英語聽力文摘 中年狼　Middle Aged Wolves

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狼是群居性極高的物種。一群狼的數(shù)量大約在6到12只之間，在冬天寒冷的時候最多可到五十只以上，通常以家庭為單位的家庭狼由一對優(yōu)勢對偶領導，而以兄弟姐妹為一群的則以最強一頭狼為領導。狼群有領域性，且通常也都是其活動范圍，群內個體數(shù)量若增加，領域范圍會縮小。幼狼成長后，會留在群內照顧弟妹，也可能繼承群內優(yōu)勢地位，有的則會遷移出去(大多為雄狼)而還有一些情況下會出現(xiàn)遷徙狼，以百來頭為一群，有來自不同家庭等級的各類狼，各個小團體原狼首領會成為頭狼，頭狼中最出眾的則會成為狼王。狼的奔跑速度極快，可達五十五公里左右，持久性也很好。它們有能力以速度10公里/小時(六英里)長時間奔跑 , 并能以高達近65公里/小時速度( 45英里) 追獵沖刺。 如果是長跑，它的速度會超過獵豹。

狼在三歲的時候捕食能力最強。隨著它年齡的增長它的這種能力亦會下降。

Picture an elk walking through the forest, looking for some berries to nibble.

Then, suddenly, a pack of wolves leaps from the bushes, surrounding the startled animal. The wolves close in. The elk looks for an escape route, but the predators tighten the circle.

The elk is a goner, right?

Maybe. But it depends partly on the age of the wolves.

According to one study, wolves’ hunting skills peak around age three, and then their hunting prowess starts to decline. By the time wolves reach old age, around the age of six, they’re no longer the same hunters they were as youngsters.Why?

Because unlike lions, tigers, and other large predators, the average wolf doesn’t have the bulk or attributes to take down large prey with a single blow.

Wolves rely more on athleticism and endurance to bag elk. And like most athletes, wolves’ physical abilities decline with age. Once their skills erode, wolves aren’t much good as hunters.

So older wolves are good for elk. The study found that the older the average wolf population in an area, the more elk there are still around.

When the wolf population skews younger, more elk bite the dust.