We thought the arctics would have settled the top ranking order in the pack, but they continue to posture and dominante each other without much sign of a resolution. Malik seems to keep pushing the issue and Shadow seems to keep proving his point.
Program Specialist, Jen Westlund writes: " Today at about 2 PM the arctic's got a raven. I didn't see the actual situation of how they got it, but Shadow was on top of the raven guarding it from Malik. They rolled on it, ripped off some feathers and took it up the hill. A group of ravens followed the wolves and displayed a very intense distress call."
The pups were introduced into the exhibit pack today. The following is a summary from the Behavioral Observation Team. Behavioral Observation team members: Team 1: Carol Moore, Joyce Powers, Debra Mendrick Team 2: Claire Belle, Jeanette Howard, Kara Milnes Team 3: Jessica Reihing, Susan Toochin, Dari Quirk, Kristine Radermacher Lucas continues to bite at back of pups necks as if to pick them up. Shadow becomes very nervous at this behavior and tucks his tail and runs, sometimes causing Lucas and Lakota to chase with extremely high tails, actually jumping at the pups. When this behavior is targeted toward Malik, he readily submits and Lucas stops the behavior, but Lakota may continue for several more attempts to make contact. The fear-based response of Shadow increases significantly when Lucas and Lakota both chase the pups. Although Shadow tends to show more fear than Malik and is less likely to submit, Lucas and Lakota don't seem to single him out. They have been observed chasing and dominating Malik an equal amount of the time as Shadow. Lakota has attempted to draw the pups to the upper wooded portion of the enclosure, but on several occasions, Mackenzie has emerged whining louder and attempting to herd the pups to the front of the exhibit.
The pups were introduced into the exhibit pack today. The following is a summary from the Behavioral Observation Team. Behavioral Observation team members: Team 1: Carol Moore, Joyce Powers, Debra Mendrick Team 2: Claire Belle, Jeanette Howard, Kara Milnes Team 3: Jessica Reihing, Susan Toochin, Dari Quirk, Kristine Radermacher For the first time since the introduction, Mackenzie was observed to be in a deep sleep for multiple hours. Prior to this day, her resting periods included alert ears, eyes slightly open and quick response to any noise, movement of the pups or other adult wolves. During this sleeping time for Mackenzie, Lucas was sleeping within 4 feet of Mackenzie and woke several times to walk the lower portion of the enclosure, approaching the pups and circling back to the spot on the hill near Mackenzie. He later slept on a rock in the middle of the enclosure and often sat up during a 2 hour resting period. In the later part of the shift, Lucas was observed approaching the pups and lightly sniffing and licking the pups heads, the pups readily submitted and Lucas went back to the hillside to lay down. The pups are being separated twice daily into their overnight kennel for feeding. They readily enter the enclosure and roll in the straw after feeding. After the pups are fed, the adults enter the enclosure and search for pups caches. There has been no aggression toward the pups, before, during and after the feeding separations.
A Moose leg was brought into the enclosure to provide stimulus for the pups and remained a focus of activity for Lucas, Malik and Shadow. Lucas had the leg to begin with and Malik tried to acquire it. At 11:20 pm, Shadow and Malik had the leg after Lucas wandered off. Malik and Shadow began aggressively guarding the leg from one another with Malik being the aggressor. After about 7 minutes, Lucas took the leg back from Malik with no conflict. At 11:30 Malik approached Lucas for the leg and Lucas barked making Malik submissively roll over. Again at 11:45 Malik approached Lucas with the Moose leg at which time he was able to tug at a piece of the leg and remove a chunk. This continued until about midnight when Lucas allowed Malik to walk away with the whole Moose leg. Mackenzie and Shadow slept through the entire event.
All adults observed scent marking on an area where a Franklin Ground squirrel was killed and consumed. Lucas rolled first and Raise Leg Urinated (RLU) on it, and Mackenzie was next and she did a modified RLU, then Lakota rolled on it with no scent marking. The pups were later seen rolling on the area, with less coordination, as Malik's scent rolls turned into somersaults. Seemed like a true pack during this session, more than the previous days. Very little conflict, but Mackenzie continues to be the calming force if activity gets too rough toward the pups.
Late in the evening (11:30 pm), Lucas brings a deer leg to Malik and Shadow, whining to the pups the whole time he is carrying it. Malik and Shadow approach him, but show no interest in the deer leg. Lakota comes over and carries the deer leg off. Lucas takes the leg back from Lakota and tries to bring it to the pups again. This sequence lasted 5 -6 minutes.
Shadow has had a few episodes of bark howling at groups Behind the Scenes. He takes his role as pack leader very seriously and let's people know who's in charge. He and Malik are still posturing for a dominant male role, but it seems that Shadow is more often on top than Malik. Shadow is very efficient at pinning Malik to the ground. This dominance behavior typically last through early March, before the hormonal cycle of testosterone tends to level off. As spring approaches, the weather warms, and the wolves again become more mellow. This time of the year makes for great observations and interesting dynamics.
Grizzer has had a good week; He's been less of a problem for wolf care staff and seems to be settling in to the role of waiting for the others to finish dominance before he interacts. He does seem to involve Maya in chase scenes more than any other wolf. His size continues to draw comments, even from wolf care staff that see him on a daily basis. He's extremely strong and at this time, hasn't figured out the full potential of his strength. It should be interesting if he ever makes the connection. His easy-going personality is a bonus on a wolf that large.
Pups instigated mobbing of Lakota, all three in den. Mackenzie and Lucas show interest in chasing Lakota, but not as actively as pups. Later, pups and Mackenzie observed chasing Lakota into den
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