Leader of the Pack: The Fascinating Lives of Wolves

In human fairy tales the wolf was the savage, the enemy and the demon. The wolf was hunting for humans or livestock to devour. A wolf cold-heartedly ate “Little Red Riding Hood” and the “Three Little Pigs.”

Are wolves the evil predators depicted in our childhood stories? Or are wolves simply remarkable animals that have been unfairly portrayed for thousands of years as awful beasts?

Interestingly enough our own domesticated dogs we call our “best friends.” Yet dogs are related to wolves. Is it the wild nature of wolves that places them in this doomed category as hunter of human flesh? Or is it that wolves are wild and unpredictable animals? But then how unpredictable is any wild animal when its habitat, life and food sources are encroached upon more each day?

Wolves are highly intelligent animals. They live in packs and they are very social in these packs. The pack sustains, protects and supports its members. Wolves can be playful as they often romp with other members of their pack.

Like dogs, wolves growl, bark, howl and whimper and whine to communicate with the members of their pack. A baby wolf “pup” will squeal and squeak to communicate with its mother and playmates.

But we most associate wolves with howling. Researchers believe that wolves howl to communicate with their pack, mark territory, locate each other and as part of the hunt. Since wolves are such social animals howling solidifies their pack rituals. A howling wolf can be heard for many miles on a lone landscape. But a howling wolf certainly does not mean that wolves are out hunting humans.

A wolf pack will not only hunt together but share parenting duties. The pack is like a family unit with levels of hierarchy assigned to each member.

In a wolf pack there are only one “alpha-male” and one “alpha-female.” The alpha-male and alpha-female are the leaders of the pack. The “beta-male” and “beta-female” are second in command of the pack. The ranking of wolves in the pack establishes dominance and order. This ranking within the pack is effective in keeping wolves from literally ripping each other apart when having arguments. Wolves of lesser rank learn to be submissive to the leaders. This ranking keeps the pack functioning as a team and promotes survival.