shadow – Feb 13, 2002 12:00 AM

The following is an email response I recently sent to one of the wolf log viewers, in a three part series: The pups are doing what genetic selection and survival in the wild has perpetuated, even in captive wolves, these are behavioral instincts. Wolves have an instinct to be high ranking because in the wild, low ranking wolves may be the first to die. Some wolves have a natural personality to be lower ranking and never move up into higher ranking positions. Lakota is a very submissive personality, so it is natural for her to be lower ranking wolf in this pack and she has been since she was a pup; that is who she is. But, Lakota has the same instincts to push for dominance as the pups have. In 1999, Lakota attempted to take over Mackenzie's rank after Kiana died (Mackenzie and Lakota's littermate). Mackenzie was very bonded to Kiana and Lakota took advantage of Mackenzie during the 6-week period when she appeared to be suffering separation anxiety from Kiana's death, so we know Lakota has it in her (we also saw Lakota inflict bite wounds on Mackenzie in October when Mackenzie was going through a rough time.)