mackenzie – Aug 14, 2000 12:00 AM

The pups were introduced into the exhibit pack today. The following is a summary from the Behavioral Observation Team. Behavioral Observation team members: Team 1: Carol Moore, Joyce Powers, Debra Mendrick Team 2: Claire Belle, Jeanette Howard, Kara Milnes Team 3: Jessica Reihing, Susan Toochin, Dari Quirk, Kristine Radermacher For the first time since the introduction, Mackenzie was observed to be in a deep sleep for multiple hours. Prior to this day, her resting periods included alert ears, eyes slightly open and quick response to any noise, movement of the pups or other adult wolves. During this sleeping time for Mackenzie, Lucas was sleeping within 4 feet of Mackenzie and woke several times to walk the lower portion of the enclosure, approaching the pups and circling back to the spot on the hill near Mackenzie. He later slept on a rock in the middle of the enclosure and often sat up during a 2 hour resting period. In the later part of the shift, Lucas was observed approaching the pups and lightly sniffing and licking the pups heads, the pups readily submitted and Lucas went back to the hillside to lay down. The pups are being separated twice daily into their overnight kennel for feeding. They readily enter the enclosure and roll in the straw after feeding. After the pups are fed, the adults enter the enclosure and search for pups caches. There has been no aggression toward the pups, before, during and after the feeding separations.