shadow – Dec 10, 2007 12:00 AM

Shadow’s video this week is a clip of the pack howling. One of the reasons the wolf care staff wanted cameras to focus on the den and the greeting rock, related to the opportunity for watching the actions of the wolves without staff in the enclosure. The den and the greeting rock are high points in the enclosure; the wolf that dominates time in these areas is the wolf that typically is displaying more confidence and dominance. Last week, staff watched a stand-off between Shadow and Grizzer, after a few moments of averting gazes, Grizzer moved to the lower rocks. It’s these subtle behaviors that make wolves the complex social pack member identified in many research projects. You may have noticed on the webcam that Shadow has a slight limp. Over the weekend, he may have pulled a ligament from jumping on or climbing off of rocks. Wolf care staff are monitoring him closely and have placed him on an anti-inflammatory medication.