Wolves don’t actually howl at the moon.

We’ve all seen the classic image of a wolf silhouetted against a full moon, its muzzle raised in a long, powerful howl aimed at Earth’s milky-white satellite. This romantic image, however, is factually misleading, as wolves don’t really howl at the moon. In fact, scientists have found no link between the moon and howling, save for a possible increase in overall wolf activity — including, but not limited to, howling — on brighter nights. 

The reason wolves howl is actually all to do with long-distance communication, with no mystical lunar shenanigans involved. They howl to signal their location to other pack members and to rally the pack for a gathering or a hunt. It’s also a clear way to warn rival packs not to encroach on their territory.