Boltz – Sand Pile Posturing

We know that insects congregate towards vegetation.  Whether it’s black flies and leatherleaf or yellow jackets preying on the insects that congregate in the vegetation, Boltz takes issue with their presence, no matter what they are. In an effort to give Boltz some relief, we had a 5-yard load of sand delivered to the wolf exhibit.  We use the sand to fill holes, but more importantly, the wolves use the sand as a resting place.  Combined with the Center’s misting system, the sand provides a cool, insect free place to rest.  In this photo, Boltz responds with some intimidation to Axel’s presence on the sandpile with ears pricked and turned sideways (EPTS in the Ethogram).   Boltz seems to have accepted Grayson’s posturing, but something about Axel continues to make him nervous.  Leadership of this pack next fall may still be contentious as leadership is not just about dominance, but it’s about alliances.  We know Boltz has an alliance with Denali, but as Denali ages and transitions into retirement, Boltz will be left to transition into new relationships.  From current observations, Grayson seems to be the preference for Boltz. 

Luna and Grizzer Improvements

The Working for Wolves crew did an amazing job this weekend, cleaning, raking and giving the Exhibit Pack a fresh look.  Crew members shoveled and hauled nearly half a dump truck load of small rock to fix a significant digging issue under the east side pond.  Without this work, the concrete was at risk of cracking;  Losing the ponds functionality which would have been a critical loss for older wolves in the warm summer months.  Crew members also installed a new, more powerful misting system for the Exhibit that mists the Pack Holding area as well. Protective panels were installed, stained and concrete pads were positioned to protect our medical pens and reduce some of the drainage and ice conditions we experienced last winter.  The most noticeable projects on the webcam were in the pack holding area where crews mortared some protective rock to cover the sharp edges of the concrete, provide better visual appeal for photography and gave Grizzer a wider ramp off the back of the pack holding area den.  To allow time for the concrete to dry, a protective fence panel was constructed to keep Luna and Grizzer away from the wet concrete;  You may have viewed the panel on the Pack Holding Area webcam.    The wolves were very calm despite all the activity in the yard.  They especially like the part where we barbecue brats in the wolf yard. 

Grizzer – Shedding Pattern

Grizzer is doing great.  We celebrated his 14th birthday with a webinar and a pork roast.  He enjoyed both, especially since Luna took a break on the East Side Retirement area so Grizzer could enjoy his pork roast in peace.  I don’t want to give you the idea that Grizzer wants to be away from Luna.  After Luna’s medical exam and subsequent recovery in the Wolf Care Center, Grizzer spent a lot of time whining at the gate until Luna returned.  The issue is that Luna gets quite food possessive, so to eat a pork roast, it takes some time and it requires no distractions. It was a nice birthday gift. 

This spring season has had some unusual changes in weather.  We had snow and ice late in the  year, but when things finally turned to spring, we seemed to miss a transition and went right into the high 70’s and low 80’s for daytime temperatures.   While humans might find this weather welcoming, wolves with full winter coats are a bit overheated.  We are always concerned with heat and older animals.  You may have witnessed (possibly on the webcams) wolf care staff brushing the wolves during the morning wolf checks.   Grizzer has an extremely thick undercoat and is not shedding other than on his legs.  He usually ends up with a shed from below pattern, where he loses his leg, tail and stomach undercoat and keeps a large ruff of hair around his neck.  His sister Maya had  similar shedding pattern only in addition to the neck ruff, she kept a ruff a long hair on her back legs that made her look like she was wearing a tutu.  

Grayson – Carcass Time

As I wrote in Denali’s log, Grayson has to wait to eat on some Saturday night feedings due to Denali’s tendency to guard and possess food.  Staff always document the time spent on the carcass by each wolf and an overall assessment of food consumption is best identified by the size and coloration of the scat on the days post-feeding, not to mention a full belly of a species that has stomach receptors allowing for a gorging of up to 20% of their body weight.  Although, for the white wolves, a look at their face can reveal at least a presence on the carcass as shown by Grayson’s picture.   Grayson is a special case for us, he seems to have a different immune system than Axel.  In his short two years, we have had several reoccurring issues of parasites that have been a challenge to treat.  We are glad to report that have 3 negative fecals in the last month and we will continue to check for the next month to make sure he stays parasite free.   With Grayson’s parasite issues and the behavioral challenges with Denali, monitoring weight is a big issue.  Typically wolves lose weight over the winter, but combine that with the competition of parasites and it becomes more concerning.  We are happy to report that Grayson is back on track and aided by additional feedings of chicken and beef that is part of Luna and Grizzer’s daily routine.

Date Wolf Weight in Pounds Change in weights Age
10/2/2017 Grayson 94.8 4.4 17 months
11/2/2017 Grayson 89.8 -5 18 months
12/2/2017 Grayson 87 -2.8 19 months
12/31/2017 Grayson 84.6 -2.4 20 months
2/2/2018 Grayson 82 -2.6 21 Months
3/2/2018 Grayson 84 2 22 Months
4/2/2018 Grayson 86.3 2.3 23 Months 
4/30/2018 Grayson 89.4 3.1 24 months

Denali – Doesn’t Need to be Near Food to Possess it

Denali has always been a wolf with a strong tendency for food possession.  Lately, there seems to be a direct intent to keep Grayson away from food resources.  This may have something to do with Grayson and Denali’s relationship.  Since Grayson’s introduction, Denali has focused on Grayson, usually resulting in chasing Grayson around the enclosure and into the safety of the pond rocks.  For those of us who have been in wolf care for a few years, this is very reminiscent of Maya’s focus on Aidan.   Why focus on Grayson?  Maybe Denali sees more potential for competition from Grayson than Axel.  There is no doubt, Grayson has more intensity than Axel in most of his activities.  This is not just a one-way interaction between Denali and Grayson.  Lately Grayson has displayed some grab-bites that instigates some of Denali’s chases.  Whenever possible, wolf care staff try to provide a distraction to diffuse some intensity between individuals.  But, wolves live in the moment,  What can be intense at one instance can be completely opposite the next.  On May 4th staff noted an observation in the logs: “Grayson went into main den for several hours with Aidan and Denali, when Denali finally came out and laid down elsewhere, Grayson came out of the den and went to go sleep with Denali” 

The biggest challenge we have managing this exhibit in the summer is the stimuli created by summer enrichments.  Wolves in summer tend to be more crepuscular, active at dawn and dusk, which doesn’t align as well with summer viewing.  In an effort to stimulate the wolves during the visitor center viewing hours, we schedule enrichments after each “Ambassador Wolf” program and have a special noon-time enrichment during the heart of summer.  Staff need to be creative as the Center is open seven days a week from May 11 – October 14th.  We also need to cognitive of the food enrichments.  While they are great stimuli, food creates competition and competition creates facial expressions like Denali.  For Denali, he doesn’t need to be near food to possess it.

Boltz – Let the Timid Season Begin

Staff is certainly watching Boltz’s response to the summer season, also known as the bug season that has affected Boltz in the past.  This is the time of the year where Boltz becomes more timid, often staying up in the wooded area of the enclosure where a full compliment of shade results in less insects.  This self-imposed isolation to the upper enclosure can impact his pack relationships.  Last summer, we noticed that  Grayson and Axel would posture over Boltz as he came down from the woodline at the end of a summer day.   Last summer, they were yearlings and as such, were not as keyed into rank order; as adults, their posturing and focus on Boltz could have more influence.   We have already observed a change in Boltz’s confidence as he seemed to strive for leadership this winter, but then settled to be lower ranking in the pack.  The one factor that might be relevant this summer is that Boltz still has a tendency to intimidate Aidan.  Wolf care staff note that they can tell when there’s been some pack dynamic issues overnight because Boltz  is more socially interactive with staff when he’s postured over Aidan.  If that dynamics continues to occur, it might be enough of a boost to help overcome some of his summer time phobias. 

While the other wolves do fluctuate with weight, Boltz has remained very consistent over the years.  He is a poster boy for great bone conformation and is often used in comparison for Luna because they were raised during the same time frame with the same diet.  We are very pleased that Boltz has no inhibitions coming into the Wolf Care Center to be weighed.  

 

6/5/2013 Boltz 102.5 lb  1 year 2.5 mo
8/14/2013 Boltz 109.56 lb  1 year 5 months
6/13/2014 Boltz 111.9 lbs 2 years 1 month
5/1/2015 Boltz 109.34 lbs 3 years 2 month 
6/10/2016 Boltz 111.1 lbs 4 years 3 months
5/2/2017 Boltz 107 lbs 5 years 1.5 months
6/30/2017 Boltz 109 lbs 5 years 3 months
8/2/2017 Boltz 107.8 l bs 5 years 5 months 
4/2/2018 Boltz 107.2 ~ 6 years 
4/30/2018 Boltz 111.4 6 years 2 months

 

Axel – Active and Expressive

This week’s photo displays a behavior easy to identify; we term it a “Squash” behavior.   One wolf literally sits on another wolf, squashing them to the ground.  This is typical of Axel; he is very expressive in his behaviors and very physical.  While this is likely a social interaction between Denali and Axel, you may notice Grayson is coming from behind with a high tail posture.  Axel and Denali seem to have a strong bond and are often observed wrestling, chasing and overall active behaviors.  This social bond may be paying off for Axel.  In the last few months, Denali has been favoring Axel at the Saturday evening carcass feedings, keeping Boltz and Grayson away from the carcass.  Grayson and Denali are a bit more contentious and certainly may impact future leadership roles. 

Staff monitor this closely by evaluating scat coloration and texture, which is influenced by the amount of meat in the digestive tract.  We also weigh the wolves, usually at the 2nd of the month that coincides with Axel and Grayson’s birthday.  

Tracking weights is an important part of pack management.  As noted in Axel’s chart, fluctuations in weight happens in winter, with some declines in weight likely due to more calorie output to keep warm.  Axel’s highest weight was in October 2017, when he weighed 110 pounds, now that winter is over, he is working his way back up to that weight. 

 

Date Wolf Weight in Pounds Weight change since last data Age 
10/2/2017 Axel 110.4 4.8 17 months
11/2/2017 Axel 106 -4.4 18 Months
12/2/2017 Axel  103.5 -2.5 19 months 
12/31/2018 Axel  101 -2.5 20 month 
2/2/2018 Axel  98 -3 21 Months
3/2/2018 Axel 98 0 22 Months
4/2/2018 Axel 100.5 2.5 23 Months 
4/30/2018 Axel 105.6 5.1 2 years

Aidan- Moments of Control

As the summer season arrives, wolf dynamics will naturally change.  Warm weather and seasonal hormones make for calmer moments, which is good for Aidan.  The testing behavior over the winter is subsiding and there seems to be some definitive alliances that remain from the winter dynamics. In this post’s photo, you will see Grayson respond with submissive ears while Aidan’s directs a threat display towards Boltz. Grayson still defers to Aidan even though Aidan’s status has diminished as pack leader.  Aidan has moments when he is in control, but most are in defense of food, not necessarily coordinated with rank order.  At this point, the pack is interacting moment by moment with differing responses based on the level of stimuli.  Wolf care staff, food resources and summer visitors all have an influence on interactions.  In a recent data sheet entry, wolf care staff noted that “Grayson has been staying close to Aidan all day, resting within 2-3 feet of him”.  On another day, staff noted that “Aidan, Grayson and Boltz slept in the main den together for 30 minutes.”  Calm moments are increasing and we are seeing it in Aidan’s overall attitude; He is more interactive and much more likely to be found rallying with the pack.  As far as an overall health update, the new prescription of a 25 mg tablet of Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine seems to be impacting Aidan’s mast cell growths.  Not only has the size of the growth diminished, hair has completely grown over the suture site from last November’s surgery and he shows no licking or irritation at the spot of the growth. 

Luna – Medical Update

Luna’s medical exam occurred on May 2nd.  As we suspected, there is an increased degenerative condition on her right leg.  The vet report stated: 

“On physical exam, the right hip has significantly decreased range of motion, which is consistent with radiographs. The neck of the femur continues to be blunted/misshapen which is likely leading to a mechanical bone – on – bone articulation as she moves. Ultimately it does not appear that removing the plate would be beneficial as the area of concern is in the joint itself.”

We also tested her thyroid because she has been having some issues with skin irritation, but her thyroid levels were normal.  So, the irritation may likely be an allergen as she has responded well to short-term use of antihistamines.  Since she’s been a pup, she has had issues with maintaining vitamin D levels without supplements, but the latest blood work has shown some progress with this condition.  A medical exam is challenging because it involves chemical immobilization for the trip to the clinic.  It took Luna a few days of rest after the exam to get back to increased mobility, no doubt manipulation for x-rays created some soreness.  While Luna has always been on nutritional supplements, she has now been prescribed an NSAID to reduced inflammation and staff continue to try to provide some hands-on care to provide her relief. 

Aidan – Sharing Spaces

In the last few postings, we have noted Aidan gaining more confidence in moving around the wooded area of the enclosure.  This has been a struggle for him as he isolated himself from the pack for a period of time.  There are several staff postings of Aidan and Grayson sharing spaces.  Most often it’s at top of the main densite, but in our first rain event of the 2018 spring season, Grayson and Aidan shared the tight quarters of the Slate Den.  He’s taking some anti-histamines which has reduced the inflammation of his mast cell growth, he has spent less time licking the site, resulting in a dryer, smaller area of irritation.