Happy President’s Day, Due to the Holiday, all of the logs will be the same posting today: The Nanny selection process has been completed and award letters were mailed on the 15th of February. We are still in the selection process for the Behavioral Observation program, and have extended the deadline until April 15th. We intend to have the Behavioral Observation award letters for those current applicants sent by February 22nd. Please be patient, as this is a very important task. We want to make sure we have a good fit for each crew to have the most positive experience for the pups. One other comment relates to a new face you may be seeing on the Exhibit Pack webcam. After 6 months of training, work with the Retired Pack and an opportunity to gain Shadow’s trust, Don Gossett and Sharee Johnson have been successfully integrated in the Exhibit Pack as a Level I wolf care staff. Shadow was a bit hesitant at first, but has been very responsive to the newest staff members. Being a Level I handler means that they must always be accompanied by a Level III for safety, with a Level 2 for backup. So, when new staff are in the enclosure, you are likely to see 3 or 4 staff. We want to make sure that all staff that will be handling pups are perceived as part of the program by Shadow and Maya. If a staff person is not trusted by Shadow, and they are observed handling the pups, it can create an aggressive situation. This is why we are so stringent on the Nanny program, it is critical to the social dynamics of the wolf yard that all people interacting with the pups respect the adult wolves, especially Shadow. Remember, this pup introduction’s purpose is to maintain a socially cohesive pack.
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Sorry for the break between log postings, I should be back on a regular schedule now. In the last few postings we've been referencing some cold weather limping on Luna. After consultation with the University of Minnesota, we decided to get an x-ray on Luna. The logs today will feature the reactions of each individual wolf. Denali was the least interested in Luna's absence except when it came to Luna getting a deer leg prior to her release. When she was brought back into the pen, Denali was a bit forceful in investigating the variety of smells on Luna which caused Luna to be a bit intimidated, but once that was over, there seemed to be no other issues.
It's always a challenge to write about Malik and Shadow because sometimes in retirement, life becomes routine and routine is good. This week, Malik's added a new twist to his routine. Twice in 2 days, Malik has approached the curator from behind and removed her hair band (including some hair). The first time, he was on the den while her back was turned to interact with Shadow, the second time, it was while she was talking to some Behind the Scenes visitor. It appears the new greeting for Malik is to do a circle from behind and see if there's something to take. It definitely stimulates him mentally and physically.
Sorry for the break between log postings, I should be back on a regular schedule now. In the last few postings we've been referencing some cold weather limping on Luna. After consultation with the University of Minnesota, we decided to get an x-ray on Luna. The logs today will feature the reactions of each individual wolf. Even though Grizzer is not an Exhibit Pack member, his proximity to the wolf yard makes him a part of the pack. While Luna was in the medical pen, Grizzer has a direct view of Luna and staff interacting with her. This kept Grizzer very occupied and active. When Denali and Boltz got a deer leg, Grizzer did too and he didn't sleep until Luna was back in the pack.
We've been noticing a trend in weight gain on Aidan. It probably has something to do with the protocol of keeping Aidan out with the pups when they feed. The pups are a lot calmer if they are not separated from Aidan, but the draw back is, when the pups are not very hungry and leave caches, Aidan gets the leftovers. With winter approaching and activity levels already increasing, he will likely burn this extra fat in the upcoming winter. His case of Discoid Lupus seems to have subsided without any further medication. The dynamics of the pups in the pack seems to have resulted in a more relaxed and often socially active Aidan.
Denali has been on the receiving end of some Luna dominance. Luna has no problem grabbing Denali by the scruff of the neck and hanging on. Of course, this is usually accompanied by Aidan who is posturing over Denali and giving Luna confidence. There seems to be some intolerance of Denali's behavior when he takes food from the pups. Normal protocol is to keep Denali in holding while the pups are getting fed and we are grateful that he is willing to hang out with no issues.
We've been having a difficult time filming Grizzer lately, he's been very social with staff and spending a lot of time with people. This scenario is great for humans and wolves alike, but difficult if you want more than 30 seconds of Youtube footage. Changes in behavior can be stimulated by seasonal changes. The other wolves who live in social groups are spending more time jaw sparring, posturing and interacting. Grizzer is doing the same thing with Oscar, but the fence separation keeps him from gaining the full effect of social contact.
Shadow remains the calm, leader that he has been for the last several years. Grizzer's testing seems to be focused on Malik, although it has diminished significantly since the late fall. Shadow appears to enjoy watching over his pack, and spending time with all the members. He and Malik are frequently found sleeping near each other as brothers. He and Maya have their moments of special bonding and when Grizzer wants to roll upside down in the snow, Shadow is there as well. The warmer temperatures may be influencing the activities, but so far, the winter has been calm.
The last weight we recorded on Boltz is from October 26th, so we think he is large than 86.6 lbs by now. He is gaining in height and is reaching Aidan's height. Aidan and Boltz have a lot of resemblance considering they are not related in any way. To those people who will be participating in Behavioral Observations in the upcoming months, the challenge to identify the differences between Aidan and Boltz will be great.
Shadow ha really shown an improvement in his feeding behavior. When he was first moved to retirement, he was very timid about feeding, which created some intense guarding behavior from Malik. As winter approaches and we are feeding larger quantities of food, we see much more confidence. I know this surprises people because Shadow is so confident in all other interactions, but in wolf social rules, food possession doesn't always correlate with status.
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