Written by Nanny Team Leader Kelly Godfrey: During one of today's pup programs Aidan and Denali were sleeping soundly until the exhibit pack became active near the windows. Aidan and Denali both awoke when hearing the commotion and went to the windows to investigate. Aidan spent the remainder of the program on the window ledge watching the exhibit pack with much interest.
Archives
Written by Nanny Team Leader Kelly Godfrey: Ely has been very hot and humid lately. Wolf pups have a harder time staying cool in heat like this and try to stay cool by panting. They also lose heat through the pads in their paws. Other ways to stay cool include playing in the stock water tank, digging into the dirt to make a cool spot to lie on, or to sleep often. Aidan's favorite spot to cool down on hot summer days is in a spruce bough hut in the wolf yard. Today's picture shows Aidan on another favorite spot: the cool concrete pad by the center's door. The video shows the pups staying in the shade and cool dirt in the pup pen.
Written by Nanny Team Leaders Betty Magnuson and Jennifer Ell: Wolf Care Staff retrieved two sucker minnows when the exhibit pond was cleaned. The minnows were put into the stock tank in the pup pen. Aidan, with his predatory instinct, was successful in catching a minnow by the tail. While Aidan was "fishing," Denali was watching him. The Denali stole it away. Aidan returned to the stock tank and caught the second minnow, chewed on it but did not eat it. He made a third trip to the stock tank but there were no more minnows. Today's picture shows Aidan watching the exhibit pack from the window in the auditorium. He appears ready to join the pack.
Today was the introduction day for Aidan and Denali. Initially, Shadow met the pups first in the pack holding area with Grizzer and Malik locked in holding and Maya to intimidated to come through the gates (problem with some negative conditioning several years ago, and too many wolf care staff indicating that something was different). Grizzer was very tolerant of the 5 minute wait for Shadow to complete his introductions and dominance, and when he did exit, he remained calm. Shadow did dominate him when he was near the pups and that set the tone for the rest of the introduction. Grizzer used soft muzzle bites to interact and was observed bringing food to Aidan, even though he would sometimes have some food threat displays toward the pups.
Maya didn't come into holding to meet the pups, her anxiety over the gates was stronger than her will to interact with the pups. She whined at the gate, came part way into the enclosure, but we didn't want to close the door on her, adding to the negative conditioning she currently faces. It is critical that all interactions with wolves and facilities remains positive, wolves association with negative events and people are well-documented. Once the pups were out, she continued to whine submissively at them and followed them throughout the enclosure, but Shadow is clearly the dominant wolf that seeks out the pups and is protecting them.
The following logs were written by Behavioral Team Member, Awen Briem. <br> Aidan and Denali were introduced into the main enclosure with the ambassador pack today. Upon entering the main enclosure, the pups ran with the pack into the woods. Aidan and Denali immediately seemed more focused on their fellow pack members than on human interaction. Denali seems to be at ease approaching the adult wolves, frequently being seen with Maya, Shadow and Grizzer throughout the day. He entered in the pond multiple times, swimming the full length of the pond on at least three different occasions. Just after dark tonight, he curled up with Aidan between two tree branches and some brush.
Lakota is not found in her retirement enclosure very much these days, except to sleep. She frequently travels to the pup enclosure (when the pups are not being fed), to the wolf yard to visit the exhibit pack through the main fence, and into the wolf lab. We thought we would stop posting videos of her taking things from the lab, but, here she is again. Her retired pack is getting very overgrown because she isn't spending much time inside.
Malik has been taking advantage of Grizzer's calm nature and submissive posture to the pups. When Grizzer is flat on his back, Malik comes over with a high tail and attempts to dominate. The Behavioral Team did observe a mobbing of Grizzer by the pack, where all wolves are chasing and dominanting one wolf. Grizzer was a bit anxious about it, but as fall approaches, his dominance and tolerance for Malik will likely change.
Shadow did some short periods of bark howling with the Nanny team this week, but has settled into the routine. During the feeding last night, he brought his half of the beaver over to the pups and guarded it from everyone including Maya. He continues to be challenge for new wolf care staff, growling and testing fairly intensely when we attempt to get them in the enclosure. Things may calm down after the pups are in and there's a routine, but for now, he's the dominant male and we have to do things his way.
Written by Nanny Team Leader Kelly Godfrey: While the pups were playing in the wolf yard during the evening the sirens in town began to wail. The exhibit pack howled in response. Denali had been wrestling with Aidan but stopped, ran to the fence, and joined in the pack howl. He was face-to-face with Shadow for the rest of the howl.
The International Wolf Center uses science-based education to teach and inspire the world about wolves, their ecology, and the wolf-human relationship.