Editing Wolf (section)

===Communication===
{{main article|Wolf communication}}
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| filename  = Wolf howls.ogg
| title = Wolves howling
| format = [[Ogg]]
| filename2 = rallying.ogg
| title2 = Rallying cry
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Wolves communicate using vocalizations, body postures, scent, touch, and taste.{{sfn|Mech|Boitani|2003|pp=66–103}} The phases of the moon have no effect on wolf vocalization, and despite popular belief, wolves do not howl at the Moon.{{sfn|Busch|2007|p=59}} Wolves [[howling|howl]] to assemble the pack usually before and after hunts, to pass on an alarm particularly at a den site, to locate each other during a storm, while crossing unfamiliar territory, and to communicate across great distances.{{sfn|Lopez|1978|p=38}} Wolf howls can under certain conditions be heard over areas of up to {{cvt|130|km2}}.<ref name=Paquet2003/> Other vocalizations include [[growling|growls]], [[bark (sound)|barks]] and whines. Wolves do not bark as loudly or continuously as dogs do in confrontations, rather barking a few times and then retreating from a perceived danger.{{sfn|Lopez|1978|pp=39–41}} Aggressive or self-assertive wolves are characterized by their slow and deliberate movements, high body [[Posture (psychology)|posture]] and raised [[hackles]], while submissive ones carry their bodies low, flatten their fur, and lower their ears and tail.{{sfn|Mech|Boitani|2003|p=90}}

Scent marking involves urine, feces, and [[preputial gland|preputial]] and anal gland scents. This is more effective at advertising territory than howling and is often used in combination with scratch marks. Wolves increase their rate of scent marking when they encounter the marks of wolves from other packs. Lone wolves will rarely mark, but newly bonded pairs will scent mark the most.<ref name=Paquet2003/> These marks are generally left every {{cvt|240|m}} throughout the territory on regular travelways and junctions. Such markers can last for two to three weeks,{{sfn|Mech|Boitani|2003|pp=19–26}} and are typically placed near rocks, boulders, trees, or the skeletons of large animals.{{sfn|Heptner|Naumov|1998|pp=164–270}} Raised leg [[urination]] is considered to be one of the most important forms of scent communication in the wolf, making up 60–80% of all scent marks observed.<ref name=Peters1975/>