themselves upon the human consciousness. It would be interesting, actually, to monitor howling and see if it really *is* more common during full moons. I'm not sure if that's ever been properly studied. Of course, a lot of the time wolves howl when meeting at rendezvous sites etc so the amount of moonlight wouldn't affect that.

I'm really into astronomy, actually. I took this picture a few months ago. No wolves howling in the background

That would be something interesing to find out; a biologist should look into that sometime and make an official report about it. If I become a biologist, then I would do that sometime while doing my regular monitoring of the pack(s).

I'm kinda interested in astromony but there's just too many myths about that as well and how it often crosses with religon. I might study a bit of it but I don't think I will do any of it for a long time. I was going to take an astromony class this year but I changed schools over the summer and my new school doesn't have that option

No need for classes, really, unless you want to know more about the physics of how everything out there works.

Just download

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, go outside (safely!) on a dark night, preferably with some binoculars, and enjoy the scene. Of course, you'll see more with better equipment, but even just being able to point at that yellow "star" and say "that's Saturn!" is worth something.

I try to take classes though so I can learn as much as possible That's why I'm taking zoology next semester so I can see if there is anything else I can learn about canidae.
Light pollution is a problem here though so I can barely see the stars. Only the brighter planets are the ones that I can see.
Thanks for the link This will be fun going through.

I guess the amount of light that would affect animal behavior at night. But I don't see why wolves were most connected to the moon and not any other animal. I mean the lion makes lots of noise and they are probably as active as wolves are at moonlight.

I was wondering why on Saturday 7th October, when there was a bright full moon, that i suddenly appeared to have grey fur all over me, four legs, a long tail, long nose with big pointy ears and sharp teeth.

Then i found myself staring at the moon, and going HOWWWWLLL!!!

Just kidding of course, it was a lovelly full moon that night, i guess they howl to find each other better in the dark probably but they howl for any occasion really, its to find a mate, call the pack together, although it is interesting to find the real reason

I found the moon facinating just like how wolves do; well, I like astromony but maybe wolves also liked astromony and they're smart enough to think more than just about the earth.

I know it's just the cynic in me, but I don't think there is a connection between wolves and the moon. But astrology is so wonderful, and astronomy quite interesting.

Well, that's what SittingFox said that there really ain't any special connection between the two but it's funny how the tales and legend have made a connection between wolves and the moon, such as howlings and werewolves.

superstition, thats what probly started it ya know? I found out that my family quite some time ago beleived they were of foxes desended in human form, the disderbing part was that they would inject fox blood in them and those who didint die from diseases were true foxes desended....my parents say Im a 100% desended from the one who lived (only 5 out of 18 lived.....) its truely bizzar what people can think eh?