While Shadow still has some intense fear-based dominance responses toward Grizzer, he often shows a timid ear posture when following Grizzer. Dominance continues to be a daily part of the Exhibit Pack. In this week’s video, you will see Shadow maintaining the important dominant role of watching out for the pack. Grizzer and Maya are relaxing on the straw, while Shadow is on alert.
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Grizzer has a great personality and likes to be the center of attention. Fortunately for staff and wolves, his behavior is rarely intense. In this week’s video clips (Maya’s Malik’s and Grizzer’s videos), you will see Grizzer ambush Maya as she comes to the rock, then take a break on his back with the other wolves watching him.
We are happy with the continued stability of MacKenzie. She is alert to the presence of staff and the Exhibit pack, and seems to be able to move about the enclosure without difficulty. In her video clip, you may see a bit of hind quarter mobility issues when she does a full body shake to remove the snow from her back. She maintains a good appetite and is a treasure for those of us who work with her.
As we’ve stated in earlier logs, Shadow is the object of some of Grizzer’s test, but most of the time, Grizzer focuses on Malik. The intensity is different when it’s Shadow. One thing I notice from the photos posted for Grizzer and Shadow is the Grizzer is not intimidated by Shadow and is willing to look Shadow right in the eye. Direct eye contact is also a sign of dominance, and something worthy of noting. In Shadow’s video this week, you will see Shadow prancing down the hill as he waits for the rest of the pack to come out of the woods. There’s a game of chase going on and while it started by Maya chasing Grizzer, it ended with Malik being followed by Grizzer, Maya and Shadow. For this particular moment, Shadow wasn’t the focus, so he shows the confidence of a high tail and good ear position.
Due to time constraints, there will be one log posted for all. Spring has arrived, causing significant snow melt filling the pond in the main Exhibit Pack enclosure. The colder weather quickly followed and created an ice covered pond that the wolves have been enjoying. Initially, they tested the ice for stability, now they run across without consideration. More snow fell on Sunday night, requiring new straw beds and more shoveling. Dominance was calming down, but this new snowfall stimulated the pack again. The dominance seems to be focused toward Malik, but Shadow is alert and assertive if Grizzer shows and testing behavior. In this week’s photos, Jacky Fallon from the Minnesota Zoo provides two great photos showing the dominance hierarchy and Shadow’s strong role when leading the pack in howls.
Grizzer is developing a mature howl, as his video shows him matching Shadow’s pitch. The subtle communication among wolves is interesting to watch. In this week’s photo, you will see both Grizzer and Maya avert their eyes from a threat display by Malik. Avoiding eye contact avoids conflict, and wolves seem to prefer to avoid conflict than constantly push each other around. It’s been a great experience watching Grizzer and Maya mature.
Aging animals tend to have greater needs than younger animals, and the Center’s Retired Pack is no exception. More frequent feedings and smaller portions per feeding are important for a metabolism that is slowing down. Although, in Lakota’s video, you will see that she’s still mobile. Staff did notice another growth on her cheek, similar in feel to the other fibroid cysts on her body. In the video you will see her doing a face wipe, this is a common behavior after feeding, thought to remove blood from the muzzle.
Lakota continues the excitable behavior of chasing around the pen. She even got Mac excited enough to do a quick run down the hill. The transition to spring brings many new scents to the enclosure and soft ground for digging. Lakota continues to make tunnels in the existing den hole and uses the cool dirt as an escape from the heat. Although, with this week’s forecast, that won’t be needed.
Lakota is feeling good and showing that age can’t slow excitability. If you watch MacKenzie’s video and Lakota’s, they were actually filmed in sequence, MacKenzie’s video first, then Lakota’s. Lakota runs to MacKenzie for a bit of excited social interaction and submits to MacKenzie. MacKenzie being dominant since she was a pup, does a stand-over and genital sniff showing that she’s still in charge. Lakota submissively paws up to MacKenzie showing recognition of her status. But, MacKenzie doesn’t really run anymore, so when Lakota’s had enough, she springs up and raises around the enclosure, MacKenzie does not follow, but waits for Lakota to pass by and get a few grabs of fur. All is good in retirement.
MacKenzie continues to be mobile with the anti-inflammatory, but we have been watchful of her pain response. The best judge of pain is when she lies down or strains to get up in the mornings. Wolves are incredibly tolerant of pain, so we want to make sure she is as comfortable as possible. In this week’s video, you will see her assert dominance over Lakota, with the glance of an eye and a stand-tall body posture. We also are assessing her alertness towards staff and, while it’s not quantifiable, the look in her eyes. Anyone who has worked with older animals knows that look of pain. Fortunately, we only see that look on occasion, but it is something we note in the logs.
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