Grizzer continues to be submissive to Shadow, in the daily ritualized dominance displays. While these displays can sound noisy and seem intense, they actually help reduce more significant battles for status by constantly reminding all wolves the rank order. The recent snowfall stimulated the wolves into a more active mode, but as temperatures warm over 30 degrees, they are more likely to overheat. Grizzer doesn’t take to warm temperatures very well, and is often observed panting on the warmer spring days. Wolves don’t have sweat glands over their body like humans, instead, they are covered in hair to keep them warm. Cooling is done by panting to evaporate heat off of their tongue, and some heat is lost through their paws.
Malik’s been seeking more contact with the staff, a sign that he is more relaxed. He continues to have loud threat displays towards Grizzer, but as the weather warms and Grizzer slows down a bit, Malik has actually started using the technique we term “shadowing on Grizzer. This is where one wolf follows another to intimidate them. Grizzer uses it on Malik a lot. Malik is also very active in doing a foreleg stab at Grizzer when Shadow has Grizzer pinned to the ground. This is a common behavior of a wolf that is not as comfortable with approaching and physically grabbing but, wants to get a dominant stab at a vulnerable wolf, especially one higher ranking. We’ve been attempting to get this on film to include in the ethogram.
Shadow has gained weight, but we must qualify, the measurement taken today was post deer feeding. Shadow and Malik shared a deer torso and 2 front legs last night. Today's wolf check revealed very little left from a 50 lb feeding. So, theoretically, Shadow may have 8 – 12 lbs of meat in his system. But, considering he was 71 lbs at his last weight 2 weeks ago, and is now 16 lbs heavier, he did gain something, probably around 5 lbs. We know by interacting with him that his body feels less bony. We will continue to feed Shadow as much as he wishes. If anyone's interested in buying Shadow dinner, you can make a donation to the wolf care fund, and please make a note that it's earmarked for Shadow.
Denali continues to test and bears the brunt of Grizzer's frustration with his behavior, usually a chase around the pond. Grizzer has yet to physically dominate Denali, he does a good enough job through body language and eye contact to keep Denali on the run.
Malik has a great video clip on the YouTube this week, he's doing some scent rolling, then he does a whirl and excitably runs through the enclosure, with Shadow chasing behind him. This wasn't an aggressive behavior, merely an excitement probably stimulated by the cooler weather. They certainly didn't act their ages.
Malik is certainly benefiting from Shadow's daily meal delivery. No matter how well the staff distracts, Malik manages to steal a fair amount of morsels from Shadow. Fortunately, we have plenty of food available, thanks to the kind donation of Retired Wolf Supporters, Judy Adler, Sharon Hibbard and Sharon Siebert. Your recent donations purchased a case of beef and chicken, which is about a 2 week supply. Thanks from the Retired wolves and the staff that care for them. Malik is starting to show some signs of social interaction above and beyond food possession, these littermates certainly get along well.
This week has been extremely warm for Ely, Minnesota standards with temperatures nearing 90 degrees and humidity exceeding 80%. It has been extremely hard on the wolves, and wolf care staff are doing what they can to make them comfortable. Wolves have are covered in hair and don't have sweat glands at the surface of their skin, resulting in a cooling mechanism of panting to evaporate heat and moisture off the surface of their tongue. This isn't a very efficient method in high humidity. Each wolf has distinct tolerances of heat, and has their own method for cooling. <br>Aidan is a den dweller, whether above ground or below, he seeks out the coolest protected ground he can find. The protection may have something to do with his status, being lower ranking, it's not just the heat that he's escaping, but the focus of the dominant female.
This week has been extremely warm for Ely, Minnesota standards with temperatures nearing 90 degrees and humidity exceeding 80%. It has been extremely hard on the wolves, and wolf care staff are doing what they can to make them comfortable. Wolves have are covered in hair and don't have sweat glands at the surface of their skin, resulting in a cooling mechanism of panting to evaporate heat and moisture off the surface of their tongue. This isn't a very efficient method in high humidity. Each wolf has distinct tolerances of heat, and has their own method for cooling. <br>Malik doesn't appear to have as much hair as Shadow, meaning he stays cooler. Malik also frequents the back of the Retired Enclosure, staying in the shade of the tall pines.
This week has been extremely warm for Ely, Minnesota standards with temperatures nearing 90 degrees and humidity exceeding 80%. It has been extremely hard on the wolves, and wolf care staff are doing what they can to make them comfortable. Wolves have are covered in hair and don't have sweat glands at the surface of their skin, resulting in a cooling mechanism of panting to evaporate heat and moisture off the surface of their tongue. This isn't a very efficient method in high humidity. Each wolf has distinct tolerances of heat, and has their own method for cooling. <br> Maya is a swimmer, who frequently takes a dip in the pond to cool off. Lately, she's been kept out of the den by Grizzer and possibly Aidan. This is an interesting dynamic, and certainly causes Maya a bit of redirected aggression when the temperatures finally do cool off at night.
This week has been extremely warm for Ely, Minnesota standards with temperatures nearing 90 degrees and humidity exceeding 80%. It has been extremely hard on the wolves, and wolf care staff are doing what they can to make them comfortable. Wolves have are covered in hair and don't have sweat glands at the surface of their skin, resulting in a cooling mechanism of panting to evaporate heat and moisture off the surface of their tongue. This isn't a very efficient method in high humidity. Each wolf has distinct tolerances of heat, and has their own method for cooling. <br>Shadow has been digging, trying to create an underground area near the pond and on the back side of the smaller den. He's also been caching a significant amount of the food we've given, which tells us that we have probably satiated him. We are hoping for a weight in the next week, but based on a physical observations and how he feels, we think he gained a fair amount of weight since retirement. Thanks again to the individuals that supported Shadow financially through this transition, we think he's back on track and his photo this week shows an alert, healthy individual who happens to still have dirt on his nose from a cache. On August 1st, Shadow was weighed after a large feeding, resulting in a probability of higher weight than actual. Today, we believe we have a more realistic weight of 85.4 lbs. This is a good weight gain since July, and after the weighing, he ate 2 more pounds of chicken, with 10 more thawing in the sink for tonight.
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