Whether it was from pop culture or previous views of wolves, the narrative was the same. Within each wolf pack, a dominant wolf rules. Wolf expert Oliver Starr says this could not be farther from the truth. Though this idea is widely used, it is extremely outdated and not supported by what is seen in the wild.
Oliver explains that the whole “alpha” concept stems from a dated view of wolves that were crammed together in captivity. Within a natural wolf pack, there is not a battle for dominance but rather a family, much like the ones humans have. Leaders tend to be the parents, those of the pack that are the “breeding parents.” The problem with using these negative ideologies, is that it makes wolves into the bad guys. When we believe or use these terms, we are hurting animals who hold themselves together by family bonds and communication and not an iron fist.
We sat down with Oliver the Wolf guy to help dispel this myth and the harmfulness of this saying. “Wolves are not out there constantly fighting for power,” he emphasizes. It’s important to note, when we view wolves as snarling aggressors of lore, we miss opportunities for empathy. For more details on debunking this myth, we linked to part of the interview below. We also have the full video linked here.
