Transcription: If the pack is too large, providing for the pack becomes difficult. There are two ways the pack can control its size. One, one of the wolves can start its own pack. Two, the alpha female can decide how many puppies will be born. The average yearly litter is about six puppies. If the prey base is not sufficient to support that many puppies, the alpha female may conceive about two to three puppies that year. If prey is scarce, she will reabsorb the fertilized eggs back into her body so that no puppies are born that year.