Archive for: boltz

In this week’s photo, Boltz displays an ear posture that we code in our behavioral dictionary (AKA Ethogram) as Ears Pricked and Turned Sideways (EPTS).  What does it mean?  The ears pricked show interest, but the ears turned to the side show a bit of uncertainty.  These conflicting behaviors sum up the life of a mid-range adult.  Boltz has spent a winter engaging in some social behavior with the pups.  He’s taken some opportunity to assert some rank over them, has been trying to test Aidan a bit for some status, but the uncertainty shows a lack of confidence.  His testing behavior of Aidan hasn’t yielded him much in the terms of rank status.  But as Aidan ages, we will watch those ear postures for that indication that Boltz has the confidence to move out of the middle.  Of course, Boltz has Axel and Grayson to contend with; Both will likely be driven by the same behavioral patterns.  Fortunately for Boltz, a wolf pups usually doesn’t reach full maturity until 18 -24 months.

We celebrated Boltz’s 5th birthday today and we take this time to look at the dynamics of the social group we call the Exhibit Pack.  This photo has a significant amount of details about each individual member (click on image to see larger size).  Starting from the far left, Grayson is in a tail wag indicating arousal and his tail is mid-back with ears pricked but turned slightly sideways showing confidence, but not intense focus on Aidan.  Boltz is next with a T-1 tail;  It is held much higher than Grayson, indicating a bit more confidence and ears that are pricked forward with a direct stare towards Aidan.  This is a behavior worth noting when we have a pack leader nearing 9 years of age.  I am most impressed by Aidan’s posture, his tail shows arousal, not extremely high over the back, but confident.  His front legs are both off the ground which could be part of a play-bow.  If you look at his ears, they are more submissive and express a more social interaction.  Axel is not quite as sure, with 3 of the 4 Exhibit Pack members approaching him, he drops his head, tail and ears as signs of submission. What a great day to watch the pack. 

This weeks log written by Kim Wheeler, Executive Director, Red Wolf Coalition, Inc.  During my visit at the Center, I had the opportunity to watch Boltz play with the pups.  His play time is often cut short when Aidan steps in to put an end to the fun.  Even though Boltz is often the focus of Aidan, he still finds many opportunities to engage with the pack.  I witnessed Aidan dominate Boltz through a very stern dominance action, and then 30 minutes later they were resting next to each other in the hay.  Just another example of the cohesive nature of this pack.  At 4.5 years old, Boltz is a fit and handsome wolf. 

When the pup’s were integrated into the pack, Boltz spent a significant amount of time guarding, socially interacting and basically being a pup again.  As the pup’s mature, their tenacity and juvenile tendencies seem to keep Boltz at a distance, especially when they start jaw sparring and pinning each other to the ground.  We still witness times when Boltz engages the pups, especially when seeking a resting spot on the cover hay.  But if they are up and active, Boltz gives them some space and often displays the Ears Pricked and Turned Sideways (EPTS) posture.  In wolf language EPTS means “I’m alert and aware, but sense a bit of tension”. 

Boltz is a 4-year old male who is trying to figure out his way in the pack.  He’s had some testing behavior before, but a lot of that behavior was stimulated by tension with Luna and a bit of redirection.  This fall, we have been seeing a new side to Boltz; One that is more socially engaged in pack activity and notably, the interactions with the Axel and Grayson.  Boltz had some challenges as a young pup, lacking in social interactions due to Luna’s many medical restrictions, he didn’t experience the same social dynamics experienced by Aidan and Denali or Grayson and Axel, who had pup littermates.  Boltz had limitations and these limitations shaped his personality in the last few years.  Since the 2016 pup introduction, we are experiencing a new Boltz.  His confidence has increased and with the absence of Luna, Aidan is the only thing keeping him from gaining some status.  In this week’s photo’s, you see the T-1 tail of excited dominance and confidence, Boltz on the left and Aidan on the right.   This is a early in the winter season and so far, Aidan has taken control and put a limit on Boltz’s behavior.  Time will tell how this situation will progress. We are fortunate that the Vermilion Commmunity College Ethology class will start behavioral assessment and data recording by February to give us an indication of Boltz’s activities as we enter the most active season for wolf behavior.