Written by Wolf Ethology student-Christina Meyer: Earlier this week, the weather was hot and muggy, which makes for perfect conditions for bugs. During this time, Mackenzie would come to briefly greet the wolf ethology class, but would return to the back of the enclosure to seek shade. This allowed Lakota to greet the students for more time at the fence. This was followed by a few days of rain, where Mackenzie could be found waiting out the rain in her box. Once the rain passed, she greeted the wolf ethology students more quickly than in previous days.
It's been a calm week with the Exhibit Pack. This time of year, the warmer weather, hormonal influences and lack of active rank order issues make for a quiet existence. The wolves have been investigating the exhibit with more motivation after several enclosure enrichment procedures and increased vegetation that draws in amphibians and a variety of moths, butterflys and dragonflies.
Lakota is doing extremely well, despite the troubles experienced by Lucas. We were initially concerned that Lakota and MacKenzie would show dominance over Lucas, but they have been very tolerant of his lethargic and sometimes unstable condition. After Lucas gets a pain pill, he does feel well enough to move around the pen. On Sunday, Lakota started a running bout and Lucas felt well enough to run a few feet with her. Lakota is still full of her undercoat, and daily staff brushings are resulting in piles of hair. For a 13 year old, she has the softest, most glossy hair of the pack.
MacKenzie still has a dense undercoat from the winter that she needs to lose. Staff are brushing her, but the hair just keeps on shedding. With this dense undercoat coming to the surface, she has taken on a more lightish appearance. When she is completely shed, her guard hairs will appear more black, with the exception of the graying muzzle.
Between Lakota and MacKenzie, we are seeing more anxious behavior from MacKenzie with the loss of Lucas. It may be related to her behavioral personality, or it may be, as a dominant wolf, she shared more bonding moments with Lucas as the dominant male, but whatever the cause, staff are increasing efforts to make her feel more relaxed. As I type this, I am watching two staff members in the enclosure with them, their behavioral responses will be closely observed over the upcoming weeks. MacKenzie also has been late in shedding, her photo this week shows a thick main of undercoat.
Malik has been asserting his dominance over Maya at the risk of getting a response from Shadow and Shadow is there in an instant to remind Malik of his position. We did see some redirected aggression later in the evening after Lucas was euthanized, that may have been a response to all the activity in the wolf yard. When Malik tries to assert his dominance of Grizzer, he's finding a young, developing male wolf that isn't going to take it as easliy as he once did.
This week's photo is one you don't see too often from Shadow. Being the alpha male of the pack, his body language projects that of a dominant wolf. Rolling over to expose the inguinal area is one form of submission, and is one of the most vulnerable positions a wolf can be in. However, in this photo, he is shown scent-rolling. Scent rolling is a means of communication, and in the wild, it is a way for wolves to bring the scent of something back to the rest of the pack.
Written by Wolf Ethology students; Alastair Small, Gery Egan, Gerald Egan. Meat and leftover pizza was hidden by wolf care staff around the enclosure to stir up interest among the pack. Malik explored the enclosure with a confident gait with a relaxed tail position. He RLU'd on a rock near the window, and defecated a few minutes later near by, marking the areas were food was located. He interacted a few times with other pack members. He approached Grizzer near the top of pond, Grizzer had a piece of food and growled at Malik. Grizzer wandered off and Malik got what was left. In another incident with Grizzer, Malik went up the hill above the pond away from the other wolves and found a piece of pizza. Grizzer came up and took it away from Malik, who then left, coming down to the bottom of the pond. Towards the end of the event, Malik showed his dominance over Maya, by raising his tail as he walked by. Throughout the entire program, Malik generally stayed away from the other wolves. When all the treats were found, Malik rested in the Sphinx position near Shadow.
Written by Wolf Ethology Students; Amanda Rice and Lisa Kish. Shadow is still portraying his dominant role. Keeping his pack cohesive, he is always on the alert, keeping his ears perked forward in the sphinx pose as the other wolves do their own thing. Always meeting the others with a tall stance, tail raised, they remember he is boss. Constantly aware of his surroundings and his pack, it is truly facinating to watch him. Always watching from behind the trees or walking just close enough behind a pack member, he truly fits his name, Shadow.
Written by Wolf Ethology student-Amanda Rice: Always met at the fence in the mornings by a pair of captivating large eyes, her beauty holds your attention. Appearing gentle because of old age, it's a little slow-going. Lots of stretching when getting up from her bed, she gracefully handles her twilight years. It's been an absolute pleasure to meet Lakota.
The International Wolf Center advances the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wildlands and the human role in their future.