grizzer – Jun 22, 2009 12:00 AM

With summer brings heat, humidity, large crowds and various forms of stimuli for the wolves. During the Canine Cousins program today, the stimulus of two visiting dogs (belonging to Assistant Curator Donna Prichard) instigated a pack rally led by Shadow. As is often the case following a pack rally, reassertion of dominance played out as Malik followed Grizzer around the greeting rocks and up the hill by the pond. When Grizzer turned to face Malik with an intent stare, Malik turned and crossed the pond on the log at which point Grizzer proceeded to follow Malik. Following is a behavior that can be used to intimidate or assert dominance. While Malik initially followed Grizzer, Grizzer ultimately asserted his dominance over Malik by using the following behavior combined with direct eye contact and intention.