grizzer – Aug 13, 2010 12:00 AM

This week has been extremely warm for Ely, Minnesota standards with temperatures nearing 90 degrees and humidity exceeding 80%. It has been extremely hard on the wolves, and wolf care staff are doing what they can to make them comfortable. Wolves have are covered in hair and don't have sweat glands at the surface of their skin, resulting in a cooling mechanism of panting to evaporate heat and moisture off the surface of their tongue. This isn't a very efficient method in high humidity. Each wolf has distinct tolerances of heat, and has their own method for cooling. <br>Grizzer has two distinct habits. He can be a den dweller, and is frequently found with Aidan and if there's room, Denali. But, Grizzer is best known for digging a shallow depression, removing all the vegetation that might inhibit a good rest (he is a twig biter since a pup), then settling into some contorted posture for the duration. The YouTube video this weeks shows one of his creations.