Social Life

Wolves have a complicated social life. Wolves are actually a lot like humans.  They are social, intelligent, curious, family-oriented  animals that live in large family groups.  These family groups, called packs, are headed by two lead animals: the alpha male and alpha female.  These two animals are the only ones in the pack that breed.  They are the ones that keep the pack in line and they lead the hunt.  Pack size varies according to the amount of food and territory available.      Next down on the totem pole of leadership are the beta wolves.  At the bottom of the pack is the omega wolf.  The omega wolf is the wolf that gets all the other wolves' aggression.  Whenever they are stressed, they take it out on the omega.  It's a hard existence for the omega, but it's much better for a wolf to be in a pack than to strike out on their own as a lone wolf.

Wolves use a complicated series of sounds and body language to communicate with each other.  They howl, growl, whine, and bark.  Howls can rally a pack together for the hunt, warn other wolves that this is their territory, and sometimes wolves just howl to howl.        A short bark signifies a warning of danger.  Juvenille wolves bark more than adults.  Wolves growl when they're angry or being dominant.  They whine when they're being submissive or are injured.       Below are some photographs of wolf body-language and explanations:

The alpha female is body slamming the beta female, keeping her away from her mate, the alpha male.

The grey wolf is submitting to the darker wolf.  The dark wolf is doing a 'tongue flick,' a form of appeasement.

This wolf is submitting (being submissive).

This wolf is threatening the other wolf by baring her teeth, basically saying 'This is my food!  Back off!'

This wolf is asserting his position as alpha. (being dominant)

Pack members rallying to the alpha.  They're licking his muzzle, a gesture of submission left over from when they were pups.

These two pictures illustrate courting alphas.

The wolf on the right (Marion) is chasing the one on the left (Erin).  You can see that Erin has her tail tucked between her legs and ears laid back (submissive position).  Marion, however, has her ears pricked and tail held high (dominant position)

A wolf muzzle-biting another.  This is a form of punishment/domination used by wolves.

Wolves eyes are light-colored allowing other wolves to easily see their expressions.

Wolves mouth each others' muzzles both for dominance and for affection.  Affection here.

For permission to use or for more information about wolf photographs please write Monty Sloan / Wolf Park

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Wolves are very territorial.  They have a large range that they patrol daily.  They mark their borders in many ways.  They will urinate on trees, defecate, or rub their scent glands on trees or the ground.  Wolves have scent glands on the bottom of their paws which is why sometimes they 'throw' dirt over where they urinated.  It adds even more of their scent.  They also have a scent gland on their tails (dogs have this too).  It's the darkly pigmented 'spot' on its tail.      If a wolf crosses into the territory of another wolf pack, he could be killed.

A submissive greeting.  The lower-ranked wolf lays on her back, licks the muzzle of the alpha, and gives paw to show her submission.

These two wolves are maintaining eye contact during a dominance interaction.  Making, breaking, or avoiding eye contact are very important parts of wolf communication.

Usually, only the alpha male lifts his leg to pee.  That way, when marking territory, the male's scent is over the alpha female's.  This lets strange wolves know that there is a well-established pack of wolves here and that they should go somewhere else.  All lower-ranking males squat to pee--unless they are very confident in themselves.