denali – Jan 1, 2011 12:00 AM

Denali's introduction back into the pack occurred on Monday,December 27th. We scheduled the introduction for noon because it is a calmer part of the day. Video clips from the introduction day are featured on the Youtube channel this week. Basically the plan included feeding Denali, Grizzer and Maya each a full 10 lb turkey at 9 am after Grizzer’s vet check, hoping to fill them up. After the release, there was some chasing behavior, but Denali was submissive and showed no signs of targeting Grizzer. The pack all bedded down at 2 pm, with Grizzer, Maya and Aidan sleeping together and Denali sleeping on a straw bed by the pond. At 3:30, they got up and Denali and Grizzer had a short 15 second dominance altercation in the pond, instigated by Denali, which we expected. They settled back down and video camera surveillance shows that they rested all night. On Tuesday morning wolf care, the pack was rallying together, with only slight tension between the group. We are feeding a bucket of chicken every morning, and all wolves are getting their fair share. We are not using the typical holding pens right now, as even a short separation gives Denali confidence to push his status. As I’ve said before, this is a combination of winter hormones and a young wolf that is trying to take an opportunity to climb rank. Grizzer is getting much better showing his status a dominant male, and our job is to keep things calm, and give each wolf the confidence to feel comfortable with their rank. My goal is to keep the pack together, but we have to know that all wolves feel comfortable in the enclosure. We judge that by the rallying behavior, and especially howling, so far, Denali howls right with the pack, and is tail wagging with the social group.