Malik is doing as the warm weather approaches. He's been spending time in the upper enclosure under the shade of the dense canopy. He's also taken a few dips in the pond, and in this week's photo, showed Grizzer a dominant posture even while he was swimming.
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Whatever was causing Lucas's shyness, seems to have ended. He was quite social with wolf care staff this morning and also did a few fresh snow dives with his nose, same as Lakota
Vitamins to all, but Lakota only received one since she scent rolled on the first one given to her as well as the third try. She was very active, and decided not to donate any more vitamins to her scent rolling demonstration.
Discussed options for releasing Shadow back into the main pack. He is actually much more relaxed than would have been predicted for a lone wolf separated from the pack, so this gives us more time to discuss options. The main idea of his isolation is to give Mackenzie time to heal and reestablish her position over Lakota. Another idea was that if Shadow was isolated, the pack would create a stronger bond with Malik, thus creating a scenario where Malik would be less likely to reinforce and assist Shadow when he became aggressive toward other wolves. We (Center Veterinarian, Dr. Chip Hanson, Center Curator, Lori Schmidt, and Board Member, Dr. Larry Anderson, DMV.) discussed the use of Chlomipramine for Shadow (a chemical that slows the uptake of Seratonin in the brain, creating an animal that feel more confident in it's status and therefore, less need for challenging aggression) Chlomipramine was used successfully in keeping the wolves calm during the construction phase of the pond.
Part 3 discussing Lakota's option with the vets. Option 2 Due to the nature of the wolves having such a structured dominance hierarchy, there was concern that if Lakota was removed for even a short period of time, that she would not be allowed into the pack at a later date. Many captive facilities have documented as short as a 2-hour absence from the pack has caused some wolves to be treated as dispersers when they have been attempted to be reintroduced. The fact that we could still put the yearlings in the pack holding area adjacent to the main enclosure was likely successful because they were young, we generally separated them together and we did it as a daily routine, so, it was conditioned and accepted as normal. To keep the yearlings isolated for several months in the pack holding area may cause them negative aversion toward the pack holding area and ultimately affect the future use of these pens for emergency or day to day management. In October when the yearlings were isolated for mobbing Mackenzie, we saw some dominance aggression between the fences, causing some concern about fence biting and injury. If there was long-term isolation, it was a priority for us to avoid negative conditioning and attempt to maintain the integrity of the pack. Many facilities solve management problems by isolating wolves into pairs or threesomes, to avoid problems. Wolves are pack animals, and even when there¹s strife, the tendency to be in a social group is strong. For example, even during the most intense dominance toward Lakota, she was observed following the yearlings, pawing at them to pay attention to her and when the yearlings were isolated Mackenzie and Lucas spent much of their time whining at the gate. The Center staff wanted to attempt other options first with isolation as a last resort.
Part 4 in the discussion with the vet's concerning Lakota's situation. Option 3 During the pond construction, the Center¹s veterinarian recommended the use of Chlomipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant, to help reduce the anxiety associated with the large, invasive project in the enclosure. The wolves were started on a 75-mg dose for 14 days during the most intense portion of the project. This dosage was very successful in keeping the wolves calm during a project that involved the use of heavy equipment, a large number of construction workers, loud noises and concrete trucks pouring the pond well past midnight, floodlights and all. Further research and consultation (including Dr. Nicholas Dodman at Tufts University) led to the possibility of Chlomipramine as a behavioral modifier for the yearling's intensive mobbing of Lakota. Chlomipramine works as a neuro-blocker, blocking the uptake of Serotonin, a naturally occurring chemical in the body. With increased Serotonin, the animals confidence increases, where they "feel more comfortable in their own skin" in theory, causing them less need to assert their dominance over the omega or asserting their position with less intensity. Over the last several weeks, there as been a noticeable intensity, bordering on obsession to keep Lakota confined to the den or a small area in front of the exhibit. If Chlomipramine keeps the yearlings calmer and more confident, maybe there wouldn¹t be such an obsessive need to keep Lakota so submissive. The drawback of this option is that limited data is available on the use of Chlomipramine in wolves. The decision was attempt to modify the current pack dynamics to reduce the focus on Lakota by use of 75 mg of Chlomipramine once daily to both Shadow and Malik, beginning on 12-27-01. This information is not meant to be an endorsement for the use of Chlomipramine, any decision to use medication in animals should be based on the consultation of a veterinarian.
Everybody but Malik got attention; he was held off to retrieve chewed plastic and styrofoam from the exhibit. It appears that Malik stuck his head and paws in the pond inlet and removed a protective cover over the leaf trap. There were no electrical or pump components assessible, only the plastic cover over the leaf trap, so the wolves were in no danger other than the digestive trouble of plastic. All pieces were removed and the inlet was secure. Apparently, pond equipment didn't have wolves as engineers.
Vermilion Community College student Damon Hann, who works at the Center as an assistant to the curator wrote the following behavioral observation. " When I first greeted, Lucas and Malik were the only ones who came up to the fence. Several minutes later Mac came down to greet. At this point, Lucas showed aggressive dominance toward Mackenzie. This got the other wolves stimulated and Malik and Lakota came after Mackenzie. Mac stood her ground and chased them away. At this point, she went over to the pack holding area and followed Shadow along the fence and she was growling, snarling and barring her teeth to Shadow with much ferocity. Several times, as Mac was chasing Shadow along the fence line, Malik would come from behind her and try to bite her in the hind quarters, I (Damon) called Malik over, and Mack continued her aggressive dominance toward Shadow (between the fence as Shadow is still isolated). Shadow was also showing aggressive growling and fence biting toward Mackenzie, but not nearly as intense as Mac was. Mac eventually stopped with Shadow and then she chased Lakota around. Lakota did not stand her ground and she fled every time Mac went after her. I held Malik's attention at the fence so he would stay out of it.
To those of you who are concerned with Lakota as the lowest ranking pack member, she is doing well. The increased dominance on the pups by the alpha's has given Lakota a bit more freedom in the enclosure, since Shadow is being watched more closely by Mackenzie.
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