The Hidden Life of Wolves

It's been over a year, I think, since I've gone to the Grosvenor Auditorium for an event at the NG Museum. Too long, just too long. There couldn't have been a better event to be my first one in over a year than The Hidden Life of Wolves!

Everything I write about wolves in this post is information and stories shared at the talk, during the movie or during the Q and A session at the end. 

Jim and Jamie Dutcher spent 6 years living with the wolves, with a pack they called the Sawtooth Pack. Wolves are very aware of their surroundings and don't like humans around, observing them. The moment they realise humans are around, they leave. To overcome this, they hand reared pups that they got from a lady who had a pack of wolves. These pups, learnt from a couple of adult wolves how to live, and soon, more pups were introduced to the initial 2 and the pack was formed. 

This pack was introduced in the Sawtooth Mountains and since they had known Jim and Jamie since they were little they accepted their presence completely. J and J never called the wolves to them, they let the wolves come to them when they chose to. This made it all the more special. Their interaction can be compared to us playing with our dogs :)

Wolves have a very complicated language of howls and body language. Not something they were completely able to decipher. But, it showed how incredibly intelligent and emotional they are. They also have a very strong and complex family structure. There is the Alpha male and female. They are the head of the pack and usually the only pair that are allowed to mate. If there is enough food and resources, others in the pack may be allowed to mate. Then there is the Beta wolf, he is second in command, dominates the mid-ranking and omega wolves but always subordinate to the Alpha. Most of the rest of the wolves form the mid-ranking wolves and finally there is the Omega wolf. He is usually has sunken shoulders, walks lower than the rest of the wolves, has his tail tucked between his legs, eats last, is submissive to the rest... But, he is also the instigator of play :). Which is very important in a pack. 

Lakota, the Omega

In the Saw Tooth pack, Kamots was the Alpha male, Chemukh the Alpha female, Matsi the Beta and Lakota the Omega. An interesting friendship in the pack was that between Matsi and Lakota. Matsi made sure that Lakota was never taken advantage of too much! :) Matsi also played the role of peacemaker. Kamots, while maintaining his dominance as alpha and keeping Lakota in his place as Omega, still always cared and ensured that Lakota was fine.

The Sawtooth Pack

The Sawtooth Pack

A story they told us to explain how much the wolves care about every family member was about Motaki, who was the Omega before Lakota became the Omega. She used to wander off on her own a lot. Once, while on her own, a mountain lion attacked and killed her. Wolves, who usually howl together to communicate and "sing" as a joyous activity together, were now howling alone. It was a sad, searching howl, in the hope that she might come back, perhaps. Their body language for weeks was generally low, with sunken shoulders and there was no play at all. Despite her position as the Omega, her loss had caused so much distress in their family. :( Such amazing love and family structure in wolves!

Howling

When it was time for Kamots to choose his mate, his choice was between Chemukh and Wyakin. Wyakin seemed the clear favourite as she seemed to be rising up in ranks and showing her dominance. Chemukh, a black wolf, on the other hand seemed to be destined to be the new Omega. But, wolves are unpredictable and Kamots chose Chemukh. They went on to have 3 little pups (all black like the mom :) ), 2 female and one male (Piyip, Ayet, and Motaki). And in an incredible testimony of how well Jim and Jamie were accepted by the wolves, Chemukh allowed Jamie to go into her den to see the pups! None of the other wolves were allowed in and Chemukh didn't leave her pups for long, typically (the other wolves would leave her food outside the den!!!!!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥). 

Once the pups were 4 weeks old, they came out and the adults just absolutely love the pups! Matsi took on the roll of  baby-sitter with much pleasure, not typical of the Beta's role, and Amani took on the roll of fun uncle (he was Kamots' brother :) ) The pups in turn just idolize the adults! Walking where they walk, smelling the flowers that the adults smell! :D In this way, knowledge is passed on from adult to puppy. 

Gobble!

Pups!

 Puppyyyy!!!! (Following an adult, but adult is cut from the photo)

After 6 years, the permits the Dutchers had were going to expire and the wolves needed to be moved to another location. With the help of the natives, they were moved to tribal lands. They adjusted well to their new home. During the move, each wolf was carried in individual cages. The pups were allowed out first so that the adults knew that their pups were fine before they came out. To maintain the family structure, Lakota, the Omega, was let out last. In typical alpha and caring fashion, Kamots came to the cage to urge Lakota out. He wouldn't leave until all members of his family were with him. One year, after the heart breaking move and departing from the wolves, the Dutchers had to come back and see them. They weren't sure how the wolves would react. But, they had nothing to worry about. They were welcomed as old friends :)

Wolves have been taken off the endangered species list by lobbyists, not biologists and their numbers are fast dwindling! Their population is half of what it was when they were taken off the list. Laws in the three states, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming encourage killing of the wolves using their personality against them, by allowing dead wolf carcasses to attract more wolves. They are even working on a bill to allow silencers on guns to kill wolves. :(

Why do humans suck so much! :( In more than 100 years, there have only been 2 human deaths because of a wolf. I don't even want to go into what I feel about this, because it is just too hard. So, now I will end. Watch the movies, if you can. They have to be beautiful. They showed part of it at the talk, and no words will do it justice. The movies are: Wolf: Return of a Legend, Wolves at Our Door, and Living with Wolves.

Jim with Kamots

 Jamie and Lakota

They are unaffected by snow

"Rarely did two wolves pass each other without playfully rubbing shoulders together or exchanging a brief lick. So often we would see two wolves relaxing together, curled up beside each other, the head of one draped over the neck of the other in a gesture that was both assertive and affectionate."

 Play!!!! :)