Luna – Possession Rights

Many wolf logs have focused on the admirable traits of Luna, the dominant female of the Center’s Exhibit Pack.  She has persevered through some significant issues and despite her smaller size, has no problem interacting (and sometimes terrifying) the larger male pack mates.  One of Luna’s most common behaviors is her tenacious possession of food resources.  But, it’s important to discuss this behavior in the context of pack life (not just Luna’s attitude).  As a pack animal, wolves feed in social groups and there appears to be a few social rules that make life more compatible.  One of these rules relates to food possession.  In order to get a good meal, lower ranking wolves may pull and tug off pieces of meat from a carcass (tug-of war another candid social behavior) and if they have possession, can guard it from the most dominant pack member.  Of course, they have to be confident enough to possess it, but as long as they stand over it or in Luna’s case, use the possession as a pillow, the other pack members back off.