Pack+Hierarchy

"Wolf packs are based on a leadership hierarchy. The dominant male (alpha male) and dominant female (alpha female) are at the head of this society. They can be identified by their erect posture, with their ears and tails held high. The alpha male and female have definite responsibilities in maintaining order in their pack. The alpha male is usually the only male to breed and it is partly his job to make sure that no other males attempt to breed with the alpha female. He is also the center of activities such as pre-hunting rallies, pack ceremonies, bonding activities, and feeding. The alpha female is also usually the only female to breed. Her most important responsibility is choosing a den site but she also shares the responsibilities of the male. Since she controls mating in the pack, her actions determine the future genetic makeup of the pack. The breeding season can ultimately fail if she chooses a poor den site, in an area of low prey density. During the breeding season all of the pack’s activities are based around the alpha female" (Watson).


 * Watson, Sara; Angela Hinton**. Observations of Behavior on the Grey Wolf. 