Written by assistant wolf curator, Donna Prichard:<br>This past weekend, the Workin’ For Wolves program was dedicated to making huge improvements in Lakota’s enclosure. Lori, the wolf curator, and Donna, the assistant curator, must first send out a HUGE thank you to those participants. This was the most work ever in a Workin’ For Wolves weekend! We couldn’t have done it without you! Life for Lakota is going very well; she has gained back her confidence and is eating regularly, though she was not happy about having to stay in the pup pen for two days while the work was being done in her enclosure. However, this morning, she was able to go into her new enclosure. In short, the retired enclosure was almost doubled in size, giving her much more space to explore and dig her infamous dens, a “Virtual Rock was placed in her enclosure to serve as a den, which is housed on top of an insulated platform built by two of our participants, groundwire was installed along the expanded fenceline, old brush/downed wood was removed to make maneuvering for her easier, five new trees were planted, and rocks were placed around the new pond. Lakota spent much time exploring the improvements and seemed to approve. With the expansion of the retired enclosure, access to the pup pen, and access to the wolf yard, she will have ample opportunity to be mobile and investigate all the areas.
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Grizzer has been practicing tolerance with Malik. He tries avoidance behavior as long as he can, while Malik snarls, growls and chatters in Grizzer’s ear. But, even the most tolerant of wolves gets sick of the constant noise. There have been two scuffles with Grizzer and Malik this week, one started when a level 1 staff person was testing by Denali, then Grizzer, when she left the enclosure, Grizzer redirected to Malik. The other was just Malik being Malik, causing Grizzer to say enough. Grizzer is still extremely submissive to Shadow.
A BBC film crew was here on Sunday, April 19th, and Shadow did extremely well. Usually, Shadow shows some fear avoidance and bark howling to strangers, but he was very accepting and confident with the crew. We have worked with this crew before, and it helps that wolf care staff were very relaxed. But, the reality is, we are thankful for the BBC in their understanding of animals, their calm nature and tolerance of accepting the wolves as wolves. It makes all the difference. To the BBC crew, thanks for the donation to wolf care and the great film session.
Shadow did well with the Wolf Watch program, showing a limited amount of anxiety after he initially saw the team at the bleachers. Shadow’s observation data sheet reflects a calm leader that spends time sitting back observing his pack, placing his body between threats and the pack (during howling bouts with Behind the Scenes participants) and showing strong social relationships with the dominant female Maya. This week’s video clip was filmed during a Behind the Scenes program; you can hear Wolf Curator, Lori Schmidt, interpreting for the public and the variety of behaviors displayed by Shadow.
Written by program participants, Paulette Blask and Tanya Stein: Grizzer started a non-agressive mobbing of Shadow (joined by Maya and Malik), which quickly turned into a more serious aggression. Shadow showed tucked tail, but still barred his teeth. During the enclosure enrichment, after finding chicken and tuna hidden in varios places, Shadow retrieved a piece of bacon floating on a log in the pond. During wolf check, Shadow avoided letting wolf care staff clean his eye -he seemed to know what staff were up to something when they offered a scratch/rub. When a dead fish was retrieved from the pond filter, it was rolled on by Maya, then Grizzer, then stolen by Shadow and taken to another area for his examination.
Written by Planning for Pups participants Alastair Small and Gery Egan: Having shed out her winter coat, Maya is coping well with the recent heat. She has been cooling off in the pond, and still enjoys floating ice treats given the the pack for enclosure enrichment. She has also displayed her predatory behavior recently, stalking a seagull and a red squirrel on seperate occasions. This week's photo of Maya shows her displaying her predatory behavior, with her head low and her feet being carefully placed. Maya has also been attempting to diminish dominance conflicts between Shadow and Grizzer, often showing appeasement towards Shadow. Being in an enclosure with all males, Maya appears to want some female contact. She sometimes hangs around at the area of the enclosure nearest to the retired wolves, Mackenzie and Lakota, and sometimes whines. If a female pup is introduced next year, it should help fill this void for Maya
Lakota continues to enjoy free time, but there is nothing as special as when the Nannies are locked in the puppy pen and she has free reign of the lab. She willingly comes in and spends time with staff as they work at the computers. She has even tried to claim a few souveniers of her visit, but taking a mouse pad and Staff member's, Joyce's wallet.
Grizzer continues to be very hungry prior to feedings. On Sunday, he was pawing at the gate, like usual, only Aidan was right below the gate. Aidan initially became spooked, then came back to submit to Grizzer. Grizzer then submitted to Aidan, and they both rolled around on the ground for a few minutes. In Grizzer's video this week, he makes short order of the beaver carcass.
Lakota warrants two postings today. First, she is enjoying the freedom to come to the picnic table with staff and on special days, gets venison brats. Secondly, now that the pups are spending time in the pup pen, she is comfortable enough to enter the wolf lab, with wolf care staff. Her video shows her coming into the lab, sniffing the pen, taking stuffed toys from the pup pen and listening to the microwave.
Shadow continues to surprise staff in his mild mannered social behavior towards staff. This is likely the influence of prolactin. Before the feeding on Sunday, Shadow appeared very timid in front of the crowd, Curator, Lori Schmidt approached him and he did a full submission and stayed on the ground for several minutes. This is a rare occasion, but the rest of the pack was busy with the beaver carcasses, so he probably didn't feel too threatened. Shadow is in dire need of brushing, when he sheds his undercoat, he sheds in sheets.
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