Features - International Wolf Center
THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTERVOLUME 18, NO. 4WINTER 2008FeaturesDepartmentsBob Landis4International Wolf Center913Whatever Happened to theTerm “Alpha Wolf ”?For years books and articles about wolves have mentioned thealpha male and alpha female or the alpha pair. In muchpopular writing the term is still in use today. However, duringthe past few years the trend has begun to wane. This changein terminology reflects an important shift in our thinkingabout wolf social behavior.From theExecutive Director17Tracking the Pack18Wolves of the World24A Look BeyondL. David MechAlpine Murder Mystery: Are Sheepdogs Being Poisoned to Save the Grey Wolf?Since January 2008, 17 sheepdogs have been poisoned in the mountains ofthe Maurienne range, just inside the French frontier with Italy. No one issure what is going on, but everyone is clear about one thing: the killings arerelated to the battle that has been waged between shepherds and wolves—and between sheep-lovers and wolf-lovers—since the European gray wolfrecolonized France from Italy 16 years ago.On The CoverThree young wolves near Eureka,Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada,react to their human observers,July 2008. See page 20 for story.Photo by Dean Cluff.John LichfieldOur Memorable Visit to theInternational Wolf CenterAfter 14 years as a member of the International Wolf Center, actress AmberTamblyn, along with her parents, Russ and Bonnie, accepted an invitationto see the new pups in early June and fulfilled a longtime desire to visit theEly, Minnesota, interpretive center.B o n n i e a n d A m b e r Ta m b l y nLynn and Donna Rogers/www.bearstudy.org3Did you know.one easy way for youto help us conservenatural resources is to makesure we have your email address!Simply email your address to:office3@wolf.org
Mary OrtizMagazine CoordinatorSharon ReedGraphics CoordinatorCarissa L.WinterConsulting EditorMary KeirsteadTechnical EditorL. David MechGraphic DesignerTricia AustinInternational Wolf (1089-683X) is publishedquarterly and copyrighted, 2008, by theInternational Wolf Center, 3410 Winnetka Ave. N.,Minneapolis, MN 55427, USA.e-mail: internationalwolf@wolf.org.All rights reserved.Publications agreement no. 1536338Membership in the International Wolf Centerincludes a subscription to International Wolfmagazine, free admission to the Center, anddiscounts on programs and merchandise. Lone Wolf memberships are U.S. 35 Wolf Pack 60 Wolf Associate 125 Wolf Sponsor 500 Alpha Wolf 1000.Canada and other countries, add U.S. 15per year for airmail postage, 7 for surfacepostage. Contact the International Wolf Center,1396 Highway 169, Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA;e-mail: internationalwolf@wolf.org;phone: 1-800-ELY-WOLFInternational Wolf is a forum for airing facts, ideasand attitudes about wolf-related issues. Articlesand materials printed in International Wolf donot necessarily reflect the viewpoint of theInternational Wolf Center or its board of directors.International Wolf welcomes submissions ofpersonal adventures with wolves and wolfphotographs. Prior to submission of othertypes of manuscripts, address queries toMary Ortiz, publications director.PHOTOS: Unless otherwise noted, or obviousfrom the caption or article text, photos are ofcaptive wolves.International Wolf is printed entirely withsoy ink on FSCcertified paper.We encourageyou to recyclethis magazine.2Winter 2008International Wolf CenterPublications DirectorSeptember Surprise:Wolves in the UpperMidwest Back onEndangered Species ListAfter nearly two years of state and tribal management, a U.S. DistrictCourt placed the gray wolf once again under the full protection ofthe federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) in Michigan, Wisconsinand Minnesota. On September 29, 2008, the court ruled that the U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) decision to delist the wolf in the WesternGreat Lakes may have been based on a misinterpretation of the ESA.The ruling was handed down in response to a lawsuit filed in April2007 by the Humane Society of the United States and three other groups.The litigants claimed the USFWS acted unlawfully in delisting wolves inthe Upper Midwest, and they say that under state management, thespecies’ long-term survival remains in doubt. The plaintiffs insist thatincreasing habitat loss in the region, hunting and perhaps disease willcause wolf populations to plummet in coming years.In March 2007, the USFWS removed the estimated 4,000 wolves inthe Western Great Lakes “distinct population segment” (DPS) fromprotection under federal law because the species was biologically recovered in that specific geographic area.The judge did not address whether the Upper Midwestern wolvesare biologically recovered. Nevertheless, he contended that neither thelanguage nor the purpose of the ESA supports identifying and delisting a“cluster” (DPS) of wolves in the Western Great Lakes region separatelyfrom wolves in the rest of the country where the species is not recoveredover significant portions of its historic range. Thus, the judge ordered theMarch 2007 delisting vacated and reinstated previous protections: threatened status in Minnesota and endangered status in Wisconsin andMichigan. He ordered the USFWS to reconsider the 2007 rule and tofigure out how wolves in the Upper Midwest can be delisted in compliance with the intent and the language of the ESA.The plaintiffs have scored a victory, but not everyone is celebrating.Farmers and ranchers are disappointed. In their view, the state management plans ensure a viable gray wolf population while providing optionsfor protecting livestock. It will now be illegal to kill wolves that areattacking domestic livestock in Michigan and Wisconsin. In Minnesota,where the wolf is listed as threatened, only a government agent can kill awolf unless it is posing a direct danger to human life. Sport hunters seetheir plans for a regulated hunting season scuttled. And the USFWS isdisheartened. Wolves in the Western Great Lakes DPS have exceededrecovery goals. Wolf mortality has not increased sharply after nearly twoyears of state management. While they try to figure out a way to satisfythe court’s ruling, some USFWS agency officials worry that public confidence in the ESA will erode. If the courts will not allow the delisting ofbiologically recovered wolf populations, what does this imply for otherspecies? And what will be the cost to the public? w w w. w o l f . o r g
From the Executive DirectorINTERNATIONALWOLF CENTERBOARD OF DIRECTORSNancy jo TubbsChairWe have had a busy past few months at the International Wolf Center. Two graywolf pups were transferred to the Center in Ely, Minnesota, in May and weremonitored around the clock by our Wolf Care staff and volunteers during the12 weeks leading up to their introduction to our ambassador pack. The move of the twopups, named Aidan and Denali, into the main living area on August 4 was a completesuccess due to the extraordinary planning and effort of our Wolf Care team led by WolfCurator Lori Schmidt. Preparations and the pups’ socialization were carefully orchestrateddown to the finest detail, gradually increasing the pups’ exposure to people and the packso when the big day finally arrived, it came off without a hitch. The pups spent much oftheir first day swimming in the pond and, like most adolescents, pestering the adults.Our thanks and appreciation go to all the volunteers who monitored the pups 24/7,braving the elements and Minnesota mosquitoes throughout the nights to ensure theirsafety and health. And we cannot say enough about the job done by LoriSchmidt, whose attention to detail and tireless dedication went well beyondthe call of duty. Thanks, too, to Sharee Johnson, director of the Center in Ely.Also new, the Center took concrete steps to protect wildlands and habitatby joining a broad coalition of 200 conservation and wildlife organizationsin supporting the Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.By increasing the state sales tax a mere 3/8 percent, the initiative, if passed,will spend over 5 billion during the next 25 years to protect Minnesota’sspectacular natural resources. This decision reflects our commitment tobroaden our mission beyond teaching about and protecting wolves to proMarc Anderson tecting the water and the wildlands that are critical habitat for all wildlife.Go to the Web site www.yesformn.org, and read Nancy Gibson’s “A LookBeyond” article in this issue to learn about this important legislation.In addition, the Center is planning to launch a new program to protect wildlands byhosting our first seminar on conservation easements to explain to private landowners howthey can ensure their wildlands remain undeveloped forever.Some people may think that because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed wolvesfrom the endangered species list, we no longer need to be concerned about their survival,but just the opposite is true. With more wolves now covering more area, the need toexpand our reach and educate more people is greater now than ever.The conservation, environmental, and scientific communities have long recognized anddefined the ultimate goal for how societies should organize themselves and how individualsshould live. It is, in a word, sustainability. Mother Nature, signaling us through globalwarming and the pending energy crisis, makes the point clear that humans cannot sustainthemselves unless all the intricate and interdependent balances of the planet’s ecosystemsare managed toward sustainability. This is why we seek not only to educate the world aboutwolves but also to educate the world about the critical need to protect wildlands.By working together, we can make a difference. I n t e r n a t i o n a l Wo l fDr. L. David MechVice ChairDr. Rolf O. PetersonSecretaryPaul B. AndersonTreasurerDr. Larry AndersonCree BradleyTom DwightAmy Bromberg FunkNancy GibsonHélène GrimaudJim HammillCornelia “Neil” HuttDean JohnsonLinda LemkeDania MiwaMike PhillipsDebbie ReynoldsJerry SandersKaren SaulPaul SchurkePaul SlettenTed SpauldingTeri WilliamsEXECUTIVE DIRECTORMarc AndersonMISSIONThe International WolfCenter advances the survivalof wolf populations byteaching about wolves, theirrelationship to wildlands and thehuman role in their future.Educational services andinformational resourcesare available at:1396 Highway 169Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA1-800-ELY-WOLF1-218-365-4695e-mail address:internationalwolf@wolf.orgWeb site: http://www.wolf.orgWinter 20083
WhateverHappenedto theTermThe word alpha applied to wolveshas had a long history. Formany years books and articlesabout wolves have mentioned thealpha male and alpha female or thealpha pair. In much popular writingthe term is still in use today. However,keen observers may have noticed thatduring the past few years the trendhas begun to wane. For example, 19prominent wolf biologists from bothEileen JurkovichAHPLAWolf?4Winter 2008w w w. w o l f . o r g
b ymiles to the very edge of wolf rangeand finding mates there that havesimilarly dispersed. This is the processthat helps a growing wolf populationexpand its range. A good example isthe ever-increasing wolf population inWisconsin. There, not only is the mainpopulation in the northern part of thestate continuing to fill the north withmore and more pack territories, butwolves have managed to form a separate population in the central part ofthe state through this dispersal andproliferation of packs. Currently about18 packs live in central Wisconsin.But now back to the family. As theoriginal, new pairing wolves raisetheir pups, they feed and care for themjust like any other animals care fortheir young. As the pups grow anddevelop, their parents naturally guideD AV I DM E C Htheir activities, and the pups naturally follow. During fall whenthe pups begin to accompany theirparents away from the den or rendezvous site and circulate nomadically around the territory, the pupsfollow the adults and learn their wayaround. The parents then automatically fall into the leadership rolein the pack as they guide the pupsthroughout their territory. This leadership role, however, does not involveanyone fighting to the top of thegroup, because just like in a humanfamily, the youngsters naturallyfollow their parents’ lead.Certainly as the pups furtherdevelop, they begin to gain someindependence, and individuals mighttemporarily stray from the group,exploring this and that along theBob LandisEurope and North America nevermentioned the term alpha in a longarticle on breeding pairs of wolves. Thearticle, titled “The Effects of BreederLoss on Wolves,” was published ina 2008 issue of the Journal of WildlifeManagement. In the 448-page, 2003book Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, andConservation, edited by Luigi Boitaniand myself and written by 23 authors,alpha is mentioned in only six placesand then only to explain why the termis outdated. What gives?This change in terminology reflectsan important shift in our thinkingabout wolf social behavior. Rather thanviewing a wolf pack as a group ofanimals organized with a “top dog”that fought its way to the top, or amale-female pair of such aggressivewolves, science has come to understand that most wolf packs are merelyfamily groups formed exactly thesame way as human families areformed. That is, maturing male andfemale wolves from different packsdisperse, travel around until they findeach other and an area vacant ofother wolves but with adequate prey,court, mate, and produce their ownlitter of pups.Sometimes this process involvesmerely a maturing male courting amaturing female in a neighboring packand then the pair settling down ina territory next to one of the originalpacks. In more saturated populations,this may mean wolves moving manyL .As the pups grow and develop, their parents naturally guide their activities, and the pupsnaturally follow. During fall when the pups begin to accompany their parents away from theden or rendezvous site and circulate nomadically around the territory, the pups follow theadults and learn their way around.I n t e r n a t i o n a l Wo l fWinter 20085
almost all of them will disperse, try tofind mates, and start their own packs.Given this natural history of wolfpacks, there is no more reason torefer to the parent wolves as alphasthan there would be to refer to theparents of a human family as the”alpha” pair. Thus we now refer tothese animals as the male breeder andfemale breeder and as the breedingpair or simply the parents.So how did science get so far offtrack for so long and refer to theparent wolves as alphas? The answeris an interesting story that nicelyillustrates how science progresses.Several decades ago, before therewere many studies of wolves undernatural conditions, scientists interested in animal social behaviorthought the wolf pack was a randomassemblage of wolves that cametogether as winter approached inorder to better hunt their large prey.Thus to study wolves in the only waythey knew how, these folks gatheredindividual wolves from various zoosand placed them together in theirown captive colony.When one puts a random groupof any species together artificially,these animals will naturally competewith each other and eventually form atype of dominance hierarchy. This islike the classical pecking order originally described in chickens. In suchcases, it is appropriate to refer to thetop-ranking individuals as alphas,implying that they competed andfought to gain their position. And sotoo it was with wolves when placedtogether artificially. Thus, the mainbehaviorist who studied wolves incaptivity, Rudolph Schenkel, publisheda famous monograph describing howwolves interact with each other in sucha group, asserting then that there isa top-ranking male and a top-rankingfemale in packs and referring to themas the alphas. This classical monograph was the main piece of literatureon wolf social behavior available whenLynn Rogerspack’s travels. However, the parentscontinue to guide the group as theyhunt prey, scent-mark the territory,fend off scavengers from their kills, orprotect the group from neighboringwolf packs that they might encounter.As the pups continue to developand reach 1 year of age, their parentsproduce a second litter of pups, whichbecome the younger siblings of thefirst litter. Again the parents continueto guide and lead the new litter alongwith the older litter and remainthe pack’s leaders. The yearlingsnaturally dominate the new pupsjust as older brothers and sisters ina human family might guide theyounger siblings, but still there is nogeneral battle to try to gain packleadership; that just naturally stayswith the original parents. Some of theolder siblings will disperse betweenthe ages of 1 and 2 in some populations, and in others they mayremain with the pack through about3 years of age. However, eventuallyInternational Wolf CenterMost wolf packs are family groups formedthe same way as human families are formed.That is, maturing male and female wolvesfrom different packs disperse, travel arounduntil they find each other and an area vacantof other wolves but with adequate prey, court,mate, and produce their own litter of pups.When one puts a random group of any species together artificially, these animals will naturallycompete with each other and eventually form a type of dominance hierarchy. In such cases, it isappropriate to refer to the top-ranking individuals as alphas, implying that they competed andfought to gain their position.6Winter 2008w w w. w o l f . o r g
I crafted my book The Wolf: Ecologyand Behavior of an Endangered Speciesin the late 1960s.This book was a synthesis of available wolf information at the time, so Iincluded much reference to Schenkel’sstudy. The book was timely because noother synthesis about the wolf had beenwritten since 1944, so The Wolf soldwell. It was originally published in1970 and republished in paperback in1981 and is still in print. Over 120,000copies are now in circulation. Mostother general wolf books have reliedconsiderably on The Wolf for information, thus spreading the misinformation about alpha wolves far and wide.Finally in the late 1990s, after Ihad lived with a wild wolf pack onEllesmere Island near the North Polefor many summers witnessing firsthand the interactions among parentwolves and their offspring, I decidedto correct this misinformation. Bythen, however, both the lay public andmost biologists had fully adopted thealpha concept and terminology. Itseemed no one could speak about awolf pack without mentioning thealphas. Many people would ask mewhat made an alpha wolf an alpha andwhat kind of fighting and competitiondid it take to gain that position. Thus,in 1999 I published the article “AlphaStatus, Dominance, and Division ofLabor in Wolf Packs” in the CanadianJournal of Zoology formally correctingthe misinformation in the scientificliterature. I followed that up in 2000with the article “Leadership in Wolf,Canis lupus, Packs” in the CanadianField Naturalist, further elaboratingon the role of the parent wolves in thepack’s social order.However, it has been said that itgenerally takes about 20 years fornew science to fully seep down togeneral acceptance, including evennew medical breakthroughs. Suchseems to be proving true with thealpha-wolf concept. Several of mywolf biologist colleagues have accep-ted the update, but others suddenlycorrect themselves in the middle oftheir conversations with me; stillothers seem totally oblivious to thewhole issue. It is heartening indeedto see newly published papers suchas the one I cited above in the introduction to this article that haveadopted the proper terminology.The issue is not merely one ofsemantics or political correctness. Itis one of biological correctness suchthat the term we use for breedingwolves accurately captures the biological and social role of the animalsrather than perpetuate a faulty view.One place where this issuebecomes particularly confusing isYellowstone National Park, wheregreat numbers o
Whatever Happened to the Term “Alpha Wolf”? For years books and articles about wolves have mentioned the alpha male and alpha female or the alpha pair. In much popular writing the term is still in use today. However, during the past few years the trend has begun to wane. This change in terminology reflects an important shift in our thinking
20 13.5059 188.05 S Connor 430 389 WW Wolf 21 13.5060 188.05 P Logan 425 244 BH Wolf 22 13.5091 188.00 M McKayla 423 467 WW Wolf 23 13.5095 188.00 R Zavier 426 207 GR Wolf 24 13.5561 187.35 C Bryce 407 110 GR Wolf 25 13.5757 187.08 S Mason 431 207 GR Wolf 26 13.5810 187.01 H Chase 4
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over the wolf's head. Only take care that he doesn't catch you." The bird almost touched the wolf's head with his wings while the wolf snapped angrily at him, from this side and that. Meanwhile, Peter made a lasso and carefully letting it down, caught the wolf by the tail and pulled with all his might.
January Moon - Wolf Moon Tarot of the Month . legends, the wolf even swallows the sun so the wolf can bask in the moon’s overflowing lunar power! The Full Wolf Moon is a great time for you to plan out
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Jasparro’s 2010 study asserts that lone wolf terrorism is not a big threat, as lone wolf attacks carry a poor record of success, and result in fewer fatalities. He believes that the most serious threats remain those posed by group-based terrorists12. Hewitt’s 2003 study identified 30 cases of lone wolf terrorism in the United States between 1955
The State of Lone Wolf Terrorism Lone wolf terrorism has been growing over time, and social media has dramatically accelerated this trend. Despite growing interest in lone wolf terrorism, there remains a dearth of academic work on the topic. This section draws heavily from Ramón Spaaij’s volume, Understanding Lone Wolf Terrorism: Global .
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