AboutJonathan Wright Expertise I can answer questions about wild mammals, as well as other wild animals. I can also answer questions on extinct animals and zoos.
PLEASE DON'T SEND ME ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT PETS. IF YOU ARE REALLY WORRIED, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A VETERINARIAN. PLEASE DO NOT ASSUME THAT UNPAID PEOPLE ON ALLEXPERTS ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY AND WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH ADVICE THE MOMENT YOUR ANIMAL GETS ILL. Find out how to look after a pet before you get it. It is unfair to keep an animal in inappropriate conditions and give it the wrong food. If you can't keep an animal in good conditions, please don't bring it into your home. I'm not a vet and I don't have any expertise in animal medicine and care. I don't agree with people taking animals out of the wild and then expecting other people to give free advice on how to look after them. It is cruel to take animals away from their parents, who are able to look after the babies and may look for them, while putting their other babies at risk. You may need a licence to look after some animals. You may be breaking the law by keeping wild animals; please check with a local wildlife organisation.
IF YOU FIND AN INJURED ANIMAL, PLEASE CONTACT A WILDLIFE VETERINARIAN OR CHARITY AND LET TRAINED STAFF LOOK AFTER THE ANIMAL. DO NOT TRY TO LOOK AFTER AN INJURED ANIMAL IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
Please do not remove eggs from nests. The mother birds will know the right temperature for the eggs and will not sit on them if the temperature is warm enough for them to develop naturally. It is illegal to remove eggs of some species and, unless you have an incubator or a broody hen, the egg may not develop. If you are allowed to touch the eggs, you can candle them (check details on websites) to see if the eggs are fertile. If the eggs are not fertile, they will not hatch.
I do not agree with fights between different animals. Please do not ask me questions about them.
Experience I have a zoology degree and have been interested in animals since I was two years old. I am a zoo volunteer at London Zoo. I have appeared on a BBC Radio Quiz, 'Wildbrain'.
Organizations World Wide Fund for Nature. Zoological Society of London. London Bat Group.
Publications Newsletters of London Zoo volunteers and the London Bat Group
Education/Credentials BSC degree in Zoology. 'A' levels in Zoology and Chemistry. 'O' Level in Biology.
Question Hello, I am interested in learning more about wolves. I am curious what they eat in the wild? As in do they eat only meat or do they also eat some type of grain? What type of meat and/or grain? Also, for wolves in captivity what are they feed? Do they eat meat (what kind) and any grains (if so what kind)? I really have no reason for my questions. I have always loved wolves and am curious what they eat. They obviously eat meat but how much and what are typical types. I am really curious if they eat any type of grains or vegies. Also, in captivity wolves seem to live longer, why is this? Do Zoos feed something different to the wolves to give them longer life or is it because they do not die from wounds or fights or perils of the wild? Thanks for your help.
Answer Dear Rachel
Wolves can eat various food items, including meat and vegetation. If they hunt in a pack, they will be able to kill larger prey, but this will be shared out among the pack members. Individual wolves can usually only kill smaller prey items, but they can always supplement their diet with vegetation.
Zoos vary in the kind of food they give to wolves. A good zoo will do frequent medical checks on each wolf and ensure that their diet contains the correct medicines to help them. In the wild, wolves may find it hard to obtain food, especially in harsh winter conditions. There is also competition between different pack members, with some subordinate wolves getting a poorer diet. The zoo is usually an artificial environment and keepers and other staff can look after sickly or wounded wolves and help them recover, perhaps in a zoo hospital. In the wild, there would be more risk to a sickly wolf and its chances of survival would be lower.
