Courtship and Mating   Home Habitat Hunting and Food Social Behavior Communication Howling Courtship and Mating Birthing and Maturation Parenting Management Literature Courtship and mating are closely tied to the year-round interaction of wolves in a pack, and may even occur between members of the same "family". Before a bitch comes into heat affectionate behavior is limited to head-to-head contact, but once she comes into heat the male begins snuffling and licking the females genitalia. The male usually moves around the female ducking his head, like a playful dog, wagging his tail. He may also playful nip at her face and neck or even mount her on the side before actually moving to the rear and mounting her. Females also present a type of courtship behavior in which they "snuggle" with the male by placing their forepaws, neck or head across the males shoulders. The actual mating process consists of the male inserting the penis into the female and rocking back and forth to fully enter her. When he is in completely the female locks her sphincter muscles essentially locking them together. The male then thrusts a few times and ejaculates. After ejaculation the male is still tied to the female for up to 35 minutes. During this time it is thought that the male is still continually ejaculating in the female, so this may serve as a method of ensured pregnancy or as a way to be sure it is his sperm that fertilizes the female’s egg. When a tie occurs the rest of the pack rushes over to the mating pair and wander around them excitedly, almost as if in celebration(Mech 112-114). In most cases it is the alpha male that does the mating, but in some cases he may chose to abstain. In these instances the female is then able to chose from among the subordinate males (Mech 114-115, H&P 212-213). The alpha male, however, still has a say so in the matter, and if does not approve he will try to intervene.