denali – Oct 19, 2009 12:00 AM

Denali is feeling very confident with his testing and posturing for rank. He doesn't like to be disciplined by any pack member or staff. We have been watching other signs of his advancement in rank, one in particular is marking behavior. Typically in the wild, only the dominant pair raise leg urinate (RLU) in an effort to signal that their territory is occupied, and as a pair bonding behavior. In captivity, the likelihood of RLU behavior of a subordinate is greater, as in the case of Grizzer. We have been watching Denali for any indication that he might start RLU behavior, but so far, he does a standing urination, although he does scrape the ground afterward as a way of dissipating his scent.