CVC to all, Amoxicillin to Lakota. Walter Medwid (Executive Director from Brooklyn Center office) visited enclosure today; Lakota demonstrated a play bow towards him and exhibited a brief, play/chase behavior. Lakota has been making contact over the plywood walls toward the yearlings. Malik snapped and growled at her on two separate occasions, but Lakota didn't retreat, just jumped down to the safety of the plywood wall. Lakota did a full submissive roll-over and got a belly scratch from Walter Medwid. Staff will be interested in the interactions between the fence line; Lakota already shows less signs of fearful submission (intense tail tucking) that she did while she was in the main enclosure. It does appear that Lakota is gaining confidence, she has not exhibited any nervous pacing that staff had anticipated.
CVC to all, Amoxicillin to Lakota. Walter Medwid (Executive Director from Brooklyn Center office) visited enclosure today; Lakota demonstrated a play bow towards him and exhibited a brief, play/chase behavior. Lakota has been making contact over the plywood walls toward the yearlings. Malik snapped and growled at her on two separate occasions, but Lakota didn't retreat, just jumped down to the safety of the plywood wall. Lakota did a full submissive roll-over and got a belly scratch from Walter Medwid. Staff will be interested in the interactions between the fence line; Lakota already shows less signs of fearful submission (intense tail tucking) that she did while she was in the main enclosure. It does appear that Lakota is gaining confidence, she has not exhibited any nervous pacing that staff had anticipated.
Lakota is spending most of her time in the upper enclosure, very close to the den hole. She seems quite anxious about the location of the yearlings, even though their intensity has decreased significantly since the Chlomipramine use. When the yearlings are isolated into the pack holding area, Lakota will come down to the rock den and spend time exploring the lower enclosure. Staff bring Lakota food and water and are able to monitor her physical condition daily. The yearlings are drawn into the pack holding area several hours a day allowing Lakota free range throughout the enclosure.
In order to provide social contact for Lakota, Lucas and Mackenzie are brought into the pack holding area on a daily basis. Lakota has not been very interested in interacting with her siblings, and Lucas and Mackenzie have been more interested in investigating Lakota's food caches. Visits have been short, with Lakota spending time retrieving her caches after the alpha's leave.
Good interaction with Lakota today, She has a spot on her right hip that she appears to be licking, investigation of the spot by the Wolf curator led Lakota to be defensive. Staff will monitor this and treat if needed. Lucas was observed riding up on Mackenzie's back in an aggressive manner, which led the yearlings to mob her. Mackenzie defended herself then proceeded to dominate Shadow and follow him around the enclosure. Shadow redirected to Malik for several minutes then things calmed down. During the most intense interaction, Lakota was at the fence whining Malik came face to face with Lakota and she appeared to maintain a high tail, where previously she would have a very tucked tail in the presence of the yearlings. Lakota's active personality seems to be returning.
Lakota high tail and aggressive lunging at the gate where lumber for the new freezer was delivered. Mackenzie aggression increases, and later pulls Lakota off the rock by the tail. Malik and Shadow are very submissive to the human handlers during this aggressive interaction between Mackenzie and Lakota.
Noticed callus type wound on Mackenzie's front left foot, near inside of foot. Slight bleeding from the callus, but nothing significant. Mackenzie trailing Shadow with intensity today. Lucas and Mackenzie allowed in with Lakota. Lakota exhibited a playbow toward Lucas, Lucas responded in high tail, growl, but no contact. Lakota proceeded to spend remainder of time with the Wolf Curator.
Wolf Care Staff Jen Westlund, noticed a dime size lump on Lakota's rear right leg, appears to be old scar tissue. Malik came up along the holding pen fence twice and exchanged whines with Lakota but they didn't share any aggressive behavior between one another. Noise in the parking lot from center visitors stimulated several minutes of nervous pacing for Lakota. She is very intimidated by a stranger approaching the fence line. Center policy is to avoid visitors to the outside fence unless accompanied by wolf care staff, this seems to be more beneficial for the wolves.
Mackenzie and Lucas went in with Lakota in Lakota's retirement enclosure. Lakota playbowed to Lucas twice. Lucas sniffed and started to play after Lakota's second playbow. When Lakota was in full submission to Curator, Lori Schmidt, Lucas came up and sniffed Lakota. Lakota remained relaxed and submissive and showed no intimidation toward Lucas. These interactions are very encouraging, Lakota is not viewed negatively by the alpha's and shows no sign of intimidation.
Staff spent time with Lakota and had Lucas and Mackenzie in for a visit. They spent more time investigating Lakota's food caches than they did interacting with Lakota. Staff noticed Mackenzie favoring her left eye. Dr. Chip Hanson was called to the center to examine Mackenzie, started her on Vetropolycin eye ointment. Mac was reluctant to have Curator, Lori Schmidt, open her eye, but a few hamburger treats and she sat still long enough for the treatment.
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.