Why do wolves howl? Howling may be heard during the day or at night, it's not a behavior directed at the moon. Instead it's used as a social rally, a hail to hunt or as a territorial expression. Did you know that wolves have different howls that can be heard 6-7 miles away? A howl can also help a lost wolf find its way home. A wolf separated from it's pack uses a lonesome howl, a shortened call that rises in pitch, if answered the wolf then responds with deep, even howls to inform the pack of it