The mating season, also called ranch time, is the most interesting period of the year for wolves. Already months, before the females come into heat at the end of January, increasing restlessness in the pack becomes noticeable. During the summer they looked after the puppies together; that was a peaceful time. But now the alpha female in particular is beginning to become more and more aggressive. Any other sexually mature female in the pack will be attacked. At first they can save themselves through playful behavior and gestures of submission. Are they the alpha wolf's own daughters, it may be, that she leaves it at that. Otherwise the attacks will continue, as soon as an opportunity arises.
Soon other pack members join in too, especially the younger ones. This is how the rivals are finally driven out or at least suppressed to such an extent, that they don't get the idea, to get involved with a male dog. They are only interested in the alpha female anyway. It now exudes a particularly seductive scent. It begins with a raised leg, urinate everywhere. It jostle against the males, invites them to play and downright curry favor. The males like it, they constantly run after him and try, to stay as close as possible.
Only the alpha male doesn't like that. He behaves threateningly towards the other males. When these become overly intrusive in the alpha female, he jumps at her and pushes her to the ground. Or he prevents, that they come near him at all.
The tricks of the alpha wolf
Once a younger female comes into heat, the alpha wolf has a number of tricks up her sleeve. The easiest: She drives her rival out of the pack with the help of the younger animals, at least during mating season. After the mating season, she is allowed to come back and help raise the alpha female's pups.
But of course there are also "mishaps". Sometimes a male who is also suppressed, away from the pack, is interested in the lower-ranking female. Are they spotted by the alpha female?, pairing is immediately prevented or interrupted.
But the alpha wolf can't be everywhere. Has there been a pairing despite all the suppression?, the alpha female becomes a real fury. Again and again she attacks the rival, which usually leads to a miscarriage. But if, despite everything, a second litter of puppies should be born in the pack, the alpha female kills the young.