Grayson was an arctic gray wolf (Canis lupus) born at a facility in Canada on May 2, 2016 along with his littermate Axel. Grayson and Axel came to the Center on May 25, 2016. Grayson was always very observant of his surroundings within his pack structure and beyond the Center’s enclosure. He was often the wolf to start chorus howls, and the one to bark howl at any intruders or perceived threats. Grayson’s confidence significantly increased after the passing of Axel in 2024. This confidence helped him establish and maintain his status as the dominant male in the pack and influenced how he interacted with Rieka as the pack’s dominant female. Rieka and Grayson engaged in many social behavioral sequences, often including pair bonding behaviors, but Rieka would often circle him and lunge to bite his rear during moments of ritualized dominance. Therefore, the two did not appear to have the alliance of a bonded pair. Throughout his life, Grayson welcomed three different litters of pups into the Exhibit Pack, always displaying nurturing behaviors and exemplifying the leadership qualities that led him to become not just the dominant male, but a leader.
Grayson was found deceased in the morning of January 9th during our morning care routine. Given how unexpected his death was, his body was sent to the Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostics Lab for a full necropsy. The necropsy results revealed that he passed away of a condition known as gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV). The exact cause of GDV is unknown, and it cannot be predicted. It is a relatively common cause of death in certain large breeds of domestic dogs but also has been documented sporadically in gray wolves. Grayson had been diagnosed with colitis in 2024 and was on a daily supplement that helped stabilize his condition. It is unknown if this contributed to a risk of GDV. Upon reviewing footage of the morning of January 9th, we observed that Grayson was well-respected by his packmates until the end.
Upon losing a pack member, the wolf care team chooses a word or phrase that describes that wolf. Grayson’s phrase was “gentle soul.” His morning howls will forever be remembered and missed.
Note: Updates to the ambassador wolf logs have transitioned to vlogs (videos). To stay informed about our ambassador wolves, we invite you to subscribe to our YouTube channel for bi-weekly extended Exhibit Pack updates. These updates and our engaging short videos will provide insights into wolf behaviors and activities. Additionally, you can observe our wolves through the Wolf Cams. Thank you for your continued interest and support.
