Scent rubbing in wolves (Canis lupus): the effect of novelty

Two groups of wolves (Canis lupus) (N = 15 individuals) were tested for scent rubbing with eight novel odours from four classes of scent (herbivore, carnivore, food, and manufactured). If novelty is the primary factor influencing scent rubbing, we expected high initial rubbing frequencies across classes that would decline with successive presentations. Differential responses would indicate class of scent is more important. The wolves exhibited a striking propensity to scent rub differentially among odours. The manufactured odours (perfume and motor oil) elicited the strongest rubbing response, carnivore odours (cougar (Felis concolor) feces and black bear (Ursus americanus) feces) elicited the second highest response, and one of the food odours (salt pork) elicited a single rub from one individual, while the other food odour (tuna oil) was not rubbed. Herbivore odours (Aoudad sheep (Ammotraqus lervia) feces and Sable Island horse (Equus caballus) feces) were not rubbed. There was a negative correlation between odours that were rubbed and those tasted. Overall, there was a slight tendency to rub less frequently on an eliciting odour with successive presentations, but a stronger tendency with the two odours that elicited the greatest rubbing response (perfume and motor oil). Scent rub eliciting odours might include (i) scents of a class not usually encountered in the wolf's environment, (ii) a familiar scent that deviates from the norm by a change in character, and (iii) scents to which a wolf might have a strong aversion or attraction.