I have always loved wolves. I'm not sure whether this has to do with any past lives issue or the fact that until 8 years ago we used to keep wolf-like German Shepherds (dogs!). Loving these magnificent animals was instinctual for me it comes from some primordial inner feeling that I have no control over and if I could I would introduce them back into the wild in the UK.
Wolves have historically received bad press; maneating predators, enemy of the livestock farmer, ferocious beasts just waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting chlld, person, animal, just to kill. We also have stories such as Little Red Riding Hood which coditions our children from a very early age to hate and fear these wonderful and much maligned creatures. Many horror films have been made of 'Werewolves' and the crazed bloodlust they have to satisfy at the time of the full moon.
But what of the facts about wolves? Not many people bother to find out the truth. You only have to delve a little deeper into the subject and a whole different character emerges. (Excuse me while I get the soapbox out...')
The wolf is a highly social pack animal. There is total order within the pack and this is kept by the dominant male and female otherwise known as the Alpha male and Alpha female. Wolves mate for life, they are fiercely protective of their pack and their territory. In Scandinavia some years ago they were rounding up wolves to take to a conservation area that had been set up in the north and a large male had been darted and loaded onto a lorry and taken along with others. His mate was not caught and when she found him gone she made a 300 kms trek north following scent or perhaps some inner calling and just over a week later she was found on the outskirts of the reservation attempting to burrow under the fence. She was of course let in and when she met up with her mate once again there was much celebration (wolf style!).
The other important members of the hierarchy that we know about are the Beta wolf, usually a male, second in line to the Alpha and he is responisible for enforcing law and order within the pack but is subservient to the Alpha, he also teaches the young through what we see as play and reprimands and often babysits them. Then there is the Omega wolf he/she adopts a role just as vital as the Alpha though it often seems as if the Omega is everyone's 'whipping boy', her/his role is one of Peacemaker. Somewhat like a court jester, the Omega clowns around, getting in between pack members when it seems tensions are running high which results in the Omega being set upon by nearly all members of the pack to relieve their aggression, the Omega is often seen adopint the submissive position with all other members of the pack. This may seem like a raw deal for this sensitive animal but the Omega is not necessarily a lifelong role and it has been known for a Beta to protect the Omega and also for the Omega (female) to rise to Alpha status should something happen to the original Alpha.
Mating only occurs between the Alpha pair, this ensures the pack continues, just one litter to feed and protect and remembering that the Alpha pair are the strongest, finest of their pack it also ensures strong genes are passed on. At the time the Alpha female is in Season the others in the pack become a little unsettled but this soon passes and once conception occurs te pheromones change and everyone is aware of what is happening.
When the female is near to whelping she seeks out and prepares a den in which she feels safe to have her cubs. As her time comes she steals off to her den alone to give birth. Other members will go to leave food outside her den but do not disturb her as she is fiercely protective at this time. After a few weeks, once she feels the cubs are ready to be introduced to the rest of their pack she leads them back to where the pack are living and this is a time of great welcoming and celebration between all of the members of the pack.
Each pack member will protect the cubs, help to nurture them and discipline them when they step out of line.
I think as humans we could learn an awful lot from the fine example that is set by wolves.
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