Again, we apologize for the delay in wolf logs, our intent is to post once a week, but wolf care is always the priority over every other job. These past few weeks, the facility and grounds area of wolf care has needed our attention. This season is best known as the ice season, when daytime temperatures create melting, but nighttime temperatures revert back to freezing. Conditions are slippery and hazardous, not only for the staff, but the wolves as well. Thanks to the kind donation of straw from Theresa Williams, the enclosures are getting a fresh layer of straw to increase traction. This is most problematic for the retired wolves, as any slip on the ice can affect older, more brittle bones and joints. The wolves are doing well, and are spending a significant amount of time sleeping in the sun. Lakota seems to have been up to a few other things, as she has a new canine bite on the nose. Staff seem to think the bite was from MacKenzie, but based on our interactions with Lakota, she pushes the limit with both Lucas and MacKenzie.
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Again, we apologize for the delay in wolf logs, our intent is to post once a week, but wolf care is always the priority over every other job. These past few weeks, the facility and grounds area of wolf care has needed our attention. This season is best known as the ice season, when daytime temperatures create melting, but nighttime temperatures revert back to freezing. Conditions are slippery and hazardous, not only for the staff, but the wolves as well. Thanks to the kind donation of straw from Theresa Williams, the enclosures are getting a fresh layer of straw to increase traction. This is most problematic for the retired wolves, as any slip on the ice can affect older, more brittle bones and joints. The wolves are doing well, and are spending a significant amount of time sleeping in the sun. Lakota seems to have been up to a few other things, as she has a new canine bite on the nose. Staff seem to think the bite was from MacKenzie, but based on our interactions with Lakota, she pushes the limit with both Lucas and MacKenzie.
Lakota had a great pose for a photo today as she avoided overheating during the warmest part of the day. This time of the year is especially difficult as spring time temperatures can near 70 degrees F, but the full winter coat of a wolf remains. Wolves don't have sweat glands covering their body like humans, the only cooling mechanism they possess is through panting to evaporate heat, or remaining inactive during the warmest parts of the day. The wolves have switched to the inactive behavior.
The logs for Grizzer today can be summed up in one word, Hot. Wolves tend to have a shedding period that begins in late May and extends into June and they generally shed their entire undercoat and are left with long guard hairs that make them appear long, lean and cooler. There may be some other benefit to keeping a winter coat a bit longer in the spring, and that's protection from the May-early June black fly population. But, if hot weather comes too early such as this past week in Ely, the wolves remain very inactive, and excessively pant to evaporate heat from their bodies. In this week's wolf logs, Grizzer can't seem to beat the heat, no matter where he goes. The pond has been cleaned, but a waterline below ground still has a bit of frost, so no water is flowing. If we get a good rainstorm, the pond line will probably thaw, vegetation will green, and the wolves will be cooler. Let's hope for rain
Lucas doesn't have too much new to report. He has continued to increase social behavior with staff and wolves alike. He's been spending more time in the back of the enclosure in the cooler dirt areas, and in the remaining ice buildup under the straw. He has been observed dominanting MacKenzie and doing several stand-over's, where one wolf stands over the top of another wolf in a passive dominance display.
Lucas has had some great visits. He's been very interactive with staff and seems to be feeling well. He's still the slowest to rise when bedded, but he seems to be more alert than in previous months. As we've said earlier, rarely do wild wolves reach this age, so captive care of older wolves is relatively new ground with limited support from wild wolf studies.
I received an email recently asking if Malik was a loner because of Shadow's dominance over Malik and Grizzer's association with Shadow. Malik is an interesting individual, and even though he's been given a rank order in the first time in his life, he still gets in the mix of activity. Some days, he and Shadow are lying together in the same straw bed, other days, Malik is weary of Shadow's presence and prances around the enclosure with a high tail and a full compliment of hackles (showing intimidation). Wolf communication can be very subtle sometimes, much is said by the look in the eye and the placement of a tail.
Lakota spent most of today's wolf check plucking the deer hide from the road-kill deer that was fed on Friday. These wolves still have a good appetite and digestive system even as they near 13 years of age (April 28th, is their official birthday, although they could have been born anytime between the 24th and 28th, because the den is left undisturbed for the first week of the pups lives)… So, let's just call it a celebration of their birth week.
Of all the Retired Pack members, one would think that MacKenzie would have the hardest time dealing with heat due to her dark coat. But, MacKenzie has a system, she burrows down into the bottom of the remaining staw beds, and finds the moist wet soil that has been insulated from the drying heat. This keeps her cool and relaxed. So, far, none of her siblings have picked up on her system, and she continues to dominate her space. The Retired Pack will be getting their stock tank filled on tuesday.
Vet check with Dr Jeremy Smith: her respiration is good and her heart rate is at 190 beats/minute. She was highly active during the exam. Results of the vet's analysis of stools showed they were completely clean.
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