Grizzer has been extremely hungry since the prolactin hormone kicked in, but as he sheds his winter coat, we see a lean body type. All that food must be going somewhere, but even at his 115 lb fame, he doesn't show it. The wolves are getting weekly enclosure enrichment programs, ice blocks in the pond stuffed with beaver tails, deer tails and venison bratwurst.
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The following log was written by Nannys Ann Beyers and Lee Williams:<br> Maya came down to the fence along the wolf yard when the pups came out before the 5:00 pm pup program. When Grizzer joined her, she growled at him. Maya came down again to check on the pups at 6:00 pm, whining to them and mostly laying next to the fence. Initially, Denali spent quite a bit of time near Maya and doing some play bows and tail wagging. Aidan joined in later.
Lakota has made great improvement in the past few weeks in her appetite and the old spring is back in her step. On a daily basis, she is allowed free access to the wolf yard when the pups are in the lab, and she enjoys sniffing, picking up after pups and interacting at the gate with the Exhibit Pack. We are posting two photos today, one with her coming through the back gate to get to the wolf yard, one with her leaving after finding a pig ear from the pups.
Malik has been taking advantage of the calmer version of Grizzer on prolactin. He has been observed doing many stand-overs, growling at Grizzer while he rolls over and being very defensive with food. Of course, the fall increase in hormones will likely change that, but for now, Malik is walking tall with a high tail and a full belly.
Shadow has returned to bark howling at the Nannies during the program. This is likely a response to wolf care staff getting a bit casual because things had been going well, letting Nannies sit at the picnic table seems to have set him off. We will work at keeping him calm, and giving him space, and the wolf yard protocol will be followed to the letter in all following weeks of the program. He is the critical component to this pup introduction.
Written by team leader, Ann Beyer, and program participant, Lee Williams. Aidan had a busy afternoon. He did well in the afternoon programs, enjoying a new toy he could chew on to help his teething. In the 5PM program, Aidan was relentless about trying to steal a beaver tail from Denali who wasn’t about to give it up. Afterward, in the pup yard, he slid down into the den and explored it, even rushing at the video camera when he exited the den. He unearthed a cache that was promptly stolen by Denali. The brothers had an active game of tag, mostly initiated by Aidan. At the fence line he spent time with Maya, wagging his tail and trying to touch her nose.
Written by Ann Beyer, Nanny Team Leader Week #5: During this period of the pups' socialization process, nannies and wolf care staff are observing many behavior patterns emerge, particularly more pronounced "play fighting". For example, while Aidan frequently initiates play fighting and tries to dominate Denali, Denali will vigorously defend his deer leg or beaver tail by growling, snapping, displaying a lip curl, and doing a hard muzzle bite on Aidan. It is interesting to watch the behavioral developments each day.
Written by program participants Gail Ramee and Andi Nelson: The pups are 60 days old today, and are very anxious to spend time outdoors now, frequently whining and pawing at the door to the Wolf Yard. This morning Aidan initiated a howl chorus from inside the Wolf Lab, and was quickly joined by Denali and then by the adult wolves outside. Once outside Aidan enjoyed a game of chase with his brother and interacted with Maya at the fence. Later in the afternoon, Aidan fished for venison ice cubes and soaked the floor of the Wolf Lab in the process. He has made the transition to a meat diet now and seems to be enjoying chicken along with gruel. Aiden gained a pound since yesterday, weighing in at 20.8 pounds.
Written by nanny team members Lee Williams & Ann Beyer: During these “wolf days of summer, the pups sleep frequently, seemingly recharging for the next round of explosive play and exploration. Aidan is a lot like a light switch. He’s off, laid out and sleeping, or on high, interacting with Denali or getting into (or onto) everything within reach. Right now there’s no low or medium speed. Once up this morning, Aidan was all over the wolf lab, checking for things he could pull off counters or chew. He used his problem-solving skills to manipulate and move objects and tested ways to get high enough to get up to the counter tops. Actually, he acted like he wanted to get onto the counter tops. He even jumped straight up in the air to reach something. Today, when anyone has gone to the fridge, Aidan has been right there ready to grab something. Is he hoping for more bagels like yesterday? In the wolf yard, Aidan and Denali ran, tails wagging excitedly, over to greet a whining Maya. As she paced the fence line, the pups ran back and forth right beside her. After wearing himself out from all the romping and playing, Aidan nonchalantly walked into the lab, plopped down, and went immediately to sleep. The switch is off.
Midday the pups were caught outside during the initial downpour of a thunderstorm. The startled pups found their way to shelter and waited there until it was time for the Pup 101 program. They did very well during the program. Denali decided to tempt his brother with a deer tail, pulling it away just as Aidan would reach for it. Later in the lab, as the storm subsided, the two brothers once again fell into furious play. Written by nanny team members Lee Williams & Ann Beyer: During an excited game of kill the cardboard box, Denali practiced dominance behaviors on Aidan by body slamming Aidan, standing over Aidan, biting Aidan’s neck, and head shaking. He also gained a little protein by eating a few bugs, which apparently also came in to find shelter from the storm.
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