Malik is a wolf, which means he is an opportunist. When the focus is on Shadow, he takes every opportunity to stand near by and see if he can gain some status. There are still moments that Grizzer and Shadow join forces to keep Malik in his place, but the dynamics for Malik is variable. Wolf social dominance is a complex and the wolves are the best teachers of this concept.
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Maya is also feeling the hormonal surge during this time of the year. One minute she’s rubbing up against Shadow in a paired bonding display, the next minute she’s grabbing Grizzer by the back leg a tackling him. The pack seems to tolerate her changes in direction, although staff has observed the males sleeping together in one straw pile, while Maya sleeps alone on top of the den. Without a second female to focus on, Maya still directs most of her energy output on her littermate, Grizzer.
In this week’s video for Malik, you will see Grizzer test Shadow, and Shadow respond with a bit of intimidation. This creates an opening for Malik to gain a bit of status on Shadow. He responds by coming in from behind and following Grizzer and Shadow up the hill with a high tail response. While Grizzer is facing Shadow, Malik is to the side watching for opportunities. This is a common response within a rank order, and it generally gives the middle ranking wolf a bit of confidence.
Maya continues to demonstrate the behaviors of a dominant female. As shown in this week’s video, she does a modified RLU on the straw bed. She has also been caching bones and scarps within the straw beds and defending those caches from the males in the pack. She has developed a full winter coat and from a distance, staff have to look twice to not confuse Maya and Grizzer.
Wolves communicate in a variety of ways, but the most impressive is the use of facial expressions. In this week’s photo, Shadow shows a full threat display as Grizzer approaches. His intent is to tell Grizzer to back off before any physical contact is made. This type of developed communication also helps to maintain rank order within a pack. In this week’s video, Shadow shows his tolerance of Grizzer’s antics on the rock, with a short clip showing Grizzer’s mobility. Shadow demonstrates an RLU on the straw beds followed by a scratch of the straw to spread his scent as a dominant animal.
In this week’s video for Malik, you will see Grizzer testing Shadow. While Shadow is able to defend himself from Grizzer with growls and barred teeth, the issue is with the response of the other wolves. Maya tends to just follow along, and not attempt any dominant moves on Shadow, likely due to the close bond these two maintain. Malik sees this as an opportunity to increase rank. When Shadow is vulnerable, Malik comes in for some scruff bites and chases Shadow to the den with a high tail posture. This is natural rank order behavior that will intensify with cooler weather and the increase of hormones during the winter months. So far, things have been noisy, but no bite wounds during these ritualized dominance displays that are inherent wolf behavior.
The fall season brings an increase in scavengers to the exhibit, primarily ravens. The many trees in the enclosure make for great raven perches. Maya is watchful of the activity and finds a good place for viewing, that will also allow a quick spring into action if needed. In observing the wolves in the Exhibit Pack, we find that they rarely have the deep sleep of a domestic dog. When they are resting, they seem to maintain a level of alertness that is demonstrated in Maya’s video this week.
We’ve seen no further decline in mobility in MacKenzie since the maintenance dose of anti-inflammatory was started, but some days she just doesn't seem to have the spark as other days and she's beginning to really show her age. As you see from this week’s video, she is able to maneuver as she does a turn around while watching the staff in the enclosure, but it's not at a very fast pace. The high pressure weather system over the weekend has brought cold, clear days, causing a lot of sun reflectance. She seems to be a bit sensitive to the glare, as her photo shows a bit of a squint. Of course, we’re all squinting a bit in the bright sun glaring off the layer of snow. In this colder weather, the retired pack has been getting very frequent feedings, and both seem to be doing well with several bales of straw to choose from. They really do much better in the cold than they do in the hot summer days.
Written by Sherrel Grabler Sharing the experience of the socialization process reminded me of something, I know all to well: size is not a true indicator of strength, determination, passion or vulnerability. Thank you for blessing our lives and our hearts with your vibrant, mischievous and loveable spirit. Lynne Haines writes: Thank you for sharing your love with us. You allowed us to become a part of the pack and changed our lives in ways that will never be forgotten. Your spirit talked to us in a different way. The high pitch is no longer heard, but your powerful energy gives strength and force in its presence. I was recently blessed with a gift of your energy during an accupuncture treatment. Your name came first, followed by a very powerful, yet pleasant rush of your energy running feely.
The following was written by Pups at One Year program participant: Donna Baumgartner. Nyssa was my favorite pups from the first day. I guess I gravitated toward the smallest and seemingly neediest pup. I soon learned that she was a mightly pups in a small package. I remember her jumping on Grizzer when he was sleeping, then chewing on his ear or biting his belly while he tried valiantly to continue sleeping. She didn't see to realize that she was smaller than the other two. I was lucky to be with the pups when they discovered their first deer carcass. On the way back from a program, they noticed a thawaing deer carcass in a wheelbarrow. When Nyssa got close, she went right after that deer. For 45 minutes, Nyssa gnawed on any part she could reach, all the while growling fiercely at anyone and everyone around her. It was HER deer, and no one was going to interfere with HER meal. It seems she continued those same table manners throughout her short life. My time with Nyssa and the other pups was truly a gift, and Nyssa will always remain in my heart.
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