David Mech originally wrote The Wolf: The Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species (1970) on Alpha behaviour in wolves, when he went to Ellesmere Island, in Nunavut he was shocked by playfulness and friendliness of the artic wolves and realized he had to look harder at his previous research.

Mech and other researchers didn’t realize they were looking at families. The so-called alphas were the parents, the pack being their offspring until they found their own partners and started their own families. (2023 Galchen)

In Yellowstone, there is a history of humans trying to eradicate wolves then a fight to keep them safe and it helps balance the other animal populations. Wolves in Yellowstone have to fight for territory, in other places they do no have to put up as much of a fight to remain safe.

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on those who are trying to be the alphas of our world. A thing that doesn’t really exist in nature but our own projections and misunderstandings. I think about how helpful this myth is to maintain power structures for those who believe themselves to be leaders when establishing dominance rather than the structures of community and family.

We create our own families and packs. It is not the most aggressive person who leads but caregivers, family and friends.

We can lead with love and fight for what’s right as a pack.

Reference:

Rivka Galchen (2023) The Myth of the Alpha Wolf, The model of aggression and dominance has infected human society. But new research shows how wrong we got it. The New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/science/elements/the-myth-of-the-alpha-wolf