The wolf pack...

[lspencer534]

http://i65.tinypic.com/2ezlhq8.jpg

A wolf pack: the first 3 are the old or sick, they give the pace to the entire pack. If it was the other way round, they would be left behind, losing contact with the pack. In case of an ambush they would be sacrificed. Then come 5 strong ones, the front line. In the center are the rest of the pack members, then the 5 strongest following. Last is alone, the alpha. He controls everything from the rear. In that position he can see everything, decide the direction. He sees all of the pack. The pack moves according to the elders pace and help each other, watch each other.

[syf350]

not sure if i believe all that or not, but its a good story!:cheers:

[Cybercowboy]

Breaking through the virgin snow is not a job for the "old and weak." The wolf in the lead is the alpha most likely. The wolf at the rear is probably the alpha female. That would be my guess. The old/sick wolves, well, they had better keep up. It wouldn't be hard for them to hang out in the middle. Easier trail, and an experienced alpha wolf wouldn't make the mistake of outpacing his slowest pack member. And there's no way the wolf at the rear controls the direction! LOL

[Cybercowboy]

Edit: I was close. This picture is from this episode of BBC Frozen Planet Planet in 2010 (http://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2011/oct/19/bbc-frozen-planet-in-pictures), and here's the description:

A massive pack of 25 timberwolves hunting bison on the Arctic circle in northern Canada. In mid-winter in Wood Buffalo National Park temperatures hover around -40C. The wolf pack, led by the alpha female, travel single-file through the deep snow to save energy. The size of the pack is a sign of how rich their prey base is during winter when the bison are more restricted by poor feeding and deep snow. The wolf packs in this National Park are the only wolves in the world that specialise in hunting bison ten times their size. They have grown to be the largest and most powerful wolves on earth.

To the casual observer, the wolves at the front may appear to be struggling compared to those behind them, but that's because they are breaking virgin snow.

[Ol Timer]

The alpha female is the bitch no one messes with. Kinda like at my house!