Even though this is a welcoming space for characters of all types, we want you to acknowledge that wolves with disadvantages and / or disabilities have lower survival chances. Winter has a tendency to kill healthy, able-bodied wolves and sick or disabled wolves will be at a much bigger risk of death. Staff will not police this rule, but will step in if we feel that a player is not being realistic enough.

Wolves can go around 2 weeks without food, sometimes more. When a wolf at risk steps away from their pack or companions, we ask that they are put on a survival timer. This is a countdown of three out-of-character weeks (an extra week is added to give you wiggle room and to also acknowledge that not all wolves die of starvation after that two-week cutoff) in which the wolf has to find nutrients to survive. We ask that our members do this to add a sense of urgency to their actions IC which would be reflective to real life. Below is a starvation timeline for you to follow.

FIRST SEVEN DAYS
The wolf will experience common symptoms of hunger. It may be irritating or distracting, and those symptoms may impair their mental state. There are no long-lasting or detrimental consequences, as wolves in the wild often go around a week without eating due to difficulty hunting or other factors.

SECOND WEEK
The body, cut off from external nutrients, will begin to use its own fat reserves. This phase may be shortened if the wolf is especially thin, but while fat is being used, there are no long-term consequences.

THIRD WEEK & BEYOND
This is when the wolf will experience true impairment and the potentially long-term effects of starvation. With the body’s fat reserves and non-essential proteins depleted, it must move on to other sources of energy. Proteins from the body’s muscles are broken down. The brain becomes cut off from the nutrients it needs to survive.

Symptoms include:
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Apathy
- Reclusive behavior
- Increased chances of sickness (food poisoning, viruses, infection)

During all stages of starvation, but especially this stage, it’s important to note that the stomach can hold less food than it could before. If your character is near-dead from starvation and stumbles across a carcass of an untouched buck, their instincts will likely tell them to feast ravenously, but this will result in them getting sick!

PUP TIMELINE
The player should use their discretion. A four-week-old will survive around three days max, while a pup closer to three months could make it a little over a week. A wolf pup younger than 4 weeks will last less than a day on its own. They aren’t yet able to thermoregulate and will likely be dead within two to four hours if left unattended in overly cold or hot weather.

PLANTS
Plants (berries, natural vegetables that are safe for canines to consume) can be an efficient short-term source of nutrients. In any phase, wolves who eat plant products regularly (at least once a day) may extend this phase by one day. Sadly, however, most plants are not rich enough in protein to save wolves fully from starvation.

SMALL MEALS
If the wolf eats a small meal, it extends phases one and two by 1 to 3 days, depending on the size (a rabbit would extend around 3, while a mouse would do around 1). Phase three is extended by around 1 to 2 days at best.
If you’re using this guide, we’re under the assumption that this character is not capable of efficiently hunting for themselves and would likely not be able to catch more than one or two small prey animals for themselves. If they do luck out and are able to gorge themselves on small prey animals, you may follow the ‘large meal’ guidelines.

RESETTING THE TIMER
In the first phase of starvation (within the first week!), if the wolf eats a substantial meal, the timer can reset fully. If in the second phase, they essentially go back to the first phase of starvation. A wolf in the third phase can take in less food at a time and is also suffering from a protein and fat deficit. Thus, their timer is extended around 3 days (or, you could think of it as them being set back 3 days. So, a wolf who’s 2 days into the third phase who finds a decent meal could go back to being on the last day of phase two).

LONG-TERM
Wolves who hit phase three of starvation will experience long-term weakness and some cognitive issues (confusion, mental fog, slower to pick up on things). Just because they’ve eaten and gone back to phase 2 of starvation, these symptoms will not immediately go away. A wolf needs to eat at least once a week for around one in-character month for the physical symptoms of starvation to fully go away and regain their strength. Their mental symptoms will clear up more quickly.

Wolves who were on the brink of death from starvation should see IC consequences. Permanent damage to organs or the brain are likely.