malik – Jan 28, 2011 12:00 AM

Malik and Shadow seem to have a short duration to their winter dominance, last week there was clear posturing, this week, they are back to being a pair of 11-year old litter mates that have to share food and a den, but otherwise have no issues. Malik has a slight discoloration where the abscessed tooth has been, but swelling is down this week and he shows no issues with chewing on that side. Management decisions have to be weighed carefully, immobilizing an older animal can be risky, and removal of a molar or premolar that he clearly uses for crushing bones may be a more significant impact. The fact that the swelling is down is a good sign, and we will continue to consult with the Center's veterinarian, who understand the medical as well as behavioral influences when managing wolves.