There are very few sounds that are as well-known as the howl of a wolf ringing out across the stillness of the wild. However, it seems that the bone-chilling call-down massage requires quite a bit of effort to achieve.

Researchers with the Voyageurs Wolf Project, an organization whose mission is to study the behaviors of wolves in northern Minnesota, have just obtained some endearing film from one of the forest cameras that they have installed.

In it, a young wolf is seen approaching the camera and then making his presence known with a couple of short howls. The video may be seen here.

“Take a listen to some of this wolf pup’s first howls from just a few short weeks ago!” Composition is done by the Voyageurs Wolf Project. Caution is advised since the puppy is already rather boisterous despite only being 4 weeks old!

Even though the wolf puppy seems to be by itself in the video, additional wolves can be heard howling in the background. These wolves are almost certainly the youngster’s family, and they are utilizing the noise to keep track of one other.

From these meager beginnings of a howl, the puppy will hopefully one day scream out with a voice befitting an adult, one that will reverberate across his wild home just as it did for a great number of generations before him.