If Grizzer has been the biggest surprise and misinterpretation of behavior, then Maya comes in as close second. The amount of whining she did towards the pups pre-introduction, seemed to indicate that she really wanted to possess them, but instead, she competes with them for food and on the deer hide. She is quick to dominate and while she’s been better in recent days, she does not roll over with the pups like Grizzer does. Certainly, time will improve the social relationships, but all we can say now is the pups are lucky to have two social males in their pack, Shadow and Grizzer.
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The pups' urine samples came back from the lab with no problems. This was just a follow-up to issues earlier in June, and is part of the pre-introduction health exam. The pups had blood draw twice this week, and both times, they slept without even waking up to the needle. Joyce Riveroll, visiting volunteer and veterinarian conducted the blood draw as a familiar person in their lives; It is six days and counting until the introduction.
Written by Nanny Team Leader Kelly Godfrey: Ely has been very hot and humid lately. Wolf pups have a harder time in the heat like this and they stay cool by panting. They also lose heat through the pads on their paws. Other ways to stay cool are to play in their stock water tank, digging in the dirt to make a cool spot to lie on, or to sleep often. Denali's favorite cool spot is outside the auditorium door between the cement slab and the fence, using a large rock for a pillow. Today's picture shows Denali deep in the den in the pup pen where it is cooler. The video shows him digging a hole to create a cool spot.
Malik's response to the pups today was better than expected. He did regurgitate some meat for the pups while in the pack holding area, and did have some soft muzzle bites over food possession issues with the pups, but overall, he was very tolerant. Shadow did dominate Malik early in the introduction and set the tone for the subordinate males interactions. One notable behavior related to the pups behavior, the seemed to target Malik for a chase and Denali did a ride-up behavior on Malik, a possible sign of dominance, or excitement.
Shadow took the lead on the introduction and after one day of observations, it can be said that he continues to be the lead on the pups transition into the pack. Within minutes of Malik and Grizzer's release, Shadow dominated them both in front of the pups, setting the tone of their behavior. He regurgitated a full meal for the pups before the introduction even started. In preparation for Monday's events, staff removed the protective pup panel at the front of the Exhibit Pack, leaving the option for nose to nose contact. When the pups were released at 6 am, they ran to the Exhibit Pack, and Shadow greeted, growled at Malik when he approached and regurgitated most of his evening meal in front of the pups. The pups pawed at the fence to reach it. This left Shadow very hungry and he spent a fair amount of the introduction eating meatballs which were meant to distract Grizzer and Malik. When the pups met Shadow, they were taught their first lesson in rank-order protocol, and they did well. Being dominated or disciplined doesn't make them avoid the pack leader, they are more comfortable as they know their place in the pack.
Denali is growing fast he is nearly ¾ of Maya’s height. Sometimes, it is hard to tell if it is a pup running down the hill until they are in full view. Denali continues to associate with Grizzer and is often doing his famous squash posture on top of Grizzer. Grizzer is very gentle with the pups and has no real intense dominance, but does do a soft muzzle bite when necessary.
Grizzer continues to show very social behavior towards the pups and he has to be the biggest surprise in our behavioral interpretation estimates between pre-introduction and post-introduction. We really though that he would be more inclined to show dominance towards the pups, instead, every day he is more likely to be on his back with at least one of the pups rolling around with him. I’m glad we were wrong about him, and it proves the point that there can never be an expert in wolf behavior, because every wolf personality in every situation is different.
Malik has reduced the amount of grab bites towards Grizzer when Grizzer is subordinate to the pups. It does seem that he getting used to Grizzer’s more timid behavior and not taking advantage of it as he had done in the first week of the introduction. The pups seem to pick up on Malik’s anxiety as a weakness and have done some ride-up behaviors, showing dominance. But overall, the pups are well received by all members, including Malik.
What can we say about Shadow that will even express the incredible depth of his behavioral displays. He is the dominant pack member that guards this pack, howls to any sign of threat, places himself between the pack and intruders (even if he is afraid of those humans at the behind the scenes programs). He will always greet a pup no matter when they approach, but he will always show them the strength of his leadership, even if it is with a hard muzzle bite. The pups don’t show fear of him, they show respect and paw at him for more attention. He will lie on the hill watching as the pack interacts, and intervene if anyone is too intense. We are fortunate to have a dominant pack leader who has successfully integrated two litters of pups.
When the pups were held from the pack for surgery recovery, Grizzer was the most affected. He spent the first day and night, whining toward the pups and pawing at the gate. By the second night, he settled down a bit, but he still made an scheduled stop at the pack holding area to check on the pups. He continues to be most submissive to the pups, and for now, seems to tolerate their climbing behavior.
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