W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A . C O M
15
M
EN OFTEN FEEL SOME PRESSURE TO MEASURE UP
AS ALPHA-MALES, TO "WOLF UP" AS IT WERE. But pack
the car for a dad-directed forced-march camping trip or outing and our
main realization can be of how little fun we're all having. "Alpha male" connotes
the father who at every moment demonstrates that he's in total control in the
home, who away from his den site becomes the snarling, aggressive, belittling boss.
is alpha male stereotype is spawned from media misunderstanding of the real
thing. Fortunately for dads who have little desire to snarl at loved ones — and for
those who do — the real male wolf is an exemplary male role model. By observing
wolves in free-living packs in Yellowstone National Park, I've seen that the leader-
ship of ranking males is not forced, not domineering, and not aggressive to those
on his team. Actual wolves are not like that.
by
CARL SAFINA
