malik – Nov 27, 2006 12:00 AM

In this week’s video for Malik, you will see Grizzer testing Shadow. While Shadow is able to defend himself from Grizzer with growls and barred teeth, the issue is with the response of the other wolves. Maya tends to just follow along, and not attempt any dominant moves on Shadow, likely due to the close bond these two maintain. Malik sees this as an opportunity to increase rank. When Shadow is vulnerable, Malik comes in for some scruff bites and chases Shadow to the den with a high tail posture. This is natural rank order behavior that will intensify with cooler weather and the increase of hormones during the winter months. So far, things have been noisy, but no bite wounds during these ritualized dominance displays that are inherent wolf behavior.