nyssa – Jul 4, 2004 12:00 AM

Today Nyssa is 53 days old. Nyssa has been very active this morning and has been initiating dominance attempts with Grizz and Maya. Upon arriving at the outdoor enclosure, she greeted the arctics at the fence enthusiastically. Nyssa has been very affectionate with staff this morning with vigorous facial greeting/licking. Today staff started introducing a dog brush to comb their fur. We also started putting a mock "ear ointment" (Vaseline) on their ears. Since daily wolf care during the year will require being brushed and placing fly ointment on their ears, we are working gradually to get the pups acclimated to this kind of care and the various objects (brush, ointment containers, etc.)in our hands. These things are being done both when they are sleeping and awake, in order to get them used to being touched in specific areas. Today Nyssa was sleeping and did not seem to mind the brushing/ear care. Nyssa was very vocal and possessive of the deer hide in the morning program. When Grizz tried to take it from her, she growled intensely and bit him on the muzzle. During the afternoon program, she slept through the entire program.