Road kill deer have been showing fairly developed fetuses when being fed to wolves. During today's feeding program, Malik and Mackenzie each took off with a fetus after a road kill doe carrying twin fawns was wheeled into the pen. Shadow stole the fetus from Mackenzie after about 30 seconds. Malik and Shadow still dominate the carcasses, even though the alphas are more dominant in other interactions. Also, Mackenzie appears to be a bit afraid of Shadow in some circumstances. After Shadow stole the food, Mackenzie responded with tucked tail as Shadow growled.
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Wolf handlers, Jen Westlund and Andrea Lorek Strauss visited the adult wolves in the main enclosure while the yearlings were held off. Lakota approached both handlers and greeted Andrea with a typical wolf greeting, by licking her face. Lakota was skittish, but remained down in the front of the exhibit until the yearlings began whining from their holding pen. Andrea and Jen then went into the smaller holding pen and had good interactions. Little attention was paid to Lakota when the yearlings were release. Fed daily CVC to all.
Fed a beaver to Lakota while the yearlings were occupied in the pack holding area for a few hours. CVC to all and no problems after the yearlings were released. Curator's note: Generally during the winter (the natural breeding season for wolves), hormones are naturally higher and more intense and Lakota as the omega has become more restricted in movement (even though the wolves are spayed and neutered). This has occurred every winter since Lakota reached sexual maturity (she was the Omega even when Kiana was alive); In January and February, staff usually observes the Alpha's playing more and all other wolves getting dominated with more intensity. In the wild, only the alpha's breed as a method of population control (a pack can usually only support one litter), so the alpha's assert their position on the lower ranking wolves to make sure they don't breed. This dominance from the alpha's can cause the other wolves to redirect their aggression to the Omega, often chasing, mobbing and even ostracizing them to follow the pack at a distance. In captivity, this may mean the Omega has restricted movement. At the Center, we saw Lakota restrict her movement to the top of the enclosure in a dug den made by Kiana.
One thing we can say about Malik, he's determined. Even with Shadow showing strong dominance and Grizzer participating in a Malik chase at least once a day, Malik still shows a high tail. But, he keeps a watchful eye on his brother's location.
When Shadow wants to inititate a chase or interact with his pack mates, he has an excitement level that is worth viewing. In this week's photo, Shadow lunges into a chase of Grizzer as the two romp on the hillside. This scene was actually inititated by Grizzer and Shadow took the opportunity to have a bit of fun with it.
When Shadow wants to inititate a chase or interact with his pack mates, he has an excitement level that is worth viewing. In this week's photo, Shadow lunges into a chase of Grizzer as the two romp on the hillside. This scene was actually inititated by Grizzer and Shadow took the opportunity to have a bit of fun with it.
For whatever reason, Lakota chose to come to the front of the enclosure while the pack was sleeping in the mid-day sun. Her sudden appearance in an area that was usually restrictive for her caused the yearlings to get excited. The yearlings mobbed her in the front of the building and chased her back up to the top den. There's a real cycle of behavior that's hard to break. The more submissive and vulnerable she looks, the more the yearlings show an interest in dominating her and the more mobbings, the more submissive and vulnerable she looks. A previously scheduled Vet meeting on February 14th will allow for complete discussion of the current situation and future management plans. Curator's Note: I have been getting emails about the yearling's relationship with Lakota. I think it's important that the current behavioral situation be put into perspective.
The following is an email response I recently sent to one of the wolf log viewers, in a three part series: The pups are doing what genetic selection and survival in the wild has perpetuated, even in captive wolves, these are behavioral instincts. Wolves have an instinct to be high ranking because in the wild, low ranking wolves may be the first to die. Some wolves have a natural personality to be lower ranking and never move up into higher ranking positions. Lakota is a very submissive personality, so it is natural for her to be lower ranking wolf in this pack and she has been since she was a pup; that is who she is. But, Lakota has the same instincts to push for dominance as the pups have. In 1999, Lakota attempted to take over Mackenzie's rank after Kiana died (Mackenzie and Lakota's littermate). Mackenzie was very bonded to Kiana and Lakota took advantage of Mackenzie during the 6-week period when she appeared to be suffering separation anxiety from Kiana's death, so we know Lakota has it in her (we also saw Lakota inflict bite wounds on Mackenzie in October when Mackenzie was going through a rough time.)
Part II discussion… All of this interaction is natural wolf behavior. In the wild, wolves need to cooperate, work together in a pack to hunt efficiently. If there wasn't a clear order of who is in charge (rank order), chances are they would be less successful in hunting prey and would ultimately not survive. So this rank order behavior in captivity has a strong instinct motivated by survival in the wild. Wolves don't act in the same terms as human emotion, fairness or kindness are terms relative to humans. Wolves are motivated by instinct and behavioral traits, some are born alphas, and some are born omegas. The pack dynamics that occurs is not stagnant. If one of the yearlings becomes vulnerable, they may loose rank, it is difficult to predict and is subject to change. The wolves physical and psychological care is the top priority for the International Wolf Center and we hope visitor's to the Center learn a greater understanding of wild wolf behavior from the lessons of Lakota, Mackenzie, Lucas, Shadow and Malik. We don't view Shadow and Malik as unkind; they are merely acting like wolves, the same way that we didn't view Lakota as unkind when she was going after Mackenzie. I know it is difficult to view this from the wolves' perspectives rather than humans but these pack members are the ambassador's to the wild wolves and they are showing us a glimpse of wild wolf behavior.
I know I promised not to say this again, but Maya is the sweetest wolf to work with. Nyssa may have another opinion as Maya can be somewhat intense when dominating, but she sure is tolerant of the human social companions. Maya is very skilled at the small details that go on within the dynamics of the wolf pack. In this photo, you will see Maya with the direct eye contact technique to control Nyssa's behavior.
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