Never Cry Wolf
For hundreds of years, the wolf has been greatly mischaracterized. Stories and myths passed on through the years have told numerous tales of the wolf being a malicious and violent animal. However, as we view the wolf through the eyes of Farley Mowat we are given the opportunity to see the wolf from a completely different perspective. Sent to the Keewatin Barren to study wolves for the Dominion Wildlife Service, Mowat himself was surprised at how contrary the wolf actually was to the stories and legends that he heard. Mowat became familiar with a pack of wolves (and their pups) whom he named George, Angeline, and Uncle Albert, and found that wolves are actually very docile, playful and intelligent animals.Surprisingly, the wolf is in fact a very passive and non-aggressive animal. During a brief stay in Churchill on his way to the Keewatin, Mowat was told stories of how, "wolves ... devour several hundred people ... every year."(16) However, when Mowat actually encountered a wolf for his first time, instead of attacking him, the wolf leaped in the air and then raced away like a bolt of lightening across the barren landscape. Wolves also share the land that they live in respectf
Aside from being so non-violent, the wolves are actually very playful with each other. Mowat describes how George and Angeline (two of the wolves that he was observing) often engaged themselves in a game of "tag" with each other: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Perhaps the most overlooked characteristic of the wolf is their high level of intelligence. Wolves have the ability to communicate with each other, even over great distances. The wolves howl at each other from different territories to send messages or warn other packs of danger. For example, one morning when George and Albert were out hunting, George sent a message to Angeline. Ootek, a friend of Mowat was able to interpret the howl: "He tell his wife the hunting is pretty bad and he is going to stay out longer. Maybe not get home until the middle of the day."(91) The wolf is also a very cunning hunter. One late afternoon, Angeline, at the shore of the lake, spotted a nearby flock of ducks. All of a sudden, "yipping like a puppy, she began to chase her tail; to roll over and over among the rocks; to lie on her back; to wave all four feet furiously in the air; and in general to behave as if she were clean out of her mind." (70) The ducks became very curious of her a! The wolf pups are very interactive and playful with each other as well. M
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 919
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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