Boltz – Sand Pile Posturing

We know that insects congregate towards vegetation.  Whether it’s black flies and leatherleaf or yellow jackets preying on the insects that congregate in the vegetation, Boltz takes issue with their presence, no matter what they are. In an effort to give Boltz some relief, we had a 5-yard load of sand delivered to the wolf exhibit.  We use the sand to fill holes, but more importantly, the wolves use the sand as a resting place.  Combined with the Center’s misting system, the sand provides a cool, insect free place to rest.  In this photo, Boltz responds with some intimidation to Axel’s presence on the sandpile with ears pricked and turned sideways (EPTS in the Ethogram).   Boltz seems to have accepted Grayson’s posturing, but something about Axel continues to make him nervous.  Leadership of this pack next fall may still be contentious as leadership is not just about dominance, but it’s about alliances.  We know Boltz has an alliance with Denali, but as Denali ages and transitions into retirement, Boltz will be left to transition into new relationships.  From current observations, Grayson seems to be the preference for Boltz. 

Boltz – Let the Timid Season Begin

Staff is certainly watching Boltz’s response to the summer season, also known as the bug season that has affected Boltz in the past.  This is the time of the year where Boltz becomes more timid, often staying up in the wooded area of the enclosure where a full compliment of shade results in less insects.  This self-imposed isolation to the upper enclosure can impact his pack relationships.  Last summer, we noticed that  Grayson and Axel would posture over Boltz as he came down from the woodline at the end of a summer day.   Last summer, they were yearlings and as such, were not as keyed into rank order; as adults, their posturing and focus on Boltz could have more influence.   We have already observed a change in Boltz’s confidence as he seemed to strive for leadership this winter, but then settled to be lower ranking in the pack.  The one factor that might be relevant this summer is that Boltz still has a tendency to intimidate Aidan.  Wolf care staff note that they can tell when there’s been some pack dynamic issues overnight because Boltz  is more socially interactive with staff when he’s postured over Aidan.  If that dynamics continues to occur, it might be enough of a boost to help overcome some of his summer time phobias. 

While the other wolves do fluctuate with weight, Boltz has remained very consistent over the years.  He is a poster boy for great bone conformation and is often used in comparison for Luna because they were raised during the same time frame with the same diet.  We are very pleased that Boltz has no inhibitions coming into the Wolf Care Center to be weighed.  

 

6/5/2013 Boltz 102.5 lb  1 year 2.5 mo
8/14/2013 Boltz 109.56 lb  1 year 5 months
6/13/2014 Boltz 111.9 lbs 2 years 1 month
5/1/2015 Boltz 109.34 lbs 3 years 2 month 
6/10/2016 Boltz 111.1 lbs 4 years 3 months
5/2/2017 Boltz 107 lbs 5 years 1.5 months
6/30/2017 Boltz 109 lbs 5 years 3 months
8/2/2017 Boltz 107.8 l bs 5 years 5 months 
4/2/2018 Boltz 107.2 ~ 6 years 
4/30/2018 Boltz 111.4 6 years 2 months

 

Boltz – Summertime Mode

Boltz is back on the greeting rock lounging like a summer day.  With the tremendous help from the Vermilion College Natural Resource students, most of the wet winter hay has been removed from the Exhibit Pack area.  The greeting rock was pressure washed to remove the winter effects of ravens that lingered in the exhibit.  Boltz continues to show subordinate tendencies to Denali, especially during the feeding program.  On the April 27th feeding, Denali allowed Axel to feed, but wouldn’t allow Grayson and Boltz near the carcass. This prompted Boltz to food beg to Denali in order to approach the carcass.  While rank order and food possession are independent behaviors, Boltz displays similar body language.  Staff monitor feedings and scat coloration to indicate which wolf may need supplemental food to meet their needs. 

Boltz – Facing Off the Pair

As we have reported before, Boltz seemed to go to the top of the rank earlier this winter, then seemed to be move back down as spring approached.  He has been seeking reassurance from Denali, and is often paying homage to him by parallel gating, rubbing under his chin and rolling submissively to the ground.  The issue he’s having is that Axel and Grayson continue to try to face off with Boltz and that’s not a position that gives him comfort. There is no doubt that Boltz is at a disadvantage by not having a littermate, certainly Axel and Grayson spend a fair amount of time engaged in the same behavior, but Boltz does have Denali.  On most days, Denali is a formidable distraction.  Boltz continues to be a concern for Aidan, even if Boltz is showing no threat display, if he walks by Aidan, Aidan quickly drops his tail and whirls to face him, rarely allowing Boltz behind him.  Of course, all things change when food is involved.  Rank behavior is not the same as food defense. Aidan can easily drive Boltz from food and does so on a frequent basis.  Wolf Care staff wrote the following notes “Boltz was watching staff rake the cover hay beds when Boltz bolted towards Axel, who was attempting to take a cache from the raked beds.  Axel immediately dropped it and Boltz stood guard through the rest of wolf care”.  There are two important points to note in this staff entry.  First and most importantly, Staff need to be diligent about “Situational Awareness” at all times.  Wolf caches are guarded and can be defended with a bite even to the handlers.  Secondly, even though people feel bad about lower ranking wolves, just because a wolf is lower ranking, doesn’t mean it’s entire life is dictated by the other wolves.  Wolves have social rules that allow the omega’s some freedom.  One of those rules includes the concept “if a lower ranking wolf can tug and get a piece of a carcass from a kill, they can carry it off and guard it, even from the most dominant wolf”.  Life is complex in a wolf pack and these rules help the dynamics of all individuals interact.  Remember, they are social carnivores first and foremost.

Boltz – Back in the Middle?

Boltz continues to show less confidence about taking over leadership of the pack. He still postures towards Aidan but is quick to back off when Aidan shows some dominance, especially if the interaction involves food. This week there were several bouts of testing towards Boltz by Axel and Grayson. After a testing event, the response from Boltz is to display some active submission, rolling over and licking Denali’s face.  There were a sequence of behaviors photographed taken of this event.  In Boltz’s log, you see the submissive response of Boltz.  In Denali’s log, you see a Denali seeming to enjoy the social grooming that is part of active submission. 

Boltz – Looking at Life at the Top

Earlier this winter, we really thought Boltz was showing some behaviors that indicated he could lead this pack, but recently, his confidence has been waning.  It seems like he took a look at life at the top and decided that it was better to be subordinate.  He is socially interactive with the pack, but is quick to show a submissive food-begging posture to Denali after a group howl or when there’s an over-exuberant session of dominance from the maturing yearlings.  He is very timid when trying to get a piece of the weekly deer carcass, especially since Aidan’s confidence has increased.  We just celebrated Boltz’s 6th birthday on March 17th and during his webinar and we discussed Boltz’s phobias of flying insects during the summer and how that timid response is likely going to impact his ability to gain the respect and leadership of the pack.  One of the webinar subscribers asked if Boltz had other winter phobias that were as intense as the insect issues.  My response to that was no, primarily because he might have a focus on things from above such as ravens during the winter, but not enough to go and hide in the woods all day like he does in the summer.  One thing is for certain, each wolf has a personality and has had life experiences that shape their personality.  It is up to wolf care staff to understand and find creative ways to manage their unique personalities as they meld with the pack.  For Boltz, we found that using bacon flavored bubbles is a way to help desensitize him to items floating above his head and we will continue to work with him before the start of the insect season.  If you are interested in honoring Boltz’s birthday or supporting the training and supplies used to care for our wolves, please consider a gift to the Wolf Care Fund. 

Boltz -Personal Space

We’ve definitely witnessed a lot of behaviors this winter.  Boltz has shown some status and focus that was hard to imagine last summer when his insect phobia kept him away from the pack.  It will be interesting to see him find his place and get so excited in a pack rally.  Grayson is much more receptive to his leadership than Axel, so time will tell to see where this pack goes from here. 

Boltz- Challenges to Leadership

The biggest challenges for Boltz is to get the other pack members to see his leadership skills.  Tail posture is one way, but there needs to be some display of acceptance from his fellow pack members.  This winter has been a challenge for the pack. With Aidan’s decline in confidence and leadership, the other pack members seemed to face some challenges. Axel seemed to be the biggest challenge, but his posture in this photo of a lowered head, ears pricked to the side and a slight lifting of his paw indicates that he is deferring to Boltz’s status.  We don’t know how the upcoming months will play out, but we know that staff will be diligent to the nuances of body postures that influence behaviors. 

Boltz – The Intensity of the Eyes

Aidan’s loss of confidence seems to be most correlated to Boltz’s presence.  We have observed surveillance footage as well as direct observations where Denali and the arctics can move around Aidan and even feed on the same carcass, but as soon as Boltz approaches, Aidan tucks tail, offers a lip curl threat and retreats.  At times, Boltz does nothing more than look at Aidan, but no doubt, the intensity of the stare speaks volumes.  This is a new-found role for Boltz who spent most of last summer in a self-imposed state of panic over the buzzing insects of northern Minnesota.  But, does the intensity of Boltz’s stare enough to lead a pack?  There is evidence to suggest that the answer would be no.  After a recent feeding when Aidan was able to drive Boltz off a carcass, Boltz seemed to revert to pup-like food begging behavior from Denali, who in Boltz’s mind is appears to be higher ranking.  This obnoxious submitting created enough unstable energy that both arctic yearlings seemed to take advantage of Boltz.  So, if Boltz shows the same unstable energy when dealing with flies, he may be perceived as weak by the fellow pack members affecting his ability to lead.  But, the buzzing insect issues seems to be more psychological than physical, so if he comes into the summer with a more confident mindset, maybe he will display a more confident attitude.  We know we made progress with the bacon flavored bubbles we used last summer, so we intend to continue that desensitizing conditioning behavior for the summer enrichments.  Time will tell; One interesting thing about pack dynamics is that the actions of an individual and time of year can influence the pack interactions.

 

Boltz – Middle Ranking

The Center has a management policy of adopting wolf pups every four years.  The thought behind this policy is to have a middle-aged wolf that takes on the roll of a buffer between the maturing younger wolves and the aging older pack members.   Young wolves start testing at about 9 months of age and reach full maturity between 18 – 24 months of age.  During this maturation time, their personality trait and attitude can intensify.  You may have heard of the phrase, “Terrible Two’s”, we have a similar concept in wolf management, only it’s more like “challenging yearlings”.  We don’t tag a negative label to wolf behavioral as most instinctual behavioral development is likely driven by a benefit of surviving in the wild.   Boltz has done a great job of being that buffer, not only, asserting status over Axel and Grayson, but as a middle ranking wolf, he is watchful of Aidan’s attitude and abilities, keeping Aidan mentally and physically stimulated and on high alert.