Wolf Ethogram A-G

The wolf ethogram behavior cards are listed in alphabetical order on every page. Each card includes a photo demonstrating the behavior, its name, and the code or abbreviation on the front. Hover your mouse over the picture to “flip” the card to see the back and learn about the behavior category and definition.

As you watch the live cams, you may see certain behaviors more frequently. The 20 most commonly seen behaviors are marked with an asterisk.

Download our ethogram worksheets and practice tracking wolf behaviors while viewing the Live Wolf Cams
Portrait Wolf Ethogram Worksheet | Landscape Wolf Ethogram Worksheet

Select a Group of Behavior Cards:

Behavior Category Descriptions A-G H-P R-S T-Z

Dominance, Food/Predatory
Staring intently at another wolf in preparation for a surprise attack. The ambushing wolf is usually in a sphinx posture but occasionally will initiate an ambush from a standing position.

Ambush (AM)
Social, Investigatory, Rest
To move closer to another wolf at a walk or trot.

Approach (AP)*
Dominance
To turn the eyes away from the gaze of another. This is usually seen as part of a submissive posture or in threat situations.

Avert Gaze (AG)
Dominance
A dog-like natural, loud vocalization typically issued as a warning to other packmates, especially pups.

Bark (BK)
Dominance
A hoarse howl immediately preceded by a bark. It is an alarm vocalization but is not as common as a bark or a howl.

Bark-Howl (BH)
Dominance, Food/Predatory
To grip with the teeth. This may be expressed with food, an object, or another wolf.

Bite (BT)
Social
A controlled bite without enough pressure to cause an injury.

Bite, Inhibited (BI)*
Dominance
Grabbing the muzzle of another wolf with enough force to cause a whimper.

Bite, Muzzle-Hard (BMH)
Social
Holding another wolf’s muzzle gently in the mouth. This is sometimes part of greeting or food-begging sequences.

Bite, Muzzle-Soft (BMS)
Social, Rest
To bend into a bow shape; the wolf lowers the front part of its torso while keeping the hind part upright. The most common bow at the Center is known as the play bow, which is used to solicit play behaviors.

Bow (BW)
Food/Predatory
To hide a supply of objects, including food, under leaves, snow, soil or other materials.

Cache (CA)*
Food/Predatory
Holding an object in the mouth while moving around; the object is usually, but not always, food.

Carry Object (CO)
Dominance, Food/Predatory, Social
To try and catch or overtake another wolf or items such as leaves, ravens, squirrels and so forth.

Chase (CS)*
Dominance
To place the head across the back or shoulders of another wolf. This is often done as a display of dominance.

Chin Rest (CR)
Investigatory
To move toward the top of something or to a higher elevation.

Climb (CL)
Dominance, Food/Predatory, Social, Investigatory
To move slowly across something with the body close to the surface.

Crawl (CW)
Dominance, Food/Predatory
To stay down close to the ground with legs bent, waiting to spring or run forward. The back is often arched, and the tail is usually held in the T4 position.

Crouch (CH)
Investigatory
To expel feces from the bowels; can also be associated with scent marking or expression of the anal scent glands on an object or trail.

Defecate (DF)*
Investigatory
To break up, overturn or remove something, especially earth, with the paws or nose.

Dig (DG)
Dominance, Food/Predatory, Investigatory
To move something, especially something that is too large, heavy or cumbersome to carry, by pulling it along the ground or across a surface.

Drag (DR)
Food/Predatory
To take in liquid by lapping or, on occasion, biting at the water.

Drink (DK)*
Dominance, Food/Predatory, Social Investigatory
The ears are held out to the side in a manner that simulates the wings of an airplane.

Ears, Airplane (EA)*
Dominance, Food/Predatory, Social
Ears flattened and lowered against the sides of the head.

Ears, Back (EB)
Dominance, Food/Predatory, Social
Ears laid flat and pulled so far back as to appear to meet behind the skull.

Ears, Ponytail (EPT)
Investigatory
Ears erect and turned forward in an alert posture. This can be interpreted as interest or intensity, depending upon the situation.

Ears, Pricked (EP)*
Dominance, Food/Predatory, Social
The ears are erect and turned outward to the sides; this is usually an indication of tension in the wolf.

Ears, Pricked Turned Sideways (EPTS)
Dominance, Food/Predatory, Social
Ears are turned out but held back at an angle from the top of the head.

Ears, Turned Sideways and Slanted Back (EPSB)
Food/Predatory
To take substances into the mouth and swallow; this is usually, but not always, food.

Eat (ET)*
Dominance, Investigatory
To break free from any captivity, confinement, or any unpleasant situation; wolves use escape to avoid attacks, mobbing or harassment.

Escape (ESC)
Investigatory
To make a careful investigation or study of the environment. When pups were introduced into the main enclosure, they spent a great deal of time exploring to discover what was in their new.

Explore (EX)
Dominance
A face-to-face confrontation between two wolves with tense posture; usually one or both have the T1 or T2 tail position.

Face Off (FO)
Food/Predatory
To wipe the lower face and jowls back and forth along the ground or by use of a paw.

Face Wipe (FW)
Dominance, Social
To go after or behind something, moving in the same direction.

Follow (FOL)
Dominance, Food/Predatory, Social
To lick, nibble, pull or paw at an older or more dominant wolf’s muzzle and lips. This is often done by pups or young wolves, accompanied by other submissive postures.

Food Beg (FB)
Dominance
To take another wolf’s foreleg/backleg into the mouth.

Foreleg Grab (FG)
Dominance, Social
To swat or stab another wolf with the foreleg.

Foreleg Stab (FS)
Food/Predatory
To bite and chew persistently at something, often reducing it gradually to a particular state.

Gnaw (GW)
Dominance, Food/Predatory, Investigatory
To grasp something quickly, suddenly or forcefully and hold on firmly.

Grab (GB)
Social
To smile broadly, usually showing the teeth in a relaxed, nonthreatening manner.

Grin (GN)
Social
To clean the fur or skin of another wolf or of itself, often by licking, nibbling or scratching.

Groom (GM)
Dominance, Food/Predatory
The low, throaty noise made by a hostile wolf.

Growl (GL)
Food/Predatory, Social
To protect desired objects from others.

Guard (GD)

Wolf Ethogram A-G

Wolf Ethogram A-G

Select a Group of Behavior Cards:

Ambush (AM)

Approach (AP)*

Avert Gaze (AG)

Bark (BK)

Bark-Howl (BH)

Bite (BT)

Bite, Inhibited (BI)*

Bite, Muzzle-Hard (BMH)

Bite, Muzzle-Soft (BMS)

Bow (BW)

Cache (CA)*

Carry Object (CO)

Chase (CS)*

Chin Rest (CR)

Climb (CL)

Crawl (CW)

Crouch (CH)

Defecate (DF)*

Dig (DG)

Drag (DR)

Drink (DK)*

Ears, Airplane (EA)*

Ears, Back (EB)

Ears, Ponytail (EPT)

Ears, Pricked (EP)*

Ears, Pricked Turned Sideways (EPTS)

Ears, Turned Sideways and Slanted Back (EPSB)

Eat (ET)*

Escape (ESC)

Explore (EX)

Face Off (FO)

Face Wipe (FW)

Follow (FOL)

Food Beg (FB)

Foreleg Grab (FG)

Foreleg Stab (FS)

Gnaw (GW)

Grab (GB)

Grin (GN)

Groom (GM)

Growl (GL)

Guard (GD)