wolves Author and Illustrated by: Jen Green Project by: Maisie Miora

Tireless Runners  Wolves are strong and can move quickly and gracefully. A large wolf can leap as high as a single-story building, such as a garage! They can also swim well, and can easily cross creaks and streams. Wolves are muscular. Like dogs, wolves run on their toes. That helps them take long strides. Could you run all day without stopping? A wolf can. Wolves can run along at a steady pace for hours. Wolves can run at up to 24 hours per hour ( 45 kmph ), but only for a short distance.

A Meaty Diet  Wolves are predators, or hunting animals. They feed mainly on meat. Their favorite prey are large, plant-eating animals that live in herds, such as deer, moose and, caribou. Wolves also hunt smaller animals, such as rabbits, mice, and birds.-and even water creatures, such as fish, crabs, and frogs. A fully grown wolf can eat up to 20 ponds ( 9 kg ) of meat at one time. That’s about the same amount of meat on a really large turkey. Can you imagine eating all that meat at once? Any part of the kill that is not eaten is hidden under a hollow log. Then the wolf can save it to eat later. Usually nothing goes to waste. If meat is hard to find, wolves can go several weeks without eating. They can also eat plant food, such as fruit, berries, and even grass.

SHARP SENSES  Wolves rely on their sharp senses to track prey for food. Like dogs, wolves have an excellent hearing. They can hear very high-pitched sounds that humans cannot hear. A wolf’s ears swivel around to pinpoint the source of sounds. Wolves also have a good sense of smell. That allows them to pick up the sent of distant prey on the wind. Their round yellow eyes focus well on prey fleeing before them. Wolves can also see well in the dim light of dusk and dawn. Even when wolves are resting in the sunshine, they are still alert for any sign of danger or a clue that will lead to their next meal.

 I recommend this book if you like wolves as much as I do. And if you like reading non-fiction books about animals, from pets to predators.  interest level: middle grades 4-8