Aidan – Dog Days of Summer

If you’re heard of the phrase “Dog Days of Summer”, then you can relate to the challenges for wolf care in managing a captive exhibit.  Wolves and dogs are covered with hair (or for some dogs, fur), and only have sweat glands between their pads on their feet.  It was likely more efficient to stay warm in winter than stay cool in summer.  So, how does a wolf cool itself?  They pant to evaporate heat and moisture off their tongue and they alter their patterns of activity.  Our Exhibit Pack will consistently settle down at 10 am and not get back up until 7 pm.  Because we are a public display, we provide stimulus or “Enclosure Enrichment” programs at noon every day, then several hours throughout the day we will wet down the soil to provide a cool place to rest.  If you’ve ever watched a dog on a hot and humid afternoon, you can appreciate the term.