Lori Schmidt (LS) paged for an emergency site visit, Yearlings continue to harass Lakota. Staff used noise maker and deer scraps to distract. When LS went in, yearlings were very calm in greeting. The aggressive behavior seems solely focused on Lakota and her rank, Mackenzie and Lucas are very relaxed as well. Superficial bite wounds on Lakota's neck are investigated and a complete physical exam is conducted.
Fed Lakota 1 lb. of meat with Comfort antioxidants. Vitamins to all and Cosequin to Mackenzie. Curator, Lori Schmidt put raccoon urine throughout pen to work as a distraction, and brought in a frozen 20 lb turkey to keep the yearlings occupied during the day. It seemed to have worked well, as they didn't approach Lakota after they found the turkey. This situation should be a reminder that wolves clearly have a significant rank order and within that rank, certain behaviors are expected. When Lakota, as the omega, began to show high tail exuberance, both yearlings focused in on her (Malik as much, if not more than Shadow). Lakota's bite wound on her neck are larger than yesterday, photos were taken and brought to the Vet clinic for consultation, started her on 100 mg of Orbax antibiotics.
All seems fine today. Jen Westlund put yearlings in pack holding area to feed vitamins and Cosequin. Lakota hesitant to approach, but Andrea Lorek Strauss and Jen Westlund were able to deliver Orbax and vitamins to Lakota as well as 3/4 pounds of meat. When Malik and Shadow were released, Jen gave food at the gate to distract the yearlings from seeking out Lakota. Lakota had good movement and appeared to be healing well. Yearlings very calm and moved between the den and the building. Staff are reviewing wolf interaction protocol to ensure that Lakota is not encouraged to show higher rank than an omega position that may make her vulnerable to retaliation from the yearlings. It is natural behavior for the yearlings to attempt to be higher ranking in their pack, but we also see that if the yearlings can focus some of that young energy toward something else, they spend less time attempting to climb rank. The challenge is to come up with distractions and activities to occupy their time this winter. Generally, as wolves reach maturity, 18-24 months, rank is established and they become less exuberant. Although, wolves in captivity are driven by the same instincts as their wild counterparts and dominance strife should be expected at any time.
Ivermectin treatment for heart worm today and vitamins to all wolves. The use of the holding pens for isolation of wolves works well. Malik has a weepy eye (right) but is still active. Lakota dug a tunnel under the temporary fence to get back into the main enclosure.
MacKenzie seems back to normal. Whatever mysteriously caused her condition a few weeks, seems to have mysteriously disappeared. She had a good feeding on Thursday night and was observed several times by the remote cameras, carrying a deer leg throughout the enclosure on Friday.
The daily routine of vitamins to all wolves now includes Cosequin to Mackenzie as a nutritional supplement to hopefully provide relief to her sore hips during the winter season. Lakota spent the day in the den eating a beaver; the yearlings were given a frozen fish to act as a distraction to keep them from overly asserting their rank order status over Lakota. Malik was observed raise leg urinating, a behavior generally reserved for alpha males in the wild, but may be exhibited by subordinate males in captivity, where scent marking their territory is not as critical as it would be in the wild."
Since 5 wolves at the fence make it hard to track the delivery of vitamins and Cosequin, Malik and Shadow are generally placed in a holding pen before giving the vitamins. This ensures that each wolf gets the right dosage. Lately, when the yearlings are released, they immediately run for Lakota to remind her of her omega position. Their intensity has been increasing as winter advances and the yearlings approach sexual maturity. Even though the pack is spayed and neutered to prevent unnecessary pups, the wolves still have a hormonal surge during January and February, the natural breeding season for wolves. While dominance hierarchies and social rank order aggression is natural to a wolf pack, the confinement of captivity makes it difficult for individuals to get away from each other in an intensive display of dominance. As breeding season aggression intensifies, staff will be watchful of the dominance levels between all wolves."
Christmas day, Curator Lori Schmidt conducted a wolf check and administered Vitamins and Cosequin to all. Lakota was lying in the front of the exhibit, aware of the yearling¹s presence, but very relaxed. The automatic waterer froze sometime during the night, but was repaired within 2 hours. Malik was observed Raise Leg Urinating (RLU¹s) on meat scraps and appears to have gained status over Shadow. Shadow has not shown any indication of RLU and seems to be dominated more frequently by Malik. Malik also has been taking the lead in asserting rank over Lakota.
Yearlings were observed aggressively charging Lakota and continually driving her into the front corner of the building, where she often takes refuge when the yearlings get too intense. Malik appears to have bitten the side of Lakota¹s head causing some bleeding behind her right ear, with Shadow close behind. Lakota still remained alert and with full balance, but this bite was much more problematic than earlier attempts by the yearlings. The Center¹s veterinarian, Dr. Chip Hanson was consulted and Lakota was started on antibiotics. Curator, Lori Schmidt (LS) isolated the yearlings and attempted to clean Lakota's wound, but Lakota growled and snapped at LS when she approached. Lakota was given a dose of antibiotics, a pound of beef with warm water broth, and a new straw bed was prepared for her. She settled into the straw bed and remained there for the rest of the day; the yearlings were kept in the holding pen to give Lakota some rest and to discuss the situation. Since the yearlings were raised in this pack holding area, they are very comfortable when isolated. This allows an important management option when separation is necessary. This is not the case for Mackenzie, Lucas and Lakota who are very nervous when they are drawn into the pack holding area. An interesting thing to note here, even while the yearlings are going after Lakota, their interaction with the staff and the alpha wolves are very relaxed. These are not aggressive wolves; they are just very intent on asserting their rank order. Staff has been attempting to provide distractions of scents and various food treats to distract them from Lakota. These distractions work for a while, but it is clear that the yearlings are focused on Lakota as the omega. A management team of Center personnel and veterinarians will meet to discuss the current situation.
This log will be in 4 parts. Please read the logs dated 12/27/01 in sequential order, even though the posting is out of order. This was a very important day as Lakota's situation warranted close observation and possibly intervention. (afternoon observation) " After discussions with the Center's veterinarian, Dr. Chip Hanson, Board Member and veterinarian, Dr. Larry Anderson, Curator Lori Schmidt, Assistant Director, Gretchen Diessner and Executive Director Walter Medwid, Several options of management were discussed. These options were: 1. Since this is natural rank order dominance, allow it to naturally work itself out. 2. Consider removing Lakota or keeping the yearlings in long-term isolation until after the breeding season sometime in March. 3. Utilize the medication Chlomipramine that was successfully used during the Center's pond construction project. There are pros and cons with each option, and each was discussed in length before decision was made.
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