Lakota and the other 1993 pup mates, Lucas, Kiana, and Mackenzie, were born between April 17 and April 20. The source facility referenced the pups as being from different litters. On May 7, 1993, the pups came under the care of the Center’s wolf care team and were raised as a social group of pup mates. From the time she was a pup into her years in retirement, Lakota was the omega or bottom-ranking pack member. Lakota spent 9 1/2 years of her life in the Exhibit Pack and always seemed to be the one to play bow and start a pack chase or toss a hide and grab at tree branches, especially if they were filled with snow. Some researchers believe that the lowest-ranking pack members may get some dominant focus from the other pack members, but they don’t have as much stress trying to keep the pack order like a dominant wolf. In August of 2002, all of the 1993 pups were retired and enjoyed a calmer pack life.  But, with MacKenzie’s passing in 2008, Lakota remained as the lone surviving member of the Retired Pack. Since there was 24-hour a day coverage managing the 2008 pups, Lakota was allowed to roam between the retirement enclosures and the wolf lab. With all of our “Gone but not Forgotten” wolves, we select one word or phrase that characterizes the most memories about their life. For Lakota, we chose “Chases” due to Lakota’s ritual of taking items from the wolf lab and running back to the retirement area with her possession.  She seemed to enjoy the wolf care team members chasing her back to retirement to retrieve the pup toys, backpacks, and other lab supplies not intended for an adult wolf. She achieved quite a long larceny list in the last months of her life.  Lakota’s memorial fundraiser legacy project included additional fencing between the retirement enclosures and the wolf lab making it more secure for a retired wolf to roam freely . As the 2008-2009 winter approached Lakota became more reclusive and after refusing to eat and take critical nutritional and joint supplements, the vet care team decided her old age issues were weakening her physically and mentally. Lakota was euthanized November 7, 2008.

For more information on our ambassador wolves, watch extended wolf videos on the International Wolf Center’s YouTube Channel or enjoy a close-up of wolf behavior on our Wolf Watch Cams.