Wolf Pack: Testing the Hierarchy

Let me tell you a story about wolves today.

In a pack of wolves there is always an Alpha male. Something very peculiar about wolves and wolf pack it is that the hierarchy of the pack is always being tested. The hierarchy is never stable. The testing will be done always by the Alpha male himself.

What the alpha male would usually do is to drop a fresh piece of meat on the ground right in front of the others.

He will then move away. Not far, maybe a couple of feet from where the meat is drop.

Then, he watches.

Clearly he is daring the others to take it away or to even sniff at it. He usually doesn’t have to do anything. A glare from him on the others would be more than enough. The most he would do is to make little bit of gestures or movement with his body. He would raise his tail and ears. Make him to look big and fierce, maybe snarl a bit.

That's all.

None would dare to come close to the prize meat or even to have a sniff at it.

Nonetheless, occasionally a fight does break out. A member of the pack suddenly realizes that he has what it takes in him to challenge the alpha male or maybe he just feels hungry and that piece of meat drop by the alpha male sure does look good.

This particular wolf would then make a move for that meat. What happen next is that the wolf leader, the alpha male will attack the least vulnerable parts of the transgressing wolf's body. Yes, alpha male is cunning. That’s why he’s the leader of the pack. He knows what is at stake. He would not maim the other fellow.

No sir.

He must always test the hierarchy but he must do it without jeopardizing the interests, strength and vitality of the pack. He'll then attack the challenger but he knows he must not seriously injure or disfigure a member of his own pack. Certainly not to the extent of killing the transgressing wolf.

You see, the Alpha male needs the others. Wolves are not big animals. He knows, individually a wolf cannot bring down a caribou or even a deer, without help from the pack.

But at the same time, the leader of a wolf pack wants strength on his team. That’s why infrequent displays of aggression are acceptable. It shows the strength and vitality of the entire pack.

The end.