Alpha Male Cs4

8/3/2019 Alpha Male Cs4

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Alpha Male by Jamie Dutcher



On certain occasions when the pups were fromtwo to four weeks of age, we would separate one pupor another from the litter to socialize them and helpthem feel safe around humans. When we removedKamots’ brother, Lakota from his littermates, hebecome nervous, afraid to explore and anxious toget back among his siblings. It was not so much thatLakota was afraid of us, it seemed more that he fearedthat the other pups might not accept him back. Whenhe was returned to the others, there would be severalminutes of squabbling amongst the pups, as thoughLakota were vying for his social position all over

again.Kamots, on the other hand, positively seemed

to enjoy the chance to get out and explore. He wouldcondently inspect his humancaretakers and investigateanything within reach of hisinquisitive nose. He returnedto his littermates calmly, freeof doubt, his position assured.

As he grew, Kamotsdid not have to ght for the

top spot. When he reachedfull size, he simply assumedthe mantle. There was neverany doubt in his mind or inthe minds of the others that heshould be anything other thanthe leader.

The alpha holds his tailand head high, he lifts his legto urinate while subordinatemales usually do not. Heis continually vigilant, not

simply responding to obvious threatsbut maintaining a watchful eye at alltimes.

Ultimately, the position of alpha male had nothing to do withage, size, strength or aggression. Itsprung from a source that we willnever see and can barely hope tounderstand. It is a rule that the wolvesthemselves know, accept and live by.

Kamots was a marvelousleader. The condence he had shown as a pupblossomed into a calm benevolence that was a joyto witness. There was an alertness about him notpresent in the other wolves, and his face often borean expression that, at least to people, registeredas concern. When a strange sound rang out in thesurrounding forest Kamots was the rst to prick up hisears and trot off to investigate. Perhaps the rest of thepack did not behave this way because they knew theydidn’t need to. They knew Kamots would keep themsafe.

Despite his benevolence, his rule wassupreme, and he did not hesitate to make it known.His command over a deer carcass and his possessive

Of the rst four pups that we raisedduring the summer of 1991, we noticed thatthe one we called Kamots was unfailinglythe most alert, curious and self-assured ofthe bunch. There is no more scientic way todescribe his demeanor. He simply behavedwith condence.

Kamots



displays were really quite terrifying to behold. Therst time I saw Kamots distort his face in threat Iwas amazed. It was during a feeding, and I hadshot slow motion footage of Kamots presiding overthe kill. Lakota timidly attempted to approach thecarcass and eat before his turn. Kamots raised hiseyes from the meal and let out a loud growl, baringhis teeth but keeping them xed on the carcass.Despite the warning, Lakota pressed on. Heseemed to think that if he could just make himself insignicant enough, he could sneak a bite or twobefore anyone noticed. In an instant, Kamots’features twisted into a mask of ferocity. He raisedhis lips high, exposing the full length of his teeth,

his nose pulled back and his ears shot out to thesides like horns. His graceful muzzle becameshort and broad, making his jaws seem all the morepowerful. With a savage snarl, he charged overthe carcass at Lakota who scurried a few pacesbefore ipping over onto his back with a yelp of submission. The question of who would eat whenwas quickly settled.

Law in a wolf pack can certainly be tough,but I never saw Kamots behave with anythingthat resembled viciousness. In this particularencounter, Kamots’ teeth never made any real

contact with his brother, it was mostly show. Over theyears, I have seen other wolves tear into a subordinatewith an obvious intent to do physical harm. The abuse thatone wolf can subject to another is often hard for humanobservers to bear. Kamots certainly removed many a tuft ofhair and delivered many a stern bite, but once the order of things was restored, he quickly returned to his usual calmself.

All this responsibility and authority did not impingeupon his desire to play with the rest of the pack. In fact,he seemed to rejoice in temporarily abandoning his dutiesand indulging in a good frolic. He was just as apt to playwith Lakota as to dominate him. At times his behavior wasso benign, so puppyish, that it was impossible to imagine

that this was the same creature who minutes earlier haddisplayed such ferocity over a meal. Holding a grudge, itseemed, was not in his character. Yet even at play, therewas something about Kamots that suggested that he wasthe leader. Sometimes he would not fully engage in thefrolicking but watch the others with a protective air. Ingames of tag, Kamots was usually the one doing thechasing, and, in general, he would win all battles of tug of war with sticks or bones.

It was while lming Kamots at play that I observedone of the rst undeniable illustrations of the concern thatwolves have for one another. It was a gesture of kindness



that just bowled me over. Kamots was chargingaround the meadow, celebrating the rst majorsnowfall of the year. Something about new snowthrilled them to no end. After it was on the ground,they took it for granted, but while it was fallingthey greeted it like a gift from heaven. Even late inthe year, when we would hurl curses at the sky forso much as another ake, the wolves acted as if itwere some fresh new surprise. As the snow beganto accumulate on the frozen ground, Kamots ledthe festivities. He ran back and forth through themeadow, not playing tag or chasing another wolf, just darting about in unbridled jubilation. Amani,still under a year old and not full size, wasn’t quite

sure what to make of the alpha carrying on likethat. He sat down in the meadow and watched Kamotsrun in circles and disappear into the willows.

Kamots burst from the bushes at full speed andin his exuberance barreled right over his young packmate. Amani did a cartwheel and sat up, blinking andcovered in powder, not sure what had just happenedto him. Kamots’ body language was unmistakable.He slammed on the brakes, turned and hurried back toAmani, snifng the little wolf up and down and givinghim a few reassuring licks. I was profoundly touchedby this display of concern; it was almost an apology.

Kamots secured his leadership and maintainedit for nine years using a minimum of force andaggression. I believe it was his genuine regard for thepack that made him such a benevolent leader, and hiscondence that made him such a secure one. Fromthe time he reached adulthood, he knew he was thealpha, never imagining that things could be otherwise.He never showed evidence of feeling the least bitthreatened, never tried to prove himself by bullyingthe others, and never seemed to doubt that the securityof the pack should be left on his shoulders.

Kamots secured hisleadership and maintained

it for nine years using aminimum of force and

aggression

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Alpha Male Cs4