My daughter had three parents growing up. There was me (the alpha male), her mother (the alpha female) and the family wolf-dog (the beta female). My daughter and the cat were the children and the adult humans along with the wolf-dog were the parents. In addition to mothering the cat, our beta female wolf made it her job to raise our daughter. It was her natural instinct as a beta female.

In wolf society the alpha female usually passes on most of her mothering duties to the beta females. When the alpha male and female along with the other beta males went hunting it was the beta females who stayed home and took care of the kids. Those kids were not only their own kids but also the alpha female’s kids. In all sizeable packs all wolf cubs were raised by MANY MOTHERS.

I know first-hand of the awesome mothering ability of wolves. Sometimes I wish I was raised by wolves. Delightful story, Ann Litts , as usual.