In addition to scent rolling and marking the meat scraps fed to the retired wolves over the Thanksgiving holiday, Lakota proceeds to cache some extra food for later. Caching is a common wolf behavior that includes pushing with the nose and tamping the soil over the meat scarps. The retired wolves have been enjoying the multitude of scraps from deer hunters, but were fed a special treat of beef roasts, sausages and ribs for Thanksgiving.
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When Grizzer is testing Shadow, it’s clear by his body language that he is intimidated. The ears perked backwards and the tucked tail are body postures of a wolf that is intimidated, but Shadow uses facial expressions to maintain his rank order, including lip snarls and high pitch growls to warn Grizzer. So far, this behavior has been successful in keeping the tests short. The most important thing for Shadow to maintain his rank is confidence. In the photo taken shortly after the testing sequence, Shadow was again in high tail, confidently interacting with the staff and the wolves. When Shadow is intimidated by something, he is vulnerable. Staff are very conscientious of the influences in the wolf yard that make Shadow uncomfortable such as strangers behind the scenes. The rank order between the males is something that they will be working on throughout the winter.
The main pack had an uneventful week, with the exception of a special program scheduled on December 28th. An enclosure enrichment was a special offering this week to holiday visitors at the Center in Ely, Minnesota. At 1 pm, wolf care staff locked the wolves into holding and placed some treats throughout the enclosure, including a 10 lb turkey, some pigs ears, milk bones and meatballs. The purpose of enclosure enrichment is to give the wolves an opportunity to use their sense of smell and investigate the hidden treats inside the enclosure. In Grizzer's (and Malik's) video, you will see Grizzer chasing Malik with the turkey and after a short tug of war with Maya, gains possession of the bird.
The main pack had an uneventful week, with the exception of a special program scheduled on December 28th. An enclosure enrichment was a special offering this week to holiday visitors at the Center in Ely, Minnesota. At 1 pm, wolf care staff locked the wolves into holding and placed some treats throughout the enclosure, including a 10 lb turkey, some pigs ears, milk bones and meatballs. The purpose of enclosure enrichment is to give the wolves an opportunity to use their sense of smell and investigate the hidden treats inside the enclosure. Malik was the first to find the turkey, but getting there first generally means the other wolves will chase you. As you will see in Malik's video.
The wolves are doing well and enjoying the recent snowfall. Grizzer has been very active displaying very adult like behaviors. In this week's video, he does a stalk of Malik, but Malik is wary of his presence. Overall, the exhibit has been very quiet, likely due to the warm weather. Despite the snow, temperatures still remain near 30 farenheit, very warm for wolves with full winter coats.
Lakota is doing well, she is slowing down a bit and doing less chasing around the pen, but she is still excited to see staff. The new snow has been a source of stimulus as well as the many branches that fell from the trees due to the weight of the snow. Many of these branches were moved out of the enclosure to avoid obstacles for MacKenzie, but not before Lakota played a bit of "Tug of War" with the staff.
Malik is doing very well, and is very interested in the Grizzer/Denali interactions. We are continually assessing his participation in social activities, and his attitude toward the pack. There is snow in the forecast for Sunday, and this generally brings on more dominance. Staff management plans are in place for retirement, now it is up to the wolves to dictate the when of retirement.
Noticed a slight opaque film over Mackenzie's right cornea, contacted Dr. Chip Hanson to discuss the situation, her activity level is good, but she seems sensitive to light in that eye. Treated initially with a topical antibiotic crème, awaiting further recommendations from the Vet.
Nancy Gibson writes: The wolf pups made their final trip to the vet on June 27 in the Twin Cities in preparation for their journey to the International Wolf Center on June 29. The pups are seven weeks old and Shadow weighs 14.2 pounds. Malik weighs weighs an even 14 pounds. They received their first distemper vaccination in combination with parvovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus and parainfluenza. This is the same protocol for domestic dogs. They were wormed and given tablets for heartworm. They were listed in excellent health and the staff at Oak Knoll Animal Hospital is to be commended for their excellent help and guidance. Health care will be transferred to the local vets in Ely, Minnesota. The pups are spending most of their time outside except during the night. They experienced their first major rainstorm by sleeping through most of it by a large tree. Their guard hairs are an effective raincoat. A small pool of water has attracted much of the pup's attention. They use it to cool their feet then splash the rest of the water underneath their body. The pups will quietly meet the adults at the International Wolf Center is a series of controlled sessions with a fence separating them. All wolves produce a nuturing hormone called prolactin in the spring and summer to stimulate all members of the pack to help rear the pups. We expect the adults and the pups to be excited to see each other.
The pups had been visible to, but separate from, the adult wolves since the pups arrived at The International Wolf Center in Ely, MN at the end of June, 2000. On August 9, 2000, early in the morning, Shadow and Malik were introduced into the adult's enclosure and started along the path of becoming members of the pack. The pup introduction to the adults was carefully planned to avoid shifting the hierarchy dynamics of the existing pack. While the pups were in their overnight holding pen, Lakota and Lucas were each lured into separate holding areas. Then the pups' holding pen was opened to the main enclosure, and the pups ventured out to explore and greet MacKenzie. The pups ran around alternately exploring and greeting MacKenzie by licking her muzzle and smelling her. MacKenzie responded well to the pups, smelling them and following after them as they explored. After about 15 minutes, Lucas was let out of his enclosure and he joined the smelling/licking/chasing romp. The pups continued to explore the new sights and smells of the main enclosure. When Lakota was released from her pen, she investigated the pup enclosure at length before greeting the pups, apparently searching for food scraps.
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