Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A . C O M 17 If you watch wolves not just in all their beauty and flexible adaptability, but in their violence in defense and hunting, too, it's hard to escape the conclusion that no species are more alike than wolves and humans. Living as we do in family packs, fending off the human wolves among us, managing the wolves within us, we can easily recognize in real wolves their social dilemmas and their status quests. No wonder Native Americans recognized in wolves a sibling spirit. e similarities between male wolves and male humans are quite striking. Males of very few species provide year-round food and protection for females and young. Male birds provide food to females or young only during breeding season. In a few fishes and a few monkeys, males actively care for young but only while young are small. Owl-monkey males carry and protect babies, but they don't feed them. Helping procure food year-round, bringing food to babies, helping raise young to full maturity over several years, and defending females and offspring year-round against individuals who threaten their safety; that's a very rare package to find in a male. Human males and wolf males, that's about it. And the more dependably faithful of the two — isn't us. Male wolves more reliably stick with the program, helping raise young and helping females survive with exemplary loyalty and devotion. And then, too, there's this: "In the old days," Doug Smith says, "people talked about the alpha male as the boss." Smith grins, adding, "Mainly, male biologists talked that way." In reality, he explains, there are two hierarchies in the pack, "one for males and one for females." So who's in charge? "It's subtle, but it seems that females do most of the decision-making." at includes where to travel, when to rest, what route you'll take, when you're going hunting. Smith says "alpha female" is a rather outmoded term. "I use the word 'matriarch,'" he says. "I mean a female wolf whose personality kind-of sets the tone for the whole pack." And so our alpha male stereotype could use a corrective makeover. We can learn a thing or two from real wolves: less snarl, more "quiet confidence," leading by example, faithful devo- tion in care and defense of families, respect for females and an easy sharing of roles. Call it wolfing up.

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