Wolves rarely mate with their sisters, but it can happen on infrequent occasions.
While wolves generally avoid mating with close relatives, including their sisters, inbreeding is not completely unheard of within wolf populations. A study by Smith et al. (1997) analyzing 16 wolf pairs demonstrated that wolves typically avoid mating with close relatives, but the study also noted that inbreeding does occasionally occur.
Here's a breakdown:
- Avoidance of Inbreeding: Wolves typically exhibit behaviors that reduce the likelihood of mating with close relatives. This is likely due to the negative consequences of inbreeding, such as increased susceptibility to genetic diseases.
- Occasional Inbreeding: Despite the avoidance of inbreeding, it can occur. This may happen due to limited mate choices within a pack or geographic isolation.
- Smith et al. (1997): This study provided evidence supporting the general trend of wolves avoiding close relatives when mating, but acknowledged that infrequent inbreeding can still take place.
Therefore, while wolves generally avoid mating with their sisters, it's not an impossibility, and research shows it can occasionally occur.
