Dec. 18, 2019

The temperatures in Ely have been dropping below zero this week. Wolves are usually more active during the colder months, and pack dynamics are more intense. Axel and Grayson continue to test Denali for weakness and have been focusing on Boltz as well. Distractions are an important tool that staff use to ease tension within the pack. One of the most important distractions we use is food. If staff feel like things are getting too ramped up, we will feed a deer torso,  a bag of chicken, a beaver carcass, or whatever else we have on hand.  If you watch the Exhibit Pack webcam, you might be able to spot some of these food resources in the enclosure!

Written by Assistant Curator, Leanne Martin

Dec. 9, 2019

In an effort to give Grizzer some social stimulation, we have been opening up the Pack Holding Area and allowing the Exhibit Pack to come in and greet Grizzer through the fence. At first, they displayed some anxious behavior, with Grayson being the most anxious. Denali, Boltz, and Axel all calmed down after a while and had face to face greetings with Grizzer. Although there was some posturing between Denali and Grizzer with neither of them backing down, the interaction wasn’t aggressive, which is a good sign. Grayson stayed back and didn’t approach Grizzer at all. Grayson has always had more of a timid personality, and with the current lack of leadership within the pack, he struggles to maintain confidence.

Wolf logs written by Assistant Curator, Leanne Martin

 

Dec. 9, 2019

After Luna’s passing, staff are motivated to keep Grizzer stimulated.  One method is to open up the Pack Holding Area during morning wolf care, which allows the Exhibit Pack to come in and greet Grizzer through the fence. During these sessions, Grizzer is locked out of the Pack Holding Area, but has full access to the East Side and Back Habitat. Grizzer has not displayed any aggression towards the other wolves, in fact, he seems eager to engage with them. Although he could leave the fence line at any time, he chooses to stay and greet the others, often face to face. Once the Exhibit Pack is back in the main enclosure, Grizzer is let back out into the Pack Holding Area, and he gets to investigate the areas that the other wolves marked. This helps keep his cognitive ability stimulated.

Grizzer was weighed last week, and his current weight is 125 lbs. This is a great weight for him, especially going into winter.

Wolf logs written by Assistant Curator, Leanne Martin

Nov. 27, 2019

Things are going well in the Exhibit Pack. The wolves have been sharing bedding space, taking advantage of the cover hay on top of the pump housing. The pump housing is large enough so that all four wolves can fit on top, however, Axel can be a bit obnoxious and test the patience of the others. This testing behavior usually leads to him going off and finding his own space. There is plenty of cover hay in front of the observation windows, so he doesn’t have to look too far for a comfortable spot.

Ely has had some significant snowfall recently, and with fresh snow comes an air of excitement for the wolves. Axel is often the instigator of interactions and has been observed engaging Grayson in chases around the exhibit. If you watch our wolf cams regularly, you may notice that the Exhibit Pack’s activity level tends to heighten around 4 pm.  This increase in activity is indicative of the pack’s circadian rhythm, the 24-hour sleep/wake cycle that is present in living beings.

Wolf logs written by Assistant Curator, Leanne Martin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nov. 27, 2019

It is with great sadness that we share the news of Luna’s euthanasia on Tuesday afternoon, November 26th, 2019.  I know for some watching the webcams (and even our wolf log last week) she seemed to be doing good by greeting and eating (two parameters that I said were the ones I was watching for a decline). The fact is, Luna was incredibly tolerant of pain, we knew that from the time she was a pup, throughout the many issues in her life, we saw that tolerance over and over again.  As the curator, I assess the surveillance video on a daily basis.  Wolves tend to mask pain in the presence of packmates (wolves and humans alike), likely a survival mechanism to avoid showing weakness.  The video I saw on Tuesday and the look in her eyes while I did a physical assessment made me decide that she had enough.

In my mind, there was no other choice than to treat her with the respect she deserved and end the decline from this aggressive spindle cell sarcoma.  She had been strong in the fight of this cancer which was first identified in March, 2019.  The March surgery removed a mass on her left neck area. The biopsy report at that time was inconclusive, but the return of the growth in July led to a second biopsy with a diagnosis of an aggressive spindle cell sarcoma.  Complete extraction was not possible in July due to several deep masses embedded in the muscle behind her shoulder blade.  Staff prepared to manage Luna to the best quality of life possible and that also meant having a plan to make the difficult decision and reduce painful suffering.  It was a hard, day in wolf care.

We continue to monitor Grizzer and while his first night without Luna was a challenge, he is settling into a routine and the December wolf care calendar will include some increased staffing to give Grizzer the attention he needs.  He has no health issues at this time and the addition of some much needed snow roofs is keeping him dry and with safe footing as he travels throughout the retired areas.

Nov. 20, 2019

Retired Pack Log November 20, 2019

We are in the process of wrapping up the construction on the retirement enclosures. One of the new things we are installing this year is an enclosed observation area for staff. This will allow staff to have a safe, covered area to stay in case we need outdoor overnight monitoring as Luna declines.

We have a vet check scheduled for Luna this week. Although she is still eating, mobile, and alert, we want to get an assessment of her pain response. She continually rolls over for staff to receive attention, so we know her tolerance for the growth is strong, but this tumor is expanding and we want to make sure we are doing what is best for her.

Grizzer is doing well, but he does have cataracts which make it a bit harder for him to navigate. To make things easier for both Grizzer and Luna, wolf care staff make sure all the retirement enclosures have clear pathways, hay covered resting areas, and roofs to protect them from inclement weather.

 

Wolf Log written by Assistant Curator, Leanne Martin.

Nov. 20, 2019

Exhibit Pack Log November 20, 2019

The Rock Work is Complete

Over this past weekend we had an excavator on site doing rock work around the pump housing and den and although we have some more finishing work to do in the spring, phase one of the big rock hauling is done.   This project was funded through a recent Facebook fundraiser and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated. This project was initiated in honor of Aidan and Luna, both significant users of the den site area.  

The wolves were not locked off exhibit since staff had concerns about how Luna would react being near the Exhibit Pack. Boltz had limited concern about the excavator, and Denali, though a bit cautious, was more curious than fearful. We did not see the same tolerant response from Axel and Grayson. Both were very agitated and fearful of the excavator and retreated to the back of the enclosure. Being younger, Axel and Grayson do not have as much experience around large equipment. It took them a while to calm down, but once the excavator left, they came back down to the front of the enclosure to investigate.

The main reason we wanted to get this project done before winter was to reduce flooding in the den. The new rocks that have been positioned around the back exit of the den will act as a barrier and allow excess water to run off and around the den, not into it.   The level platforms will also be great vantage points for our new pups in 2020.  We’ve included a picture of the before and after den site project.

 

Before  10/4/19                                                                     After  11/17/19

      

Wolf Log written by Assistant Curator, Leanne Martin

 

Nov. 13, 2019

Wolf care staff continue to monitor Luna closely.  She is currently on a combination of medications which have made a big difference in her mobility and overall attitude. She has been rolling over onto her back, welcoming staff interactions during the morning wolf care. Despite the growth of the tumor, she just seems more like herself. She is alert, eating well, and socially engaged with both staff and Grizzer. Recently, she was observed scent rolling on a vitamin left in the Pack Holding Area, appearing to have no issues with pressure on her neck.

Grizzer continues to be managing quite well, eagerly eating his daily food and greeting staff. On November 15, 2019, he will have reached the milestone of being the oldest wolf ever managed at the International Wolf Center. With only a couple days to go, it looks like Grizzer is going to break the record.

This log was written by Leanne Martin

Nov. 13, 2019

Exhibit Pack Log November 13, 2019

With Height Comes Advantage

In Ely, the snow is here to stay for the season. During the colder months, wolf care staff will provide insulating cover hay on top of the pond pump housing, dens, and in front of the observation windows. The wolves will often sleep in the hay on top of the pump housing and dens, because being up higher gives them better access to the sun’s warmth. Height is also something that the wolves utilize to gain power. Grayson often vocalizes from on top of the pump housing, and postures over whoever is resting near him in an attempt to gain status. In this photo, you can see Grayson on top of the pump housing, exhibiting a T-2 tail.  Notice Axel’s tail, which is turned down slightly in response to Grayson.

Nov. 7, 2019

Luna has been more receptive to body work as of late, she seems to be feeling better now that she is on anti-inflammatory medication. She is certainly mobile, eating well, and greeting wolf care staff daily. Staff continue to watch for decline, but as of now she continues to be stable.

You may notice some new balsam fir trees in the Pack Holding Area behind Luna… some of the dead trees/ large shrubs had to be removed for the construction project to happen. Instead of planting new trees and risking Grizzer and Luna digging them up, Staff created concrete bases with PVC pipes inside, and simply stuck some cut balsam in the pipes to secure them down. When the trees eventually lose their needles, they can easily be replaced with fresh ones. This will provide some good cover for the 2020 pups, as they will be spending a good deal of time in the Pack Holding Area when they are old enough to be outside.

This log was written by Leanne Martin