Documentation from Sage Sweetwater's Howling Ridge Wolf Camp in Colorado.
Photography by Sage Sweetwater
Location: Howling Ridge Wolf Camp in Colorado
Sage Sweetwater's Alpha leader. This wolf was a low-ranking wolf. She assumed the Alpha role later in the pack's role of wolf government.
I rolled off the chain link and tarp top over the protective and regulated den roof for a day so that TwinStar Echo (She was a twin cub) could announce her new leadership role, and then the white sheet flag you see rolled up here was once again unfurled by me. A white flag I incorporate as communication with the spirits.
 ">http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y4sFWxAckWM/SwHgL1qPKKI/AAAAAAAAAOk/JVdzzdKdQrE/s400/Wolf_1.jpg" />
Domino, lying down, TwinStar's littermate, was the original Alpha she-wolf. She lost her rank because she let her guard down and TwinStar challenged her in a fighting dual for the Alpha position that left dust and fur flying. TwinStar is upright here at the gate.
 ">http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Y4sFWxAckWM/SwHhTJ4QFtI/AAAAAAAAAOs/uB3EUVYpme4/s400/Wolf_2.jpg" />
DawnRainFeather below was the Alpha leader of my other pack. The Alpha wolf always has its tail flagging to assert dominance. Wolves rely heavily on body language and eye contact to relay communication between members of the pack.
 ">http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Y4sFWxAckWM/SwHh1-gjzGI/AAAAAAAAAO0/7yy665oo4uQ/s400/Wolf_3.jpg" />
A Wolf loses its rank when it no longer defends its territory and becomes weak. It resorts to hiking its tail between its legs in fear and cowardice.
To preserve its status, the wolf must constantly assert its position and uphold it.
If the society is greatly disturbed, strong conflicts and challenges take place.
Any drastic disturbance in living conditions triggers a status rearrangement. Social changes have a great impact on the social structure of the pack and how it is maintained. A wolf that has lost its rank almost never retains the leadership role again, and displays passive submission which is a basic part of wolf social behavior. Appropriately, social harmony is maintained.
When odor from a female wolf in heat passes to the noses of the other wolves, information is transmitted about that female's sexual state. That communication has occured!
Under stable social conditions, high-ranking wolves have little need for aggressive energy.
Copyright 11/16/2009 Ms. Sage Sweetwater, firebrand lesbian novelist
As I've said in a previous piece of news "Nothing is ever lost, it is only converted to positive gain"...[Sage Sweetwater]
|