Alpha Status in Wolf Packs

[kita1]

Those interested in wolf behaviour may find these articles by L. David Mech (who has lived with and studied wild wolf packs for a number of years) informative:

"Alpha status, dominance and the division of labor in Wolf Packs" http://www.4pawsu.com/267alphastatus_english.p df

and his most recent article:

"Whatever happened to the term Alpha Wolf?" http://www.4pawsu.com/alphawolf.pdf

[gelda]

Hi Kita, very interesting, I'm a great fan of wolves,have you read any of Shaun Ellis's books ( the Wolf Man) or seen the tv programme.

[doglady]

Sorry, but Shaun Ellis thinks he knows about wolves but actually knows jack! He was supposed to sort out the pack at Woburn but cocked it all up by playing wolf howls at them when he didn't know what they meant. He thinks he lives with his wolves and they think he is a wolf. They don't. They aren't stupid. They know he is a person and to be honest, trying to maintain alpha status in a pack is quite stupid. What would he do if they challenged him.

I have to say I have actually spoken to him on one occasion and Mr Dog used to know him professionally. He is a lovely guy, but knows almost nothing about wolves.

[gelda]

He must know a fair bit about wolf behaviour otherwise the pack wouldn't accept him, would anyone in their right minds integrate with a pack of wolves if they didn't know much about them.

[doglady]

They are wolves who have been socialised at a young age and accept humans. They know he isn't a wolf and probably just put up with him and laugh at him behind his back!!