In the interest of getting logs posted tonight, I’m copying the same text. The priorities in my job include pup feeding time. We have a short period of time to maximize growth and get Luna and Boltz the resources necessary to prepare for a Northern Minnesota winter. Feedings require time, patience and some ingenuity. As I write this, I just finished a successful pup feeding with Luna eating over a pound of venison and another ½ pound of chicken. It was not quite as successful with Boltz, but he was caching everything I offered, so he must have been full. Boltz does utilize the remaining carcasses from previous feedings and his scats are dark, indicating meat consumption. Aidan has had some tremendous social bonding behavior with Luna, unfortunately, I didn’t get it on tape. With cooler weather stimulating hormones, we are bound to see more. Grizzer is the beneficiary of most of the pups left overs. He does enjoy that part of wolf care. Shadow and Malik continue to posture with Shadow more dominant, but they don’t have any issues when it comes to sharing the den in a rainstorm. Thanks for checking in, I hope to have more time next week to give a more complete update of each wolf. We have started to increase the feedings or all the retirees, and are in need of some pigs ears to serve as distractions as the pups continue to be the focus of the staff.
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In the interest of getting logs posted tonight, I’m copying the same text. The priorities in my job include pup feeding time. We have a short period of time to maximize growth and get Luna and Boltz the resources necessary to prepare for a Northern Minnesota winter. Feedings require time, patience and some ingenuity. As I write this, I just finished a successful pup feeding with Luna eating over a pound of venison and another ½ pound of chicken. It was not quite as successful with Boltz, but he was caching everything I offered, so he must have been full. Boltz does utilize the remaining carcasses from previous feedings and his scats are dark, indicating meat consumption. Aidan has had some tremendous social bonding behavior with Luna, unfortunately, I didn’t get it on tape. With cooler weather stimulating hormones, we are bound to see more. Grizzer is the beneficiary of most of the pups left overs. He does enjoy that part of wolf care. Shadow and Malik continue to posture with Shadow more dominant, but they don’t have any issues when it comes to sharing the den in a rainstorm. Thanks for checking in, I hope to have more time next week to give a more complete update of each wolf. We have started to increase the feedings or all the retirees, and are in need of some pigs ears to serve as distractions as the pups continue to be the focus of the staff.
In the interest of getting logs posted tonight, I’m copying the same text. The priorities in my job include pup feeding time. We have a short period of time to maximize growth and get Luna and Boltz the resources necessary to prepare for a Northern Minnesota winter. Feedings require time, patience and some ingenuity. As I write this, I just finished a successful pup feeding with Luna eating over a pound of venison and another ½ pound of chicken. It was not quite as successful with Boltz, but he was caching everything I offered, so he must have been full. Boltz does utilize the remaining carcasses from previous feedings and his scats are dark, indicating meat consumption. Aidan has had some tremendous social bonding behavior with Luna, unfortunately, I didn’t get it on tape. With cooler weather stimulating hormones, we are bound to see more. Grizzer is the beneficiary of most of the pups left overs. He does enjoy that part of wolf care. Shadow and Malik continue to posture with Shadow more dominant, but they don’t have any issues when it comes to sharing the den in a rainstorm. Thanks for checking in, I hope to have more time next week to give a more complete update of each wolf. We have started to increase the feedings or all the retirees, and are in need of some pigs ears to serve as distractions as the pups continue to be the focus of the staff.
We noticed some new open spots on Aidan's nose that may be signs that the Discoid Lupus condition has returned. It also may be signs that Luna bit him in the nose, so we will have to watch this closely. Aidan continues to stay with the pups when they are fed to create a calmer environment. Aidan continues to be extremely tolerant of staff and the food bowls.
Boltz's confidence is improving as well as his social behavior. I see a lot more of Boltz interacting with Aidan than in previous months and a recent feeding resulted in Aidan and Boltz sharing the beaver together. Boltz has the characteristic "wary eye" stare of a wolf making him very easy to distinguish from Aidan.
While reviewing clips for Aidan and Denali's 5th birthday, I found some footage of Grizzer that is worth watching. Grizzer's doing some rolling and spinning in the snow, sliding down a hill, then doing a race around the enclosure… Sound familiar?
Malik and Shadow did extremely well with the work projects. They were temporarily moved into the pack holding area and showed very little intimidation or bark howling on Saturday. On Sunday, Shadow did a bit of bark howling, but overall, they were very tolerant of the work.
Malik has been observed in some very acrobatic maneuvers. As the weather gets colder, he gets active and hungry. We have been feeding them far more frequently during this transition time and meals may include deer torsos, legs, 6 lb bags of chicken, liver or left over pups scraps. We are still out of beaver, but did hear of some beaver that were being trapped for removal due to a road construction project.
Shadow had several observations where he was lying in the back of the enclosure defending his food. This is a new behavior for him, generally food possession was Malik's strongest behavior. It's always apparent when Shadow is physically feeling good, he has a spring in his step and a whirl behavior that is often the actions of younger wolves. It may be a reflection on this uncharacteristically warm weather. In previous winters, we would have had several nights below zero by now. In recent week's, we have rarely been below 10 degrees. That's probably pleasurable for wolves nearing 12 years old, even if they are Arctic subspecies.
Denali continues to develop a personality trait that mirrors Grizzer, not to mention his size. He is likely over 90 lbs by now, and has mastered the acquisition and defense of food. In his video this week, he shares the den with Grizzer for a while, but when both pups try to share the straw, Grizzer says enough is enough. Denali and Aidan are still spending most of their time wrestling with each other and jaw sparring, the littermate bond is extremely strong.
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