mackenzie – May 18, 2008 12:00 AM

It is always difficult to leave one wolf alone in an enclosure as they are social animals by nature, but the vet recommendation for Lakota to get 2 days of healing in a clean, restricted environment is in her best interest. After Lakota was taken off site to the vet clinic, MacKenzie spent time with wolf care staff and fed on several pounds of meat. She had some anxious pacing initially, but has settled down to lying in the front of the exhibit and greeting wolf care staff. By Saturday morning, she was doing well, but a deer leg on Saturday night also provided a great distraction. Normally separation of a pack member could result in that pack member not being accepted after a long separation because the rank order closes up and another wolf moves up in their spot, but in this case, it’s 2-15 year old females and Lakota is the omega. There’s no-one to take over her spot. MacKenzie is a confident wolf and doesn’t need to retake her status.