[edit] Courtship and mating
Usually, the instinct to pass on genetic material drives young wolves away from their birth packs, leading them to seek out mates and territories of their own. Dispersals occur at all times during the year, typically involving wolves who reached sexual maturity during the previous breeding season. It takes two such dispersals from two different packs for the process to take place, as dispersing wolves from the same maternal pack tend not to mate.[15] Once two dispersing wolves meet and begin traveling together, they immediately begin the process of seeking out territory, preferentially doing so in time for the next mating season. The bond that forms between such wolves often lasts for the shorter of the two lifetimes, with few exceptions.[16]
During the mating season, breeding wolves become extremely affectionate with one another in anticipation for the female's ovulation cycle. Overall, pack tension rises, as each mature wolf begins to feel the urge to mate. In fact, during this time, the alpha male and alpha female may be forced to aggressively prevent other wolves from mating with each other.[15] Under normal circumstances, a pack can only support one litter per year, so this type of dominance behavior is beneficial in the long run.[15]
When the alpha female goes into estrus, a phenomenon that occurs once per year and lasts 5–14 days,[17] she and her mate will spend an increased amount of time in seclusion. Pheromones in the female's urine and the swelling of her vulva let the male know when his mate is in heat. She will be unreceptive for the first few days of estrus, during which time she sheds the lining of her uterus. Once the female begins to ovulate, mating occurs.
The male wolf will mount the female firmly from behind. After achieving coitus, the two form a copulatory tie once the male's bulbus glandis— an erectile tissue located near the base of the canine penis— swells and the female's vaginal muscles tighten. Ejaculation is induced by the thrusting of the male's pelvis and the undulation of the female's cervix. The two become physically inseparable for anywhere from 10–30 minutes, during which period the male will ejaculate multiple times.[18][19] After the initial ejaculation, the male may lift one of his legs over the female such that they are standing end-to-end; this is believed to be a defensive measure.[19] The mating ordeal is repeated many times throughout the female's brief ovulation period, which occurs once per year per female, unlike female dogs, with whom estrus usually occurs twice per year.
2006-11-06 13:57:20
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Yes, I believe so. The alpha male has the alpha female as a mate and the heirarchy descends from there. As I understand it, the pack would share a territory.
2006-11-06 21:11:18
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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