This week’s log’s contain all the same text. Not only do I serve as the Wolf Curator for the International Wolf Center, but I also work as an instructor at Vermilion Community College. It’s been a busy day with Vermilion Natural Resource students participating in the Governor’s deer hunting pre-hunt educational activities for area elementary schools. We left for the festivities at 7 am this morning and stayed for the entire day, leaving little time for regular wolf log duties. The wolves are all doing well, we had a few mornings with temperatures near 15 degrees which seemed to stimulate activity. The roadkill deer supply is doing well thanks to a call from the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake that provided extra roadkill. Unfortunately, the freezer compressor failed on the same day, so thanks to generous donations from alpha members, we are back in business. Even though nighttime temperatures have been below freezing, the daytimes are relatively warm, keeping the wolves resting throughout the day.
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This week’s log’s contain all the same text. Not only do I serve as the Wolf Curator for the International Wolf Center, but I also work as an instructor at Vermilion Community College. It’s been a busy day with Vermilion Natural Resource students participating in the Governor’s deer hunting pre-hunt educational activities for area elementary schools. We left for the festivities at 7 am this morning and stayed for the entire day, leaving little time for regular wolf log duties. The wolves are all doing well, we had a few mornings with temperatures near 15 degrees which seemed to stimulate activity. The roadkill deer supply is doing well thanks to a call from the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake that provided extra roadkill. Unfortunately, the freezer compressor failed on the same day, so thanks to generous donations from alpha members, we are back in business. Even though nighttime temperatures have been below freezing, the daytimes are relatively warm, keeping the wolves resting throughout the day.
This week’s log’s contain all the same text. Not only do I serve as the Wolf Curator for the International Wolf Center, but I also work as an instructor at Vermilion Community College. It’s been a busy day with Vermilion Natural Resource students participating in the Governor’s deer hunting pre-hunt educational activities for area elementary schools. We left for the festivities at 7 am this morning and stayed for the entire day, leaving little time for regular wolf log duties. The wolves are all doing well, we had a few mornings with temperatures near 15 degrees which seemed to stimulate activity. The roadkill deer supply is doing well thanks to a call from the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake that provided extra roadkill. Unfortunately, the freezer compressor failed on the same day, so thanks to generous donations from alpha members, we are back in business. Even though nighttime temperatures have been below freezing, the daytimes are relatively warm, keeping the wolves resting throughout the day.
Grizzer has had some good views of the Exhibit Pack. When they are at the top of the enclosure, Grizzer can stand on the den site and see the entire hillside. This is good stimulus for him, and occupies a lot of time. We frequently see him on the webcam as he uses both the straw on the top and inside the den. As I look at the other log postings for December, it appears that I need to get a different pose for Grizzer. Sorry for the duplication in photography, he's just so photogenic when he stands on the den, we can't resist.
Both Malik and Shadow seem to be enjoying the warmer days lately. With temperatures staying near 20 degrees, they rest comfortably both in and on the den. We see them together often and haven't had a reoccurring issue with Malik possessing the den.
Denali doesn't seem to like Aidan following him, but he also doesn't seem to like it when Aidan ignores him. Denali does a classic play bow, then springs into action and runs away, inviting Aidan to chase him. Aidan has difficulty keeping up, his conformation is much different than Denali. Where Denali has long lanky legs that allow him to jump high and run fast, Aidan has short legs and a not so coordinated gate. This will probably result in a lot of Denali behavior to observe this winter.
Malik has had deer legs removed from the den several times this week. With the lack of snow, he seems to be caching in the straw more frequently, which is usually fine, but he tends to then guard the leg, keeping Shadow out of the den. It's the job of wolf care staff to make sure both wolves have a warm dry place to sleep. Of course, Shadow has the small den, but there's something about a dominant wolf sleeping in a small hut,
Lately, after staff move the leg from the den cache, Shadow's been proactive in taking it and carrying it around the enclosure. This has certainly given Shadow more confidence and more activity. I have observed him sleeping in the smaller hut that we have as a secondary space for the Retired Pack, but his preference is to be back in the big den.
Aidan has been really demonstrating some intense behavior, following Denali, showing a T-2 tail posture. This usually starts when we begin wolf care, but by the time we're done, they are both lying on the straw den. The Youtube footage this week shows some great social behavior filmed from the auditorium window. There's even some shoulder to shoulder greeting between the two brothers.
While Denali doesn't get as much hands on contact as we would like, he is getting some greetings from wolf care when we can occupy Aidan's time. Denali does spend time next to the fence with Oscar. Aidan doesn't seem to intervene between Oscar and Denali. Denali gets so excited to see Oscar that he's started to hop as he runs to the edge of the fence.
The International Wolf Center uses science-based education to teach and inspire the world about wolves, their ecology, and the wolf-human relationship.