Amy K. Jacobs, Rolf O. Peterson, School of Forestry and Wood Products, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA

Three packs of wild wolves were observed during winter months for three years to determine leadership roles among breeding and non-breeding wolves in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). The question of who leads a wolf pack has never been addressed in a wild setting while observing multiple packs simultaneously. The reintroduction of wolves to YNP afforded the unique circumstances that allowed this question to be answered. Leadership was determined by the status (breeding or non-breeding) of the wolf in front of the line during three activities: traveling, chasing, and killing, and three snow conditions: no snow, snow, and crusted snow.

Leadership behavior was collected to determine under what circumstances leadership behavior was demonstrated by breeding and non-breeding wolves, and how the role is divided between the breeding male and breeding female, and multiple breeding females.

The topic of leadership cannot be discussed without reference to "alphas", dominance, and breeding. Relationships of these terms to leadership behavior will be addressed and clarified.