The following was written by Pups at One year program participant Candee Stoffel My most favorite new memory from this weekend was of Grizzer. When they were fed the beavers, Grizzer took his off to the side then came back and picked up Maya's even after she had scent marked it as hers. He then carried her beaver over by his first beaver. then he seemed to go off to see if he could grab another beaver. But, at the time, Maya came back to claim one of his. By the time he came back, he was down a beaver and the fate of his other beaver was also in question. For a guy who seemed to be ahead of the game in the beginning, he seemed to have lost ground. But he seems to be a thinker and a planner because he still seemed to get some in the end.
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The following was written by Pup at One Year program participant: Steve Lokker For a week, we nannies gave Nyssa our heart. When it was time to leave, you returned our hearts and they wer overflowing with love, strength, and a gentle spirit. Your passing leaves a void that can never be filled, and at the same time, you left a mark on our hearts and our spirit that will never be erased. Thank you Nyssa, for allowing us to share in a small part of your all too-brief life. Please know Nyssa, that the measure of the impact you had on us was significantly greater than the short span of your life. Steve Lokker, Nanny Class #3 – June 13 – 19, 2004
The following was written by Pup at One Year program participant: Kathy Kerns To Nyssa (at her memorial site) I felt your spirit racing through the woods. Your eyes peering through the pines. Your breath carried on the breeze. You live on in our hearts. The following was written by Pup at One Year program participant: Jim LeBlanc When I left in June 2004, I nuzzled you and told you "Grow Up Big and Strong". You did just that, you will be missed.
The following was written by Pups at One Year Program participant: Kathryn Trussell Even though she was considerably smaller than the other pups, she made up with her voice. She was extremely vocal with Maya and Grizzer. Throughout her entire life, she always dominanted the deer carcasess. No wonder she weighed 95 lbs at one year. The pack, staff and public will surely miss Nyssa. The following was written by Pup at One Year program participant: Pete Trussell. I drove into the IWC parking lot in July 2004, the husband of a wolf pup nanny and left an ardent wolf supporter. In between, my life was forever changed as I was priveleged to meet the retired pack and interact with the wolf puppies in their enclosure (thanks, Lori). The experience with the pups was amazing. Their behaviors ranged from submission (even Grizzer) to wonderful kisses from Nyssa (she's missed by all). Thanks to the IWC, the Exhibit pack (now including the pups) and the retired pack for enriching our lives.
Written by Sandy and Candee Stoffel, participants in the Pups at One Year Program. What I remember most about Nyssa, was the first time I bottled fed her. She kept falling asleep on my face and I had to keep nudging her to wake her up. -Sandy. My favorite memory of Nyssa was when her and I had a little straw fight. I would take the straw out of her mouth and when I looked back at her, she had another piece sticking out of her mouth for me to grab. – Candee.
Pups at One Year participants were asked to describe each wolf and their behavior that they observed during their weekend at the Center. Grizzer was described as Attention seeking and resilient. Grizzer tends to dominant time with wolf care staff, often coming in between the wolf and a staff member. He has become the recent attention of pack mobbings. He was observed running up the hill with a tucked tail after the mobbing and then turned right around and ran back to the pack.
After a hot humid day, Grizzer and Maya spent yesterday evening chasing each other. Grizzer stalked Maya, and pounced on her once or twice. Staff members have noticed that from the Exhibit Pack, he is often the one who instigates all the other wolves to play.
Mackenzie loves to have fresh chips in the enclosure. After the Wolf Care Staff spread some, she went and layed in the shade. She was quite relaxed when Lakota approached her and layed by her side. This is one of the few pictures where you can see both of the females side by side.
Maya and Grizzer spent yesterday afternoon chasing and pouncing at each other. They had some leftover feathers form the last environmental enrichment, and both yearlings were playing with them. Maya was biting Grizzer's nose when he tried to take the feathers from her.
This week has been a busy one for the wolf care staff with the ethology class, hence the delay in updating the wolf logs. This week Maya was observed by visitors digging a large hole by the gate entrance into the Exhibit pack's wolf enclosure. This required the wolf care staff to place large, heavy rocks into the hole to prevent further digging. Maya seems to enjoy finding new places to dig, which requires the wolf care staff to be diligent about looking for holes by the fencing and gates. Maya also took a keen interest in the minnows that were placed into the pond as part of this week's enclosure enrichment project.
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