Lakota aggressive/growl to MaKenzie, Lakota also showed raised tail over MacKenzie, MacKenzie didn’t respond to Lakota’s posture. MacKenzie's paw has healed and she in no longer limping, but it appears Lakota’s been asserting herself more since MacKenzie’s injury.
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Shadow and Malik had a lot of aggressive posturing and dominance aggression over a fresh beaver; Shadow stole Malik's beaver and started to eat both beaver. Fortunately, staff feed enough beaver to allow both to eat, although one wolf usually has to wait."
All wolves received Rabies and Parvo/DHLPP vaccinations today administered by Wolf Curator, Lori Schmidt and Program Specialist, Jen Westlund.
Lakota wobbly on rear legs, particularly her left rear leg… Showing signs of strain when walking. Staff will monitor her condition – and offer an anti-inflammatory for the next few days.
Nyssa is settling into pack life after her first experience with the intensity of female aggression during the winter season. She dealt with some of the dominance attention by remaining a bit separate from the pack and not drawing attention to herself. But, now as things calm down, she's back to a bit of play behavior and is observed bedding down with the pack mates.
Shadow is a very intense wolf. Whatever he does, he seems to do it to the highest level, whether it's dominance with Malik, bark-howling at Behind the Scenes groups, disciplining puppies etc., he displays great behavior. Shadow is very adept at wolf on wolf interaction, but put a strange human behind the scenes and he is extremely timid. Shadow prefers to have the visitor experience through the protection of the auditorium window.
Curator, Lori Schmidt fed the gift packet of treats and cookies provided by Alpha Member Jan Makowski. The arctic wolves ate them without stopping to taste them, in contrast, the retirement pen was much more interested in scent rolling on them before eating them. Overall, the gift packages were a hit, if nothing more than to create a distraction on a day with limited human attention. Thank you Jan…
Vermilion Community College students Matt Erickson, Damon Haan, and Tym Sauter assist Curator Lori Schmidt in placing plywood on pack holding area for the purpose of giving Lakota privacy and protection from the pack when she's placed in the pack holding area. The yearlings are curious as the students work and a watchful eye must be kept on all tools.
Maya has completed her estrus cycle and she seems a lot easier to live with (at least that's what Nyssa says). Maya was very submissive to wolf care staff and spent alot of time on her back getting scratched. She continues to have the intense stare down behavior, but she doesn't seem to follow through with the lunging behavior. She continues to be the dominant female in the group.
MacKenzie is doing great. She's relaxed a bit after being slightly on edge from the dominance in the main exhibit. As much as Lucas likes the denboxes, MacKenzie equally likes her outdoor straw bed in the corner of the enclosure. She's the type of wolf that doesn't like to have her back to anyone, probably a personality trait of a dominant wolf. She prefers to stay in the corner and get a wide view of the activities in the wolf yard.
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