"Africa's Lone Wolf." National Wildlife Magazine. "Wolves: Life in the Pack." Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. "Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation." University of Chicago Press. Lopez, Barry Holstun and Bauguess, John."Lone wolf brings pack back from the brink." The New Scientist. "Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management and Conservation." JHU Press. Thompson, Bruce Carlyle and Chapman, Joseph A. "The Wolf Almanac: A Celebration of Wolves and Their World." Globe Pequot. If a lone wolf can't succeed on its own, it may eventually return to its natal pack. But just because a wolf leaves its home doesn't mean it's gone forever. Without the support of the pack, they're more likely to die.
Įven if lone wolves track down mates, the odds are against them. The last Swedish wolf pack had begun inbreeding, and the Finnish wolf mixed up the gene pool, which sparked a resurgence in the pack. For example, a lone wolf from Finland actually revived the dwindling wolf population in Sweden when it crossed the border and mated. In this way, lone wolves can help stimulate and diversify the wolf population. A subordinate wolf may catch the scent of a wolf from another pack that's ready to mate, and it may seek out that breeding wolf. Consequently, hormonal influences surrounding mating season may open an exit door from the pack. Except during times of abundant prey, the alpha male and female is the only pair allowed to breed. A younger lone wolf may eventually cross into another pack's area to challenge a weak alpha in order to take over. ĭispersal doesn't always lead to a life of loneliness. The exception is if a wolf accidentally gets lost from the pack - it will howl to signal its location. To further conceal its whereabouts, a lone wolf limits its howling because it could give away its location to enemies. Or, a wolf may float between the borders of pack territories, checking scent marks to make sure that it isn't in danger. To safely find food, a lone wolf may need to search for hundreds of miles. Because of wolves' territorial nature, loners must be cautious about trespassing into lands belonging to other packs. Ībandoning the pack also means leaving behind the protection other members offer. Lone wolves are more predominant in Europe, however, since prey is usually smaller. Studies have projected the number of dispersing wolves to make up less than 15 percent of the world's wolf population. Since wolves naturally coalesce into packs and enjoy social behavior, lone wolves are the exception rather than the rule. Go on to the next page to find out what happens when a wolf goes it alone.īoth male and female wolves may disperse from packs, although males may do so more often in certain regions, such as south-central Alaska. But departing from the pack may be more difficult than enduring the challenges within it. Just like the rigors of Army life may force a new recruit to quit during basic training, this regimentation of life in the pack can compel a wolf to set out on its own. Territorial showdowns within packs can also lead to injury and even death. Contending with prey can inflict painful wounds, such as broken bones and fractured skulls. With multiple wolves dining, little goes to waste and the group setting keeps scavengers away.īut life in the pack isn't some idyllic wilderness summer camp. Likewise, research has found that wolf pack members help to preserve the food. While Ethiopian wolves, on the brink of extinction, mostly adhere to a pack formation, they actually track down smaller prey solo. However, the hunting patterns of the Ethiopian wolves in Africa stray from that custom. When tracking large prey, such as moose, strength in numbers certainly makes a difference.
Speaking of food, the pack organization serves the important purpose of filling the wolves' bellies. Even dinnertime involves special etiquette, with alphas getting the choice organs or meat, and the omegas waiting until the others have gotten their fill before foraging for scraps. Except during times of prey abundance, only alpha males and females will mate. For instance, lower-ranked wolves must display submissive body language such as crouching if a dominant wolf approaches. This strict arrangement keeps the chain of command in place.
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