Intern Susan Ely wrote "Shadow kept chasing Mackenzie around during my Wolf 101 program. He didn't bite her or growl but her tails was tucked and she was crouched running from him. After Shadow went back to the woods, Mac walked from the corner past the windows to the gate. She was crouched, tail tucked, ears down looking around. Later on, Shadow stalked her again. When I left at 5 pm, she was in the corner and none of the Arctics were in sight. She was napping."
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The plan to reintroduce Lakota back to the pack was implemented. First on the plan, was to place Malik in the holding pen with Lakota to see if there was any aggression. This went well with Lakota initially playbowing to Malik, but then later Malik stood over Lakota forcing her to submit. Lakota then retreated to the straw bed in the holding area. She was very defensive over her food cache and guarded it without trouble. Student enrolled in Vermilion's Wolf Ethology course spent the night monitoring the interaction in the pen.
Phase 2 of the Lakota reintroduction plan included the isolation of Shadow in the pack holding area while Malik and Lakota were released in the main enclosure with Mackenzie and Lucas. Lakota spent time swimming in the pond, running through the wooded enclosure and attempting to stimulate chase behavior from Lucas, and Malik. She was active throughout the day. Shadow was very uneasy in the pack holding area, and several times Lakota came to the fence to have a face to face interaction with Shadow. This seemed to agitate Shadow more, so Curator Lori Schmidt spent time with Shadow to attempt to distract him. Also, on the 6/23, staff, students and wildlife technicians from the USGS helped install a bathtub in the small pack holding area, to give the Lakota, and now Shadow a place to cool off on these hot and humid days. This kept Shadow distracted, also a new straw bed was placed in his holding pen. Shadow was very social with Lori Schmidt and wanted attention. Students who observed Shadow throughout the evening recorded Shadow sleeping on the straw bed all night.
Shadow was released at 7 am with all students from the Vermilion Community College Wolf Ethology course on site as observers. Lucas who aggressively dominated Shadow intercepted every attempt that Shadow made to approach Lakota. The two Alpha's were mainly the ones that gave Shadow a hard time. About half an hour after Shadow came out of the holding pen, Shadow was able to stand next to Lakota without dominance from the alphas. Lakota was submissive with a low tail, but was not fearful and didn't tuck her tail. Shadow retired to the den due to the heat and humidity, there were no more interactions for the rest of the day.
Lakota appears to be doing well with limited dominance from Shadow and Malik. Although there have been bouts of interest in Lakota, they have been primarily after dark when temperatures cool off. Lakota remains active with the pack and shows no sign of retreating from Shadow and Malik." Curator's note: While this reintroduction may have appeared to be initially successful, staff and visitors should be realistic to the chance of similar dominance issues as last winter, as we get closer to the time of the normal breeding season for wolves. As discussed with Dr. Chip Hanson, any sign of aggression resulting in a bite wound to Lakota will be stopped and Lakota will be placed back in the pack holding area. It is the management team's objective to avoid a similar scenario to last winter.
All greeted staff, with good interactions. Mackenzie attempted to pull Shadow off the greeting rock, but Shadow growled at Mackenzie and stayed on the rock"
Evening Feeding Program – Lucas, Malik and Shadow on carcass. Lucas showing a preference to Malik allowing Malik to feed, but barring his teeth at Shadow when Shadow is on or near the carcass.
Lakota very relaxed in pen today, Mackenzie's eye fully open today with signs of debris in the corner of her eye and appears a bit bloodshot. She allowed Lori Schmidt to treat it, but is less tolerant of the treatment. Overall, the eye looks great compared to yesterday.
Started pond pump today, Malik and Shadow began digging at pump box. Staff was instructed to watch for signs of them showing interest in the leaf net or filter through the door to the pump housing. Most of the pump housing is covered in rocks so the wolves can't move them, but there is a doorway where water circulates to the pump, and if the wolves lay down and stretch their leg, they can reach the leaf net, designed to catch leaves before they reach the pump. It's always a challenge to out-think the wolves and guess what they are likely to bother. Now that Malik and Shadow have entered their second year, I hope the term Terrible Two's doesn't apply to wolves.
Assistant Director, Gretchen Diessner, delivered CVC's and monthly heartworm treatment, Ivermectin to the wolves. Good use of auxiliary holding pens, all wolves well. Mackenzie was chemically immobilized to draw blood and test for a thyroid condition and exam her right eye. In the last few weeks, there has been an increasing amount of lipid deposits at the center of her cornea. Mackenzie will receive eye drops daily to alleviate any irritation or pain. Annual vaccinations to all wolves, except Lucas, who was reluctant when approached with a syringe. Rather than force him, the staff will wait and administer at another time.
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