shadow – Aug 9, 2000 12:00 AM

As the next few hours unfolded, the interactions among the animals ranged from complete submission of the pups to the adults, to defensive snaps from the pups to the adults. The pups are learning their new subordinate role in the pack structure. At times, the pups were observed climbing over MacKenzie while she rested, muzzle mouthing each of the adults, racing through the grass in the enclosure, and getting mouthed around the torso by the adults. Dave Mech commented that it seemed like Lucas was using his mouth to attempt to pick Shadow up by the torso, a behavior he had not observed in adult males before. (Note that Lucas' mouth fit nearly all the way around Shadow's torso!) Other behavior observed included active submission/roll over behavior by Malik to all of the adults, occasional submission by Shadow to the adults. Malik dominating Shadow, Shadow snapping at Lucas with Lucas jumping away, and general romping and exploring. Shadow's snapping might be attributed to his insecurity with the adults, but it could also be related to the defense of a bone he found in the enclosure. Wolf care staff anticipated this sort of pup behavior while the young ones are establishing a place in the pack structure.