Activity Patterns of Gray Wolves Housed in Small Vs. Large Enclosures

Publication Type:
 Journal Article
Year of Publication:
 1996
Authors:
 Terry J. Kreeger, Donald L. Pereira, Margaret Callahan, Mark Beckel
Publication/Journal:
 Zoo Biology
Keywords:
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Abstract:

Free-ranging gray wolves (Canis lupus) generally inhabit large home ranges, yet they are housed in a variety of restricted spaces when in captivity. There is continual debate as to whether space restrictions alter a wolf’s behavior. The purpose of these studies was to remotely measure and then compare the amount and frequency of activity of gray wolves housed in small, artificial enclosures vs. large, more natural enclosures. Test animals comprised three adult wolves housed in kennels and three and four wolves housed in separate natural enclosures. Kenneled wolves had 2.8 m2 of surface area per wolf, and wolves in natural enclosures had 466.6 m2 (South Pack) and 349.9 m2 (North Pack) per wolf. Wolves were fitted with radiotelemetry collars containing activity sensors. Activity data were recorded every 20 min for 57 continuous hr. The amount of activity for each wolf was calculated using areas under the curve (AUCs), and the frequency of activity was analyzed by spectral analysis. There was no difference (P ≥ 0.22) in AUCs between kenneled wolves (1.399 ± 0.214 x 105 radians) and South Pack wolves (1.564 ± 0.139 X 105 radians) or North Pack wolves (1.617 ± 0.192 x 105 radians). All three groups had similar peak spectral values at frequencies that were close to daily cycles (i.e., ω = 0.12–0.17 cycles per unit time). Peaks in coherence near the dominant spectral frequency were most significant between the natural enclosures and the least significant between the kenneled wolves and the South Pack wolves. Based on these criteria of activity and under these circumstances, enclosure size appeared to have no effect on wolf activity. However, small sample sizes and variation in the data do not make these results definitive.

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