Written by Planning For Pups program participants Jennifer Ell and Betty Magnuson: Malik was involved in the enclosure enrichment looking for bacon ice cubes and beaver feet popsicles placed around the enclosure. After the activity slowed down, while the other wolves continued to explore, Malik laid down by the fence by the wolf enclosure. At the What's For Dinner program, he was actively feeding when Grizzer directed some aggression towards him. As a result, he walked away from the carcass. He did return later to feed after Grizzer had left the carcass. This week's photo shows the pack coming out of the holding area for feeding. As you can see, Malik has a T3.5 tail position while the rest of the pack have T1 tail positions. While Malik is trying to figure out how he fits into the pack, it is evident that he is still an important member of the pack.
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Written by Planning For Pups program participants Lynn Kaveney and Kathy Rundquist: Maya exhibits very inconsistent behavior towards Aidan. She seems to be always in tune with what he is doing. She is either eyeing him, stalking, following, or lying near him. He is no doubt confused by her behavior. At one point this weekend, she was observed lying on the slate den with both Shadow and Aidan. She explored the enclosure during enrichment and was observed fishing for minnows from the pond. During this time, she stalked Aidan from behind the slate den, happily chasing him around the pond.
With summer brings heat, humidity, large crowds and various forms of stimuli for the wolves. During the Canine Cousins program today, the stimulus of two visiting dogs (belonging to Assistant Curator Donna Prichard) instigated a pack rally led by Shadow. During last night’s feeding, Malik was one of the first wolves on the carcass and defended his food from Grizzer, Aidan, Denali and Shadow. While Malik is the lowest ranking male, wolves have the right of possession, meaning that an item in a wolf’s possession belongs to that wolf and will not be taken away.
With summer brings heat, humidity, large crowds and various forms of stimuli for the wolves. While Shadow typically chooses to eat without a crowd watching, he was the first on the carcass at this week’s feeding, grabbing onto it and pulling it away as the rest of the pack approached. He defended it briefly and then remained to feed as the rest of the pack joined in. During the Canine Cousins program today, the stimulus of two visiting dogs (belonging to Assistant Curator Donna Prichard) instigated a pack rally led by Shadow. Following the rally, Shadow reasserted his dominance over the yearlings, Aidan and Denali, as they solicited attention and reassurance from Shadow.
Written by "Pups at One Year" program participants Lauri Pecsok and Suzanne Wessa-Avello: Prior to enrichment, the pack is held in a separate holding area while the enrichment items are placed in the enclosure. In this weeks photo, Aidan is running from the pack holding area to enrichment, in this case four deer legs for six wolves. Aidan is often hesitant and unsure of himself in his interactions with his various pack mates, and running can be an uncomfortable stimulus for him as indicated by his ears turned back and his tail held somewhat lower. Still young and one of the newest pack members he's searching for his place in the pack, however he quickly reasserted himself when he discovered his brother had acquired one leg by challenging Denali to a tug of war. Persistence paid off as he happily ended up with half of that leg.
With summer brings heat, humidity, large crowds and various forms of stimuli for the wolves. During the Canine Cousins program today, the stimulus of two visiting dogs (belonging to Assistant Curator Donna Prichard) instigated a pack rally led by Shadow. When the dogs arrived for the program, Maya ran up to the fence line and whined, then joined in the pack rally initiated by Shadow. Following the rally, Maya asserted dominance over Aidan by chasing him up the hill into the woods. She returned almost immediately and seemed to alternate between curiosity and distance as she approached the fence line and then sought cover in the woods, returning to the fence line again.
Written by "Pups at One Year" program participants Gail Ramee and Heather Hoff: Denali continues to be a very active member of the pack. During two separate enrichment programs he enjoyed a watermelon for the first time, cached a honeydew melon on the slate den, and snagged one of four deer legs. In this week's photo, Denali is involved in a tug-of-war over a deer leg with his brother Aidan. Part of "growing up" for a yearling is figuring out where you belong in the pack. Denali is exhibiting some "testing" behaviors, sometimes demonstrated by placing a paw on Grizzer or Shadow. Grizzer tends to take it in stride, but on one occasion this week Shadow finally had enough and reminded Denali with a hard muzzle bite that he is still a yearling.
Written by "Pups at One Year" program participants Lisa Honey and Leslie Kemling: This weeks photo shows Grizzer paying respect to a relaxed and accepting Shadow. Grizzer continues to maintain his status as second ranking male exhibiting intimidation behaviors towards Malik such as following him around the enclosure. Enclosure enrichment programs serve the purpose of creating additional stimulation for the pack. Saturday's enrichment program provided various melons for the wolves. Each melon had a core removed, small bits of sausages were stuffed into the center and the core replaced. Grizzer seemed to enjoy the beef sticks that were placed in the melon. This weeks video shows his continued assertion of status as second ranking male by displaying intimidation behaviors toward Malik.
Written by "Pups at One Year" program participants Marcia Mummau and Dell Cameron: This week's photo shows the pack's dominant pair, Maya and Shadow, howling together on the greeting rock. Howling is one way wolves communicate with each other, and is used for a variety of purposes. In this case, Maya and Shadow howling together on the greeting rock tells us that the dominant pair is cohesive, which provides stability to the entire pack.
Written by "Pups at One Year" program participants Ann Powell and Annette Good: This week there were three enclosure enrichment programs which serve the purpose of creating additional stimulation for the pack. This week one of the enrichment programs was meat based, one was scent-based, by adding Catnip and Fish Oil to various items throughout the enclosure. The third enrichment program centered around two watermelons, two cantaloupe and two honeydew melons. Each melon had a core removed, small bits of sausages were stuffed into the center and the core replaced. Shadow used his paws to roll the melons and then carried them around the enclosure as well as some scent rolling; however as shown in this weeks photo, the grin behavior he is demonstrating shows that he enjoyed Thursday's scent enrichment. He scent rolled many times on the areas where the catnip was used, the fish oil did not seem to be as stimulating for him.
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