Installed heated waterer for retirement pen, MacKenzie and Lakota are interested in the wooded area between the highway and their enclosure. Jen Westlund did an exterior enclosure check but found no signs of digging or activity.
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Staff have noticed MacKenzie showing much more social behavior than in previous weeks. During the winter season, aggression seems to be heightened in both enclosures. This creates a situation where MacKenzie is more focused on dominance not only with Lakota, but the activities inside the Exhibit pack. As her focus intensifies, she spends less time interacting with staff. During the last few sessions, MacKenzie is back to her old self, getting as much attention as Lakota. Of course, she still needs to tell Lakota who's in charge, but it's with a lot less intensity.
Much more relaxed greeting only minimal aggression observed between Lucas and Shadow. MacKenzie and Lakota received good attention from staff today. Lakota initiated play and MacKenzie joined in for a short bit. Less attention on the main pack between the fences."
When using holding pens to feed vitamins, Shadow was very reluctant to leave and had to be drawn out by the use of meatballs. Lucas had been startled by the gate when going into the holding pen last week and had been reluctant to go through them until today, when he entered willingly several times.
Malik jumps from behind and grabs Jen Westlund's hair. Mackenzie is very aggressive with Shadow. In response, Shadow bares his teeth and growls in Mackenzie's face. Later Shadow is seen with tucked tail, avoiding Mackenzie.
Lakota was aggressively nipped by Mackenzie after something happened up in the wooded portion of the enclosure, out of sight of the observers. It may have had something to do with the pups as they came running out of the woods several seconds before Lakota did. Lakota submitted quickly for several seconds, then circled back toward the pups. At which time, both Lucas and Mackenzie began nipping her in the hind quarters to get her to submit again. After Lakota submitted, Mackenzie stood over her for several seconds.
Lucas is doing well. The warmer weather last week seemed to put a spring in his step. He's the most frequent user of the den box, so regardless of the weather, he's always content.
Nyssa has been a different pup to work with. When she was a pup, she was very dominant and a bit independent. As she was introduced to the pen, she got along well with the arctics, but remained a bit independent. As her and Maya work to settle the female rank order, it may be that independence that is keeping her from winning the top role. Maya seems to more socially interactive with the arctics, especially Shadow. Nyssa will interact, but she doesn't seek out contact with them, and sometimes is a aloof with staff. Even though her personality type may be more dominant, Maya has gained the support of the other pack members and may become the top female in the pack.
Sorry for the lapse in logs, I was at 2 professional conferences in the last two weeks; Wolf Care staff took great care of the wolves in my absence. As a distraction, I fed a donated Bison pelt to the Exhibit pack. Lakota is doing very well, she was a bit disgruntled that her pack didn't get the bison hide, she had to settle for a bucket of beaver parts. She has been very active, observed in several chase scenes throughout the enclosure.
Lakota dominated the deer carcass at the last feeding, a definite sign that she's over her bacterial infection. She's been extremely playful and been very observant of the snow depth as it relates to the fence height. Fortunately, the retired wolves don't jump as high as they did when they were younger, but that doesn't stop them from having checking out a potential adventure. Wolf care staff are monitoring the snowdepth on a daily basis and will likely dig a moat before the week's over.
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