As you can see by the various videos this week, the winter dominance is heightened. Grizzer continues to test and circle the arctics, but has been focusing on Shadow more than Malik. This creates a lot of anxiety in Shadow and a lot of vocalizations. One thing staff has noticed is that Grizzer doesn’t seem to know what to do if he wins a dominance dispute. He tests, but doesn’t challenge. He’s more likely to go off with Maya and wrestle after testing Shadow than continue with more dominance posturing.
Wolves tend to be creatures of habit and MacKenzie certainly demonstrates that. When new straw is placed in the retired pack, staff must make sure MacKenzie gets her bed in the corner of the enclosure. As the dominant member of the retired pack, she watches the actions of the exhibit pack and positions herself adjacent to the enclosure with her back to the wall, very aware of all activities around the enclosure. In this week’s video, you will see dominant posturing toward Lakota who takes a turn in MacKenzie’s bed.
Lakota and MacKenzie shared a deer this week, and Lakota’s video demonstrates classic wolf behavior of plucking the hair and pulling the skin from the meat. They have amazing power in their front incisors to strip a deer of the hide. Lakota continues to show good mobility and excited behavior that leads to a few laps around the enclosure.
MacKenzie continues to show improvement, but still has some noticeable stablility issues. She has a great appetite and has good kidney function. She is allowing wolf care staff to massage her hip and legs without any signs of discomfort, although if it is a pinched nerve, she may have decreased feeling in her legs. The straw beds are providing a warm place to rest, and she and Lakota are spending time sleeping together. We get her up every 4 hours to exercise, and the activity in the Exhibit Pack is catching her interest and keeping her mobile. We will be modifying the medication from the initial higher dose to a maintenance dose. Wolf care staff will continue to monitor even the slightest change as the dosages are reduced. Thanks for your emails, sorry I am not able to answer each individual email.
Grizzer seems to be calmer this week, that first rush of hormones in the fall caused him to do a lot of testing, but now he’s back to wrestling with Maya and showing associative behavior with Shadow, who likes to join in on Grizzer and Maya’s interaction. In this week’s video, you will see Grizzer grooming himself in the sun. Temperatures warmed to near 40 degrees over the weekend, a bit warm for wolves and making the snow a bit icy in the mornings.
Everything is going well here. It appears that MacKenzie has overcome the spinal issues she had earlier and is being weaned off the prednisone. Lakota is still springing around the enclosure as if she were a two year old, instead of a wolf nearing 14 years of age. The male rank order remains calm, with Grizzer and Maya continuing to interact as pupmates, and Shadow maintaining watch over the pack. Malik seems very relaxed and in his video this week is observed with high tail interacting with Grizzer and Maya when they are wrestling, but backs off when Shadow gives him direct eye contact. Thanks for your continued support of the wolf care program. Staff will be monitoring all wolves closely over the coming holiday season and maybe we’ll see you on the webcam.
Everything is going well here. It appears that MacKenzie has overcome the spinal issues she had earlier and is being weaned off the prednisone. Lakota is still springing around the enclosure as if she were a two year old, instead of a wolf nearing 14 years of age. The male rank order remains calm, with Grizzer and Maya continuing to interact as pupmates, and Shadow maintaining watch over the pack. Malik seems very relaxed and in his video this week is observed with high tail interacting with Grizzer and Maya when they are wrestling, but backs off when Shadow gives him direct eye contact. Thanks for your continued support of the wolf care program. Staff will be monitoring all wolves closely over the coming holiday season and maybe we’ll see you on the webcam.
Lakota's been doing well, despite MacKenzie having a bit of a relapse on Christmas Eve day. MacKenzie and Lakota still interact, but there isn't much chasing around the pen from MacKenzie anymore. Lakota usually displays excited behavior when staff enter and she makes a few laps around the enclosure. In this week's video, you will see Lakota enjoying a beaver.
MALIK: Weight: 32.0 lbs. Length: 51.0" Canines: 1/2" SHADOW: Weight: 32.5 lbs. Length: 51.0" Canines: 1/2" (an adult canine continues to emerge within his mouth) Observations include: -Shadow has been distracting Malik to take possession of food items which he desires -The pups recently joined in a howl with the adult wolves; both pups ran to the fence to greet the adults -Eating rocks resulted in stomach stress and x-rays for Malik; two rocks were viewed in the radiograph; one rock was passed and Malik is now acting normal and is currently being monitored -Malik and Shadow have portrayed added aggression over food items such as deer and moose legs -Shadow's nose scab from last week is healing well -The pups, daily, seem more and more interested in the adults and their behaviors
Phyllis Price (wolf nanny) writes: What a wonderful, wonderful week this has been to have had the opportunity to share in the lives and socialization of two Arctic wolf puppies. Resting in the dirt beside them as they slept in order to rub their ears, look at their teeth and gums, and work with their feet will help ensure that trusted humans will always be able to provide total health care and general handling as needed for their welfare as adults. The pups will soon be introduced into the adult pack where they will, indeed, take their places as ambassador wolves for their brethren. Our job as wolf nannies will be over – a never-to-be-forgotten experience.
The International Wolf Center advances the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wildlands and the human role in their future.