Prolonged intensive dominance behavior between gray wolves, Canis lupus

Canadian Field-Naturalist
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Abstract

Dominance is one of the most pervasive and important behaviors among wolves in a pack, yet its significance in free-ranging packs has been little studied. Insights into a behavior can often be gained by examining unusual examples of it. In the High Arctic near Eureka, Nunavut, Canada, we videotaped and described an unusually prolonged and intensive behavioral bout between an adult male Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) and a male member of his pack, thought to be a maturing son. With tail raised, the adult approached a male pack mate about 50 m from us and pinned and straddled this packmate repeatedly over 6.5 minutes, longer than we had ever seen in over 50 years of studying wolves. We interpreted this behavior as an extreme example of an adult wolf harassing a maturing offspring, perhaps in prelude to the offspring?s dispersal.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Prolonged intensive dominance behavior between gray wolves, Canis lupus
Series title Canadian Field-Naturalist
Volume 124
Issue 3
Year Published 2010
Language English
Publisher Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
Publisher location Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Contributing office(s) Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Description 4 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Canadian Field-Naturalist
First page 215
Last page 218
Country Canada
City Eureka
Other Geospatial Nunavut
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