Cheyenne's Howl

Printed in Mountain Messenger on Friday March 07, 1997

Love Is In The Air

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Ah, love is in the air. I can smell it. The Georgetown Lake may still be frozen and the ground is covered with snow, but the alpha male's fancy turns to his mate for life, the alpha female. For a few days only during this time of year a female wolf will be able to become pregnant, and we don't need the back seat of a '57 Chevy. (You parents can explain that last statement to your kids.) As I said before, unlike so many humans, we wolves mate for life. If one of the partners should pass on to the spirit world, the other will usually not ever mate again.

While all female wolves that are at least two to three years of age can become pregnant, it is unusual for any other pair to mate other than the alpha pair. This is our way of controlling our population and making sure that we will always have enough for each member of our pack to eat. If food is not abundant for us, we will not mate. Our pack will remain smaller and we won't have to share what little food we may have with the new pups. It is too bad that some humans don't follow our lead. I guess I better get back to wolves before I offend somebody, and I have been known to do that.

Again, while it is the alpha pair, or the leaders of the pack that mate, occasionally the alpha male will show no interest and since this most important time comes only once a year, he will allow the beta male, or second in command, to mate with his alpha female. If any of the subordinate females start to show an interest in the alpha male or even any other male, the alpha female will express her extreme displeasure and there is an abrupt end to all extra curricular activities. This is serious business and "swinging" just ain't allowed. After many days of courtship, the alpha male will mount the alpha female and will remained coupled for up to 30 minutes. (I have often wondered how many human males can last that long.)

About sixty to sixty three days after mating, the pups are born. Somewhere between three and four weeks prior to giving birth, the pregnant female will begin searching for a den site. This may take several days as the site has many requirements. First and most important, the site must be near a stream or river. Once the mother starts to nurse her young she will need to be drinking a lot of water. While the den might be dug into the side of a hill, or in a rock cave, or in a hollowed out log, it must be on high ground so that water will not seep into it. Being up high also allows the rest of the pack to be able to detect intruders more easily. If undisturbed, the den site may be used over and over again by the same pack.

Next week I will talk more about the dens and about the new born pups. Before closing I would like to say "Hello" to my special new friend, Joseph. It was great meeting with you and please say "Hi" to your friend the Raven.

Cheyenne