She may mate with males from nearby packs, so the cubs are born from a mixed parentage. This unusual breeding behavior results from cramped conditions, and to prevent inbreeding, since the pack is mostly males. The alpha female holds her rank until death, and after which they are replaced by the beta female in the pack. The female gives birth to 3-7 cubs in a den located in a cliff. Social Behavior Ethiopian wolves display an unusual social system for a canid.
Packs contain twice as many males as females.
Like most social canine societies, the dominant female is the only one who breeds. Others in the pack help to rear the young, and non-breeding females lactate at the same time as the dominant female, so they can suckle the young. The others help to gather food for the female, and for the cubs when they are old enough to eat meat. They are social, but they hunt alone. This is unusual, since pack animals usually benefit from the group by being able to bring down large prey.