UWEC CERCA 2026

Vocal responses in animal behavior are important because they are essential for survival, reproduction, and complex social dynamics. We explored how behavioral responses in Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) vary based on members of the Canidae family and members of the wolf pack. We hypothesized that captive gray wolves would vocally respond when exposed to auditory stimuli of other animals within their phylogenetic tree. We predicted wolves would respond to recordings to signal wolf presence or to establish claims on territory. Our second hypothesis and prediction were that a dominant wolf would initiate a howl, where subordinate members would subsequently howl. We played three playback howls each from five species in the Canidae family. We expected a vocal response to auditory stimuli, as wolves in smaller enclosures were more likely to respond to playback howls. We expected the dominant pair to be leading these behaviors, which explains that alpha breeding pairs influence the behaviors of the pack. Our results showed that there was no statistical significance, as phylogenetic distance and social hierarchy did not influence the proportion of vigilance. This may explain that vocal response is shaped by other factors aside from phylogenetic or social rank.