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Wolf Status and Dominance in Packs -Alpha Status
By L. David Mech - May 2000
Abstract:
The prevailing view of a wolf (Canis lupus) pack is that of a group of individuals ever vying for dominance but held in check by the "alpha" pair, the alpha male and the alpha female. Most research on the social dynamics of wolf packs, however, has been conducted on non-natural assortments of captive wolves. Here I describe the wolf-pack social order as it occurs in nature, discuss the alpha concept and social dominance and submission, and present data on the precise relationships among members in free-living packs based on a literature review and 13 summers of observations of wolves on Ellesmere Island, Northwest Territories, Canada. I conclude that the typical wolf pack is a family, with the adult parents guiding the activities of the group in a division-of-labor system in which the female predominates primarily in such activities as pup care and defense and the male primarily during foraging and food-provisioning and the travels associated with them.
Looking forward to some interesting discussions
Hi Mark,
Another great reference is a book called "Cry Wolf" By Farley Mowatt.Very readable since its written anecdotaly About his experience of living with a wolf pack for a year.
Much of what is discussed in the article seems to make sense. fits with native lore in North America.Though I wonder if subordinate posturing is actualy more related to age in a lot of cases.Ie immature to older.
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