Wolf Pack Photo Goes Viral with False Claims About Strategic Formation

A striking image of wolves moving in single file through snow has captivated millions of social media users in recent months, accompanied by elaborate claims about strategic wolf pack formations that wildlife experts say are completely fabricated.

The viral videos, which have garnered tens of thousands of views on Instagram alone, present a detailed narrative about how wolf packs organize themselves. According to these videos, the oldest and sickest wolves lead at the front to “set the pace,” followed by the strongest young wolves who protect them. The videos claim that females and pups occupy a protected middle position, with “bodyguard wolves” behind them and the pack leader taking the final position.

“This formation is genius. Even if there’s a surprise attack from behind, the women and children remain safe. It also buys time for the other tiers to react and assist,” narrates one video in a British accent reminiscent of famed naturalist David Attenborough.

While the photograph itself is authentic, the accompanying narrative is not, according to wildlife experts. The image originates from the 2011 BBC documentary series “Frozen Planet,” showing timber wolves in Canada’s Wood Buffalo National Park, which spans the Alberta-Northwest Territories border.

Morgan Anderson, a senior wildlife biologist with the British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Water Stewardship, dismissed the viral claims as “poorly contrived garbage” that misrepresents wolf behavior.

“Most wolf packs travel as a family unit consisting of a breeding pair and their offspring and not a platoon of soldiers,” Anderson explained in an email. “I’m afraid the ‘protect the old and sick’ isn’t a particular paradigm of wolf society. I’ve been to a few mortality events where they’ve eaten their packmates.”

The original BBC caption for the image simply states that the wolf pack, led by the alpha female, travels single file through deep snow as an energy-saving measure. The term “alpha” itself is now considered outdated by most wildlife biologists.

Anderson noted that wolves do employ strategic behaviors, but not in the elaborate military-style formation described in the viral videos. She explained that wolf packs typically follow paths of least resistance in winter, traveling single file with routes determined by the parents while pups follow behind.

“Nor is having a cadre of mothers and babies to protect — it’s one family, not a village,” Anderson added, debunking the notion of specialized “bodyguard” wolves.

The misleading narrative about wolf pack hierarchy has been circulating online since at least 2015, demonstrating the persistence of wildlife misinformation on social media platforms. The recent resurgence has seen similar videos spread across Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, accumulating millions of views.

While wolves do use genuine hunting strategies—such as checking different prey herds to determine their best chance at a successful hunt and taking on different roles during the hunt itself—these behaviors bear little resemblance to the fictional formation described in the viral videos.

The case highlights how easily wildlife misinformation can spread through social media, particularly when accompanied by authentic imagery and narration that mimics authoritative nature documentaries. Such misinformation can shape public perception of wildlife behavior and potentially influence conservation attitudes.