I'm curious on what everyone's theory on why wolves howl are. Of course there's many reasons during certain situations but sometimes, no one can really tell why they howl on certain nights.

Huskian, I asked myself that question as I was learning about wolves, it is an excellent question indeed, and I hope I hear some interesting responses to answer it..and here's my response:

So why do wolves howl? well, when I feel excited and energised and don't know how to get rid of the energy, I start humming or singing ann upbeat, cheerful song, ans sining feels like just releasingall that pent up energy inside of me...I think wolves howl for just the same reason, becuse it feels good inside!

Sometimes howls are used to comunicate between packs, like "the herds of caribou are in so and so location, heading this direction..", or "careful of the humans that are coming from that direction" who knows what else they communicate between packs...A howl may also be a message like "All members of our pack, meet here, I found some tasty-looking deer...", I dunno..

But often, I think group howls are just for the sake of howling and haveing a good time. Just like a family game night, it srengthens the bonds between pack members...

There must be other reasons for howling, too, these are just the ones I can come up with at the moment...

I haven't really gave any real thought into this question, but I know the obvious reasons, basically the communicational reasons.

However, I bet I could come up with some wacky theory if I actually thought about it.

And that's a good theory Ultra, it makes sense.

Could also be for warning off other predators that there's many wolves nearby and they should leave quickly or try not to scavenge any dead prey. Just a thought.

Interesting theories... I really don't have any.

In a book I read, it said that wolves howl to mourn the dead of their pack. Dunno how true it is, but it's an interesting thought.

Wolves howl for a number of different reasons. Some reason I know of are: mating, asking where their other member are, or to stay away from their pack to a stranger. There are lots though.

interesting topic...i dont know anything about that...

I've always been in the mindset that they howl for many/most of the reasons that we speak/sing/shout. Body language and other noises are also large parts of their communication, but humans also use a wide range of expressions which aren't technically part of our language.

Like a couple said above, there is no one reason why they howl. Be it finding pack, mating, asking where the sun went..we can't say for sure what each howl is for, but they are for many reasons.

My thoughts are

That wolves howl, growl and bark for the same reasons humans talk and sing. To communicate, and to express emotions. This might seem pretty obvious, but it's a broad answer. As far as emotion goes:

A growling wolf is obviously expressing anger, aggression, territorialism, etc. Wimpering would indicate fear, submission, confusion, anxiety, etc. Short barks and yips could be irritation, or attention getters.

Physically, wolves howl to keep together. A pack that howls together, stays together! They live so far apart they gotta find each other somehow. But I have seen lower members of the group get chastised for joining in the howling. That says to me that howling is kind of like a group strengthening activity. Maybe it's like their idea of karaoke or poker night. Kinda "hanging" out, along with grooming and playing.

Anyway, thats my long-winded theory.

i think wolves howl to get attention from other wolves/pack members. They do have their different tones of howls ( distress calls, mating calls, ect. ). Also, i've never really seen a wolf howl near where i live ( i've heard them howling but never witnessed it ) so i wonder if they actually howl at the moon ( sometimes ) or not.


[[ it's kinda early in the morning where i live, so this might not seem like a good answer, sorry 'bout that ]]

Excuse me if I reply to an old topic, but I want to point out a very interesting and detailed article on the wolf howl:

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nice find, some good info there. i always thought they put out good information(NOVA does)