Today is a special wolf log reporting the results of the arctics veterinary check. As you've read in previous logs, the arctics have had trouble with ear mites. As the summer season approaches, we wanted to make sure they were healthy and ready for a summer of viewing. Wolf care staff joined veterinarian Dr. Chip Hanson for an immobilization of the arctics to get a scope of their ears and do some intensive cleaning. Grizzer and Maya weren't immobilized, since they are very tolerant of ear cleaning (thanks to the Nannies…) We are happy to report no signs of mite, just some slight debris and a possible response to allergeries. Their ears were cleaned, the drugs were reversed and they successfully rejoined the pack. Care was given to ensure no loss to Shadow's status by placing him in the main enclosure first while Malik, Grizzer and Maya waited in holding. Grizzer spent most of the exam whining outside of the holding pen waiting for the arctics to return. Maya whined a bit, but was distracted by a variety of things to chase in the enclosure. All went well, and as a precaution to not single out the arctics, Maya and Grizzer had their ears cleaned and smelled of the same medication. I'm posting several pictures of the reunion back into the pack.
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Grizzer was very tolerant of the immobilization process that took place last week Thursday. He exhibited a lot of anxious whining, and was very excited to see the arctics back in the pack, but didn't show any signs of dominance due to their absence. This is a big concern when doing medical care on a few members of the pack rather than the whole group. In the wild, wolves disperse or leave their pack and can be perceived as outsiders after dispersal. In captivity, even a short removal for veterinary care can create a similar behavioral scenario. The age of Grizzer may have been a factor. Grizzer and Maya turned two years old on Friday, even though they are physically mature, they tend to still exhibit juvenile tendencies. An immobilization like this would not be a method recommended if Grizzer were 3 years of age and acting like a full-fledged adult. In that case, all the wolves would be treated equally.
This is the classic Malik pose – a handsome example of an Arctic wolf. As a follow-up to a previous log: the scar beneath Malik's left eye is healing nicely.
The retired wolves completely consumed 5 beaver carcasses over the weekend, probably with a bit of help from the ravens. When wolf care staff did the enclosure check today, there was very little evidence of the beaver or the parts that the wolves don't comsume, such as the stomachs, intestines and skulls. This means the wolves are bound to be a bit sleepy after a healthy meal. In the wild, when biologists fly over wolf packs, it's not uncommon to see them bedded around a kill site, sometimes for as much as 18 – 24 hours.
MacKenzie was very active during this morning's wolf check, and submitted for a full inspection of her body. The wolves show no signs of ticks or other ectoparasites, and will be soon receiving their treatment of frontline, thanks to Andi Nelson. MacKenzie still gets excited when Lucas shows interest in social interaction. But, the best Lucas could do today was a stand-over MacKenzie as shown in this week's logs.
The wolf care staff conducted another enclosure enrichment project with frozen chicken this morning. The wolves are locked into holding, while some general maintenance is done in the enclosure. Their reward when returning is to locate a few treats scattered around the enclosure. This enrichment encourages the wolves to use their sensory abilities and provides good stimulus. Malik is most excited when he finds a treat and can elude the other wolves.
Grizzer is starting to mellow with age. He still has a few testing moments with staff when the staff are occupied with other tasks (such as the curator when she's photographing the wolves and not watching Grizzer). He showed a great tolerance for his recent vaccinations, standing motionless for both subQ injections. Shedding has begun in the Exhibit Pack with Grizzer shedding the most. During this time of year, signs of wild wolf shedding in present in the forests surrounding Ely, wild wolves rub up against some vegetation, leaving a tuft of shed hair.
Life in the male rank order is back to the usual status of Shadow, Malik, Grizzer or Shadow, Grizzer, Malik depending upon how closely Shadow is watching the interactions between Grizzer and Malik. Staff spent a lot of time helping Shadow deal with the anxiety of the tresspass behind the enclosure last week. During Shadow's off behavior, Malik took advantage of the situation at every possible moment. Rank order is extremely important in the wild to maintain leadership of the pack, the same genetic drive exists in captivity.
Over the last few weeks, there have been several observations about Lucas sleeping more than normal and not getting up to greet. He still seems perky when he takes his daily vitamins, cosequin and durlactin, but he continues to show more age related symptoms compared to his pack mates. As the summer starts and temperatures warm, observations of Lucas will increase and more data will be collected on his behavioral patterns.
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