This is just a reminder that the wolf logs are now posted on Friday rather than Monday due to a change in the Curator's teaching schedule. The last posting was Friday, January 29th, but on February 1st, the January postings are automatically moved to the archive section, which is why the main log screen has appeared empty since the 1st of February. To see archive data, just click the month/year that you would like to review and you can see the log postings. In the Youtube posting this week, there is an image of estrous blood/urine marking from a wild wolf at the peak of the breeding season. Maya, being spayed doesn't have the same response as a reproducing female, but she still is at her peak this week. This mean's a bit more dominance, and much more social pair bonding behavior, that may have something to do with Shadow's desire to stay in the back of the enclosure.
Archives
This is just a reminder that the wolf logs are now posted on Friday rather than Monday due to a change in the Curator's teaching schedule. The last posting was Friday, January 29th, but on February 1st, the January postings are automatically moved to the archive section, which is why the main log screen has appeared empty since the 1st of February. To see archive data, just click the month/year that you would like to review and you can see the log postings. We thought we had made progress last week with anti-inflammatory treatments for Shadow, thinking that his change in behavior may have been due to some chronic pain of old age, but this week, we continue to see Shadow more aloof and still testing to some staff. We have also had some re-occurring locations of radio-collared wolves in the area, so we may now be thinking that Shadow is being more territorial and responding to wild wolf presence as the wild wolf breeding season is peaking at this time of the year. We will continue to monitor this closely, but at this time, Shadow appears to prefer the Curator, and long-time wolf care staff member Jen Westlund. The other staff, are taking a break from wolf care in the Exhibit Pack. Hopefully, if this is hormonal, that it will be a short-term break.
Denali isn't gaining any status in the male rank order, but he has certainly honed his skills in Maya confrontation. His body posture is one of high tail, hackles and stiff leg movements showing Maya that he is nearly a foot taller than her. Of course, that may stop less determined wolves than Maya, she is small, but very tenacious. Overall, the male rank order is one of chases, wrestling and the occasional Shadow pinning either Denali or Grizzer to the ground.
As the main pack has more dominance, Malik gets more focused and excited. He has been racing around the enclosure anytime he hears Maya's dominance, which is good for his physical health. It's questionable if hearing dominance in the other pack is good for his psychological health, it may bring back some anxiety. In the Youtube video this week, he has a short howling bout, as you can hear the rest of the pack in the background.
Did I say Maya peaked in winter hormones last week? Well, this week seems more intense. She is frequently presenting herself to Shadow, and has been very intense and quick to escalate into a growling response. She is also guarding staff with far more intensity than she has in the past, which makes wolf care a challenge having a growling wolf that is constantly seeking your attention and lunging at other wolves that get close. Needless to say, we are mainly seeing the most experienced staff doing wolf care these days.
Last week, we were very close to retiring Shadow. As posted in the logs, Shadow had been staying in the back of the enclosure, originally, we thought it may be influenced by wild wolf presence, but on Saturday the 6th, Shadow appeared to be very lethargic, and we noticed a few other physical issues that increased our concern. We readjusted his anti-inflammatory dose, and within 2 days, he was back with the pack in a strong social interaction with all pack members. He did seem to spend some time reasserting his dominance over Grizzer, which is quite easy. It took a little more time for Denali to get the message that Shadow was back, but he figured it out. Shadow's photo for this week says it all, "feeling good and glad to be part of the pack". Video of this rolling behavior is on the Youtube video this week.
Sorry for the delay in the logs, the spring semester started at Vermilion on Monday, and the Curator has a full teaching schedule on Monday and Tuesday mornings. The Priority for time at the Center was placed on the wolves, leaving other duties to wait until Friday. We will transition the logs to be posted on Friday's throughout the spring semester. Maya seems to be increasing her behavior as the winter progresses. The question is, which behavior will you see. One minute she is dominant and stalking, the next minute she's rubbing up against a wolf to get social interaction. She even has Shadow guessing, as her constant face rubs and parallel gating changes to a ride up and foreleg stab, causing even Shadow to be wary of her. This will pass as the winter hormones decrease, but for now, every moment is an experience with Maya.
Lakota has been very active during the last week. Cooler weather might had something to do with it. She was fed a good amount of chicken and beaver tails last Wednesday, and yesterday night the retired pack was fed 2 whole beaver with chicken stuffed inside. During todays wolf check, Lakota was carrying her beaver tail trying to cache it away from the staff.
Weather cooled out this past summer, with a nice breeze and temperatures around the 80’s. As you can see from this picture, Maya is enjoying the breeze and at the same time, she was taking a nap on a flat rock next to the pond. She only lifted her head to a noise made inside the auditorium. During mornings, she has been doing several ambushes and chases towards Grizzer and Shadow
Lakota's been extremely excitable chasing around the enclosure, jumping on the denbox from the benches. Late last week, Mac and Lakota were fed beef roasts, donated from a local resort. While staff made sure each wolf had their own roast before leaving the Center, the look of Lakota's stomach the next morning pointed to another conclusion. Sometime after staff left, Lakota probably stole Mac's roast. Another roast was thawed and Lakota was isolated in the vestibule while Mac was fed. Staff waited until Mac finished before returning Lakota to the enclosure. This week's vidoe shows Lakota on the denbox, she's very limber for 13, at the end of the clip is a short segment showing Lakota howling with the main pack. She goes through the motions, but has no vocalization due to her age. Sorry the clip is so short, but we have size limitations in the database.
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