Why do wolves live in packs?

Question

Why do wolves live in packs? Do they necessarily need to live in a pack?

Answer 1

Wolves are intensely social animals that must rely on each other at all times. They prey upon animals up to ten times larger than they are, which one wolf alone could never hope to kill - to feed themselves, they must work together as a co-ordinated team. They also defend their territory and raise their young as a unit.

Communication and staying on good terms with each other are essential for such animals, so a wolf pack has a heirarchy, letting each wolf know where it stands in relation to the others. This means that conflict over food, mating and so on can be resolved without the need for physical violence. Wolves maintain their heirarchy using body language and facial expressions in displays of dominance and submission. A dominant wolf will stand tall, holding its tail high and head up, with ears pricked. A submissive wolf holds its body low, with tail tucked between the hind legs and ears flattened. As a gesture of complete submission, it will roll over on its back, exposing its vulnerable underside.

A wolf pack is basically an extended family. It is led by a dominant pair called the alpha male and female, who are the only ones to breed and who usually mate for life. The male is usually, but not always, the more dominant of the two, and as such is the ultimate pack leader. The rest of the pack is made up of the alpha pair's siblings and/or offspring. Below them in the heirarchy is a 'second-in-command' known as the beta wolf, who is subordinate only to the alphas and is dominant to all other members of the pack. Then come mid-ranked wolves, whose status is fluid - for example, one might be dominant over another at all times except when feeding, when it submits to the other. At the bottom of the heap is the omega wolf, the lowest-ranked individual, who submits to all other members of the pack.

Dominance among wolves is more about strength of character than strength of body. Being large and strong does not mean a wolf will have a high rank - in one pack I studied, the omega wolf was the largest in the pack. He simply had a very timid and yielding personality. Dominant wolves will be those which are confident and assertive, regardless of their size - a small confident wolf easily dominates a large timid one.

Answer 2

everything leolupus said and more wolves must rely on each other to survive the cruel world and protect their pups.

Answer 3

The pack is their family. They can hunt larger game. They look after each other. The male and female are mates for life.

Answer 4

Living in a community not only serves to offer protection, but also help with raising the cubs and gathering food.

Wolves hunt in packs to bring down larger prey.

They also will help feed a sick or injured member of the pack.

They help raise the cubs of the alpha fe/male.

Answer 5

They need the pack for food