Grizzer- On the MOve

If you watch the Retired Pack webcam, you may notice Grizzer is on the move far more than Luna.  Grizzer has always had the tendency to be far more responsive to activities around the wolf yard. He doesn’t react well to unfamiliar people, equipment such as snowblowers and anything with some height (ladders, roof rakes or blowing and drifting snow off the adjacent buildings).  With the multiple days of snowfall, he’s had a lot to keep him up and active.  For a wolf nearing 13 years of age, being active is a good thing.  The webcam is focused on the Pack Holding Area that shows Luna’s new den and has the closest access to the wolf yard, but there are many days when Grizzer is sprawled out off camera on the East Side den. 

Luna- Social Dynamics

Staff are working with Luna to improve her social skills, but the reality is that Grizzer is the best companion to help Luna develop a better social relationship with fellow pack mates.  Grizzer is tolerant, yet will not back down when confronted.   Food possession can still be confrontational, but we have made significant strides and can now feed Grizzer in the presence of Luna.   Early in the introduction phase, we needed to separate the two, ensuring that Grizzer could eat in peace.  Now, we don’t separate, although we always have 2 staff feeding at the same time to avoid competition.  We have noticed an increase in social behavior between Luna and Grizzer, especially on the security cameras.  We can tell when Luna is in the mood to interact, she starts by tossing items in the air, then does a scrape across the ground, lowering her front legs into a playbow before springing away and inviting Grizzer to chase.  If you recall, Grizzer is known for displaying chase behavior, even when he lived alone, so having someone to chase or to be chased is stimulating.  It’s also great exercise for Luna who needs to stay on the slim side to avoid stress on her hip joint. 

Denali – Always about the Food

Denali shows that even though he’s not standing over his food possession, he still has the right to defend it.  In this photo, he shows the classic “Lip Curl” which is a threat display showing the canines.  We can interpret the intensity of the interaction based on how many teeth are showing.  Denali is pretty serious here, but we also see another posture that indicates he’s not very confident.  His ear posture is turned to the side in a more submissive or intimidated response.  If he was confident, his ears would have been pricked forward.  Even though there is a social right of every pack member to possess and guard food, sometimes showing a threat display towards the pack leader can add a little intimidation.  Of course, Denali didn’t get to be the largest wolf in the Exhibit Pack by letting a little intimidation get in the way of a meal.  For Denali, it’s always about the food, not so much concern over the rank.

Boltz- A Wide Berth

When the pup’s were integrated into the pack, Boltz spent a significant amount of time guarding, socially interacting and basically being a pup again.  As the pup’s mature, their tenacity and juvenile tendencies seem to keep Boltz at a distance, especially when they start jaw sparring and pinning each other to the ground.  We still witness times when Boltz engages the pups, especially when seeking a resting spot on the cover hay.  But if they are up and active, Boltz gives them some space and often displays the Ears Pricked and Turned Sideways (EPTS) posture.  In wolf language EPTS means “I’m alert and aware, but sense a bit of tension”. 

Aidan – The Age of Comfort

A few weeks ago, staff noticed some behavior that appeared to look like shivering when Aidan was lying in the cover hay beds.  This isn’t typical for an adult wolf, especially one that has no problem obtaining his fair share of food resources (and the shares of others).  Unfortunately, a vet check for a wolf is not as easy as loading them in a car and going to the clinic.  Any more detailed diagnostic such as blood work would require chemical immobilization which is risky in colder temperatures and even more risk when removing the dominant pack leader from the pack.  Captive wolves are known to close up rank orders when an individual wolf is moved out, not allowing them back into the pack.  We suspect Boltz could be antagonistic towards Aidan if there was a separation.  So, in Aidan’s case, we started with a sample we could acquire.  With the help of some smelly items, he did an RLU and the urine sample verified that he had a urinary tract infection that wasn’t causing him to be hypodermic (shivering from cold), but showing a quivering likely caused by discomfort or pain.  A treatment of antibiotics cleared up the infection and he’s been active every since.  Although, being the pack leader and an older pack member, we do try to make sure he has all the comforts that he deserves.  

Grayson – Intensity of the Stare

Grayson has a quiet intensity to his behavior that makes him unique in the Exhibit Pack.  He definitely would rather watch than be the focus of the pack, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t involved in pack activities.  When identifying Grayson, look for a broader muzzle versus Axel’s more triangular face.  Grayson has more roundish eyes and displays a much more golden color which might add to the intensity.  Grayson continues to be the smaller of the two pups weighing only 76 pounds compared to Axel’s 89 pounds.  But, to put this into perspective, Axel and Grayson turned 8 months of age on January 2nd.  Shadow, our former pack leader and arctic subspecies, weighed 87 pounds at 11 months of age.  So, Grayson is on tract with Shadow’s weight, it’s Axel that is tracking ahead of our other pups. 

Axel – Almond Shaped Eyes

As the pup’s mature, they start to develop physical attributes that make identification a bit easier.  We are really noticing unique facial characteristics on Axel.  His nose is more elongated and appears more triangular in shape with almond shaped eyes.  This was the way we used to describe Malik when trying to accurately identify him from his brother.  Coincidentally, Malik was also known for investigating and sometimes possessing items from staff, a behavior Axel has been portraying since he entered his “Juvenile” stage.  In contrast, Grayson is very mild mannered and shows a timid reserve when investigating staff items. 

Heidi Pinkerton

Denali – Less Intimidating

Since the August introduction, Denali has been a source of some angst for Grayson.  Denali’s size combined with his gregarious personality caused Grayson to retreat with a tucked tail, only to have that show of weakness result in more attention from Denali.  Staff worked diligently to improve Grayson’s confidence by feeding the pups among the adults and by controlling Denali’s behavior through some blocking techniques that are standard in wolf care training.  These efforts seem to have worked, with this postings photo of Grayson calming walking with Denali behind him.  Of course, it helps that the pup’s are gaining height and the world doesn’t see quite as big as it once was. 

Boltz – A Bit Too Much Focus

It’s hard to know the thoughts of the wolves, so our job as managers is to interpret the behavior.  We know that Luna and Boltz had an unusual upbringing because of the need to err on the side of caution for Luna physically.  What we don’t know is the impacts that the physical restrictions on the behavioral interactions between the 2012 litter.  Luna had always been assertive over Boltz and now that they are separated by two fencelines, the interactions continue to show a focus, not from Luna, but from Boltz.  We want to be very cautious about any negativity between Luna and any of the Exhibit Pack in case there is progress on Luna’s recovery, but we have to acknowledge that a stalking or high tail posture from Boltz (and now shared by Axel), can have future implications.  

Axel – Curiosity at Work

Axel definitely has a curious side whether it be taking possessions from his pack mates or investigating the wolf care staff winter apparel.  If you have difficulty telling the pups apart, look for a more golden set of guard hairs on Axel’s head and, chances are, the pup that is tugging or grabbing something from staff is probably Axel.  Axel’s tenacity is probably responsible for his heavier weight.  At this point, Axel is on par with Aidan’s weight at 7 months, a whopping 87 pounds.