Wolves are the ancestors of every domestic dog in the world — all dogs, from tiny chihuahuas to enormous Saint Bernards, are descended from wolves that humans began living alongside thousands of years ago. Looking at a wolf's face, you can often see the similarity to familiar dog breeds.
A wolf pack is usually made up of a close family: two parents and their young from recent years. The pack works together to raise pups, find food, and defend territory. They communicate through howling, body language, and facial expressions — their faces are surprisingly expressive and easy to read once you know what to look for.
Wolves in Lithuania are mainly active at dawn and dusk, which makes them hard to spot. They cover enormous distances — a pack might patrol a territory of several hundred square kilometres. Researchers track them using radio collars and GPS devices to understand their movements and habits.
Wolves play an important role in keeping forest ecosystems healthy. By hunting deer and wild boar, they prevent those animals from becoming too numerous and damaging the forest. Scientists call this 'keeping the balance', and it helps many other plants and animals to thrive.