Territory Information.

[Blackfoot]

All information regarding the pack's homeland, this includes territory, climate, prey and predators.



Territory Map: -coming as soon as Blackfoot gets off her lazy butt and finished it-


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TERRITORY

Shore, shallows and islands: The shore is a narrow strip of sand, littered with rocks, seaweed, and driftwood. When the tide drop, the shallows becomes a buffet of clams, barnacles, crabs and shellfish. Several meters from shore are an assortment of small islands and sandbars. How one accesses these islands is up to them- whether they choose to swim the shallow waters, or wait for low tide.

Stream: Not only does this narrow, winding stretch of rushing water, broken by short waterfalls, provide the pack with drinking water (remember, the ocean is salty and therefore cannot be drunk from), but in the fall and spring it provides a feast of spawning salmon. The river is shallow and rocky, so there is little risk of an adult or even juvenile wolf drowning. But the current is still strong, and can sweep a young, unsteady wolf of their paws.


Forests: An expanse of massive firs and pines, thick undergrowth and ferns, and fallen trees rich with moss. This lush temperate rainforest gives the pack life- stocked full of moose, small mammals, birds and deer to be eaten. The undergrowth provides plenty of cover for a wolf and many places for a den. The forest is at low risk for forest fires, due to the wet climate. Wolves here need good navigational sense and agility to maneuver through the trees and plants. The base of the mountains, where the forest become thick with pines and rockier, is where the territory ends.


Main Den: In a small clearing, under a small entrance beneath a dirt ledge, concealed by thick mosses and ferns, is the packs main home. Despite the rather small entrance, the inside is surprisingly large- big enough to house more than a dozen wolves. The dirt walls shelter the inside from the elements, keeping it cool, dark and dry. At the back of the den is a hidden exit, accessible only from the inside. It provides a backup escape route, should it ever be necessary.


Birthing Den: A small burrow dug out from the base of a massive redwood. The entrance is well hidden by ferns, thick undergrowth, toadstools and moss. The inside is big enough to house only about two wolves and a few pups, but it makes an ideal place for pups to be born and nursed for a few days until they are big enough to be taken to the main den- where they will become part of the pack. The toadstools and fungus stench help mask the smell of newborns pups, and the tiny entrance makes it hard for predators to attack.

Natural Disasters: Due to the wet weather, the forest is generally safe from forest fires. In the springtime, seasonal melt can cause landslides, rockfalls and avalanches. Flooding may also occur near the stream during this time, and sloughs often form throughout the forest.


Tides: Because tides change over the seasons, we're going to use this handy chart for reference: http://www.dairiki.org/tides/daily.php/van
If somebody who knows a lot about widgets could, I'd love it if they could set up a mini version of that chart to refer to while RPing. Until then, you'll have to make do with this.

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CLIMATE

Temperature: The average temperature is 0 and above (typically 0 to 20), with temperatures reaching a high of 20-30 during the warmest summer months (on rare occasions they may reach 30+, but due to the wet climate this is uncommon). In the winter, temperatures can drop up to -30 (average is 0 to -20 or -25. Temperature may hit -40 during colder months, but this isn't too common.)

Weather: The average precipitation is 200- 300 cm per year (about 1. 825cm- 1.216 cm of precipitation a day). Basically, this means the weather is misty and rainy year-round, particularly in the springtime. In summertime, there may be a few weeks of sunshine and heat. In the winter, this precipitation takes the form of snow (and sleet in the winter/spring time). The pack is sheltered from wind and heavy snowfalls by the thick trees, however, so the ground is typically snow free until you get to the less-covered areas. However, they don't shelter from the rain and mist, so the wolves need to get used to brushing against damp plants and mosses and spatters of rain on their fur (hope your wolf is a water fan!)

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PREY

Moose: these massive mammals are common throughout the forest. They are armed with huge antlers and a powerful kick, and can be extremely aggressive during the mating and calving seasons. It takes a team of strong wolves to take down a moose, but one or two can take down a calf (just watch out for the mother!)

Deer: Sitka, white tailed, black tailed and mule deer call this forest home. Smaller, faster and more skittish than moose, they can be hard to catch. Despite their smaller size, it still takes a group of wolves to take one down. Fawns are an easier meal than moose calves, as mothers are less likely to trample a wolf.

Bighorn Sheep: These horned sheep sometimes hang around the base of the mountains. Males are armed with massive curled horns and sharp hooves, so beware. Ewes and lambs make an easier meal, but can still can be hard to catch in the rocky bases of the mountains where they leap easily from ledge to ledge, while a wolf must scramble up the steep slope.

Small mammals: Rabbits, mice, squirrels, voles and shrews hide in shrubs and burrows. Though they aren't a big meal, they'll satisfy a wolf's hunger for a while.

Otters and beavers: These water-dwellers can be found in the shallows, resting on the islands and sandbars, or building dams in the stream. Be careful not to let them make a getaway into the water, or you'll never catch them.

Seals and Sea lions: These creatures are a difficult catch. Mostly found resting on the islands or the shore, wolf must carefully sneak up on these animals- you'll never be able to catch them. It requires strategy to kill a seal or sea lion. (Harbour seals and Steller's sea lions are the common species of seal and sea lions in this area)

Beached Whales: Occasionally, a whale may wash up on shore and die. An adult beached whale can feed the pack for months. (Species of whale in this area include humpback, gray, minke, and orca's. Pacific white-sided dolphins, harbour porpoises, dall’s porpoises are also found here.)

Fish: Char, trout and herring can be caught in the ocean. In the spring and autumn, however, the stream is alive with salmon which provide the pack with an easy feast.

Birds: Small birds such as marbeled murrelets and sparrows can be hunted here, as well as waterbirds like ducks and gulls.

Other: Octopus and squid may sometimes be left behind by the tide. As well as clams, mussels, crabs, shellfish and barnacles.

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PREDATORS

Bears: Though black bears and kermode bear can be chased off more easily and pose a lesser threat, grizzly bears can be more persistent and are a tougher battle to fight. Both species occur in the forests, especially during the salmon run and calving/fawning season. One wolf against an adult bear is no match, and should turn tail instead.

Mountain Lions: These big cats can sometimes be found in the forests, but normally closer to the mountains base. They typically avoid wolves, but will sometimes steal carcasses, and have been known to feed on unattended pups.

Coyotes and Foxes: Although they pose a little threat to an adult wolf, they will sometimes prey on pups and steal prey.

Birds of Prey: Hawks, eagles and owls have been known to make off with pups and, on very rare occasions, a juvenile or adult wolf. The thick canopy provides protection from these aerial predators, thankfully.

Humans: Stories of humans carrying strange sticks that shoot fire have been told by wolves everywhere, but this is a very, very rare occurrence in Coastal Shores territory. (B.C's coastal wolves are protected from hunting. The very rare occurrences of wolves being shot are poachers.) It is more common to see humans walking around the forests, tearing through the woods on strange machines (quads and dirt bikes) or floating through the water in upturned wooden leaves (boats). It is best to avoid humans, as they can be unpredictable.