What Are the Ranks for Wolves?

Wolves are social animals that live in packs. Most packs have a family size of six to eight members; however, some packs have been known to be as large as 30 family members. Just like in human families, these social creatures live by a distinct order, or ranking, in their pack, and have rules to this order.

  1. Alpha

    • The alphas of the pack are usually a pair, a female and a male. Technically they are not leaders; they do not give orders to the other wolves. The other pack members just follow the alphas if the pack decides to move. Alphas also are the only wolves in the pack that have the most freedom. They can choose to come and go as they please, and they do what they want, when they want.

    Beta

    • Not all packs have a beta wolf. The beta wolf is usually only found in large packs. A beta wolf is usually a single male in the pack, and is the second in command to the alphas. The job of the beta is to be the caretaker of the pack. Betas tend to the pups, patrol the area and are the peacemakers of the pack. Betas are generally happy with their position in the pack and rarely fight to become alphas.

    Omega

    • The omega is the lowest ranking member of the pack. Omegas take the brunt of aggression in the pack and tend to be the outcasts of the group. They do not have the freedoms of alphas and betas. Omegas are made to babysit the young ones and are immature wolves. Sometimes in rare instances, an omega will be driven from the pack and will become a lone wolf. This would be the only chance, if he is lucky, for an omega to find a mate and start his own pack.

    Changes in Rank

    • Wolves can change their order in the pack by ritualized fighting. However, being the social creatures they are, they prefer to use psychological warfare on each other to gain rank. Wolves tend to choose their high-ranking status members based on their personality and attitude, not their size or strength. With larger packs of wolves, there are usually a lot of young pups, which are always playing and bluffing to gain a higher rank and are constantly changing rank in the pack. Sometimes older wolves will avoid confrontation and will give their rank to a younger wolf. In some cases, if one of the alphas dies, the remaining alpha will choose a mate, and that wolf will become the new alpha. In some instances, if a fight does break out and there is bloodshed, the loser will be chased from the pack, and unfortunately in some instances may be killed. Although these instances are rare, they mainly happen in the winter months when mating occurs.