Archive for: Exhibit Pack Log

Summer is in full swing here at the International Wolf Center. We are happy to say that our Exhibit Pack pond is now running smoothly! The ambassador wolves have been utilizing this resource daily, whether it be to take a quick drink under the heat of the sun or to wade through the water to cool off. The pond is occasionally a focal point during our noon or 4pm enrichments; if the day’s enrichment item is a beaver-tail “popsicle” or bacon ice cubes, the wolf care team may toss some into the pond to encourage our wolf ambassadors to get their feet wet and display some natural swimming, wading, and head-dunking behaviors. There is no guarantee that they will step foot into the pond, but it appears that the youngest pack members – Caz and Blackstone – are very comfortable traversing the waters.

If you have watched our most recent Exhibit Pack Update on YouTube, you may have seen the social rally demonstrated by Grayson, Rieka, Blackstone, and Caz. This behavior is signified by wolves coming together after a howl or after a period of rest. Several behaviors may occur, such as greeting, tail wagging and sometimes mild aggression. We see rallies take place often at the International Wolf Center, usually after a chorus howl led by Grayson. The mild aggression or testing behaviors that we tend to see during or immediately after a rally is thought by some biologists to be due to the opportunistic nature of wolves; the pack had been separated for some time before rallying together, so wolves may posture over one another to reestablish pack rank order. Because of this, a rally may start social but end with some corrective behaviors by more dominant pack members.

As social animals, wolves also rely on building strong bonds and alliances within their pack. We continue to see our Exhibit Pack display the calmness and social behaviors expected by a cohesive pack unit. Blackstone and Grayson appear to have a strong relationship, oftentimes described by the wolf care team as being “two peas in a pod”. They have a similar sensitive nature and Grayson rarely postures over Blackstone. On the other hand, Grayson is quick to posture over Caz! We believe this is because Caz has a more confident personality than his brother (as demonstrated by his many raised-leg urinations and possessiveness when it comes to food); Grayson may see this as a potential issue as Caz matures and perhaps may test Grayson in the future. Both younger males seem to continue to be extremely submissive to Grayson, but that will likely not always be the case.

And where does Rieka fit into this? Well in the center of it all, of course. As the dominant female with a sometimes intense personality, Rieka is typically involved in most pack interactions. She seems to be more socially engaged with Grayson than we had seen in the past, but continues to focus on him during times of heightened excitement within the Exhibit Pack. We have also seen Rieka and Caz displaying the occasional parallel gait, one of the many behaviors oftentimes seen among individuals with a strong social bond. This in itself is not necessarily indicative of a pair bond, as we have also witnessed several parallel gaits between Rieka and Grayson as well.

July 4th is right around the corner and the ambassador wolves will be given some special red, white, and blue themed enrichment in the form of flavored ice cubes and pails of snow. Be sure to keep an eye out for the next video on YouTube, as this will likely feature footage of the wolves’ reactions to snow in July! If you have not viewed our Amazon Wishlist lately, please check it out; there’s a couple items on there that would be extremely helpful to have before the end of summer (namely bug balls and an electric weed whacker!).

Axel, a nearly eight-year-old arctic wolf with a bright white coat and an excitable personality, was euthanized in April. He was a popular ambassador at the International Wolf Center, teaching thousands of visitors about wolf behaviors and adaptations.

On Friday morning, April 19, wolf care staff reviewed security camera footage and observed Axel having a seizure. He was moved to the retirement enclosure, which allowed staff to closely monitor him 24 hours a day.

On Saturday night, he exhibited a few behaviors that led staff to conclude he was feeling worse, but he still kept eating and consistently greeted the wolf care team.

The Center’s veterinarian, Dr. Kristine Woerheide, was consulted and helped develop a plan for a blood draw so lab work could be completed at the nearby Ely Veterinary Clinic in Ely, Minnesota. Unfortunately, the lab work confirmed that Axel was in severe kidney failure. The effects of extreme kidney failure likely contributed to his seizures.

After consultation with the wolf care team and Dr. Woerheide, it was agreed that because of Axel’s complex medical condition, the irreversible kidney failure and concerns about his quality of life going forward, humane euthanasia was the only option.

Axel passed away surrounded by his wolf care team.

This was a heartbreaking loss for all of us. We apologize for the delay in YouTube Pack Updates and Exhibit Pack Logs; we hope to get back to a regular schedule this summer. To learn more about Axel and his passing, we recommend watching this YouTube Pack Update that covers things more thoroughly. We also have a free webinar available to watch that celebrates Grayson’s 8th birthday, and honors Axel’s life and legacy here at IWC.

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Many of you may remember from the past updates that Grayson has been having some rectal issues, specifically straining a lot and having some mucous in his scat. We first noted these issues back in February after seeing him having difficulties defecating and seeing a bit of blood in his stool, later noting some inflammation and irritation of his anus. The wolf care team monitored him closely and noted no other physical or behavioral concerns.

To help sooth any discomfort, the wolf care team applied ointment to his rear as we continued to monitor his defecations. While we would have liked to do a rectal exam on him at that time, it would have required a full chemical immobilization during a time when wolves are still feeling the heightened dominance that comes with winter breeding season hormones. In order to ensure Grayson could be reintroduced into the pack with minimal focus, our best course of action was to wait until things warmed up and the arrival of spring hormones encouraged a calmer pack.

After Retiring and saying goodbye to Axel, we decided it was a good time to immobilize Grayson and get a closer look at his rectum. Wolf Care Staff, along with our vet at the Ely Veterinary Clinic, came up with an immobilization plan to conduct a full medical exam for him, including bloodwork, cleaning up any old scabs, and getting a closer look at what may be causing the irritation of his rear. Everything went incredibly smoothly and we were able to get everything done that we had planned for.

When we separate a more dominant individual like this, we want to make sure they can be integrated back into the pack with as little focus as possible. We had Rieka, Caz, and Blackstone in one of the Retirement enclosures during Grayson’s exam and recovery, so that Grayson was the first wolf back into the Exhibit Pack. We then let Rieka back in with Grayson first, knowing that she would be the most likely to focus on him; this way, Grayson could handle her attentions without the two-year olds adding to the excitement. Grayson still felt some of the affects of the drugs used to immobilize him, but was alert enough to chase her off and defend himself when needed. Once Rieka seemed to lessen her focus on Grayson, we let Caz and Blackstone back into the Exhibit Pack. They were both very submissive and respectful of Grayson, but their excitement brought Rieka back over, as predicted. Wolf care team members remained in the enclosure with the pack to provide distractions and ensure Grayson was given space to fully recover from the drugs.

Fortunately, all of Grayson’s bloodwork came back normal, and our vet did not find any masses or tumors in his rectum, just some herniated tissue and edema. She collected a tissue sample of the area, which confirmed a diagnosis of colitis and chronic inflammation of the rectum. He is currently on an antibiotic and a probiotic that are specific for gastrointestinal health. Since the start of his treatment, we have seen significant progress in the health of the tissue. His scats have been more normal and his anus is not longer as visibly inflamed. The swelling has receded and tissue is no longer herniated.

It is also important to note that during this entire time, his behaviors remained typical and status in the pack has not lessened. In fact, Grayson appears to have gained quite a bit of confidence after Axel’s passing. We oftentimes see him posture over Caz and maintain the respect of the younger males. Rieka will still grab at his tail during times of high intensity or excitement, but Grayson has been more willing to chase her off and engage with her in social behaviors.

We will continue to monitor his health closely and keep everyone up to date with what has been going on in the pack.

We’re nearing the end of wolf breeding season in our region and continue to see a very calm and cohesive Exhibit Pack. This may in part be to the unseasonably warm weather and lack of snow the past few weeks.

We continue to see an increase in confidence from Grayson, as well as many social interactions between him and Rieka. Wolf care staff often witnesses a variety of social behaviors including jaw sparring, inhibited muzzle bites, play bows, invite chases, and sweeping tail wags — all of which point to a more social interaction rather than ritualized dominance. Caz continues to butt his way between the two, attempting to engage in this social moment as well, but it appears that Rieka and Grayson continue to focus mostly on each other during interactions such as these.

Many of these interactions result in an increase in excitement; there’s a fine line between a social interaction and ritualized dominance. With increased excitement or energy, the situation can change in intensity and intention. Wolves are incredibly opportunistic as well, so if Rieka sees Grayson shift his attention to Caz, she may go in for a quick grab at Grayson’s rear.

Grayson has been showing a significant increase in his confidence. A big part of this is likely that his brother, Axel, has been a bit more subdued the past few weeks. Grayson will oftentimes seek out Caz in and do a stand over with a high tail while Caz submits fully to him by rolling on his back. This is a pattern we have witnessed many times within the past few weeks; it seems as though Grayson recognizes Caz as the most dominant of the two younger males and is quick to ensure he stays subordinate to him within the rank order. Blackstone doesn’t display the same confidence or food possessive behaviors that Caz does, seeming to usually fly under Grayson’s radar. Even though Blackstone is lower in social rank, he seems to not stress about this and can oftentimes be seen goofing off around the enclosure.

Axel seems to be feeling better the past few days and has been much more active and engaged with the Pack. It has been a bit of a challenge getting him to take his medication daily, but he seems to have a fondness for ground beaver tail. We’re seeing a bit of inflammation return on his gums, likely due to missing several doses of his medication, but it does not appear to be irritating him or hindering his ability to eat off of the carcass, and it has reduced now that he’s been taking meds more regularly the past few days. His coat continues to look great and he remains an active, engaged member of the Pack.

Our 10th annual Wolf Care Auction is in full swing. You can browse and bid on items here until bidding ends on March 10th (at 12pm CDT). This auction directly supports our Wolf Care Department and features a lot of really great items from local artists, businesses, and of course the pieces made using the undercoat shed of Caz, Blackstone, and Rieka. Learn more about the auction on our website.

We have seen some colder temperatures this past week, with highs below 0°F. To help keep our wolf ambassadors warm during these colder spells, we make sure to have plenty of warm cover hay available for them to rest in, as well as several places of shelter such as dens and enclosed medical pens that they have access to at all times. The wolf care team fluffs their beds twice a day and checks to make sure their covered shelters are dry. We also will increase their feedings on colder weeks such as these, as wolves burn through a lot of energy just to stay warm and the extra calories are well used.

Many of you who view our live cameras may have seen Rieka this past week displaying some unusual swaying from side to side, starting early Sunday morning. We came in right away and gave her a physical exam and did not find any abnormalities or additional causes for concern, apart from some itchiness. She was alert and moving great with no instability, but would close her eyes and sway slightly when relaxed. Our veterinary consultant came by and did another exam on her, again finding nothing out of the ordinary. It is possible she had a response to something she ate, possibly something dropped in the enclosure by a raven, or maybe even a reaction to a mold or fungus within the environment. We’ve removed some of the older hay and replaced it with straw to ensure that anything funky was eliminated.

Rieka has shown improvements daily and has shown no swaying since Monday morning. Thankfully, this has not seemed to affect her ability to engage with the Pack. We’ve seen her continue to interact with the rest of the wolves in both a social manner and within the dominance rank order. One newer behavior we have noted from Rieka is her barking and bark howling at Grayson when he is correcting Caz. For wolves, barking can be an alert or a warning to the rest of the Pack, but it can also be a way to show aggression in defense of the pack. We have seen Rieka be defensive of Caz in the past, often in the form a grab bite to Grayson’s rear. Even with this heightened intensity in vocalizations from Rieka, we continue to see social behaviors increase between her and Grayson. It is no doubt an interesting time of year with breeding season around the corner. We will continue to monitor Rieka’s health closely, but have high hopes that whatever was in her system has left.

As we enter the new year, we look back at 2023 and review some of the highlights and key moments during the year:

January started off with the arrival of our curator-in-training, Giselle Narváez Rivera. She has been a perfect fit here at the International Wolf Center, and we could not be more pleased with the incredible work she has done thus far. She will be taking over as the role of Wolf Curator starting this month, still with the invaluable guidance of Lori Schmidt, Wolf Curator Emeritus.

By February we had seen Rieka growing confidence within the pack, but still displaying some juvenile behaviors with the yearlings, Caz and Blackstone. No doubt having younger individuals in the Exhibit Pack has given her the opportunity to engage in some of the social juvenile interactions that she missed out on being a singleton. The wolf care team also diligently monitored Axel’s coat condition, noticing discoloration and dryness that would eventually be determined as symptoms of a much larger issue.

March brought an abundance of snow. We had seen a lot of young wolf activity around the Exhibit Pack’s secondary fence to this point. Deep snowpacks can be tougher on younger animals compared to the more matured, experienced adults. Our wolf ambassadors had plenty of cover hay to help keep them warm, as well as multiple areas of shelter to utilize in inclement weather.

Caz and Blackstone turned one year of age in April, kicking off the start of our Ambassador Wolf Birthday Fundraiser. This fundraiser allowed us to install two additional surveillance cameras that aid us in monitoring the dynamics and safety of our wolf ambassadors. On cameras like these, we were able to observe Rieka oftentimes displaying dominance over Blackstone with a squash or a stand-over.

May is shedding season for wolves. Our ambassadors shed out their undercoats, some of which was saved to be made into products for our 2024 Wolf Care Auction. This auction will take place from February 26th to March 10th. The wolf care team noticed that Axel was not only shedding his undercoat like usual, but was also loosing guard hairs. We conducted a medical exam on both him and his littermate, Grayson. A diagnosis of sebaceous adenitis was determined and his treatment plan was developed.

During June, the bugs had arrived in swarms. This caused a lot of discomfort for our wolves, as many of the biting flies, gnats, and mosquitoes were relentless. We helped to ease this discomfort by opening the Wolf Care Center building for them to use as a place of refuge from the bugs and the heat. We also applied natural insect repellents such as cedar, peppermint, and lemongrass sprays.

To combat the heat of July, many frozen enrichments were provided to our wolf ambassadors. A favorite among the Exhibit Pack were buckets of snow given out during the 4th of July, colored red, white, and blue using sport drinks. The added electrolytes were beneficial in helping the Pack stay hydrated, although they seemed to prefer scent rolling on it rather than eating it.

In August, we began to see an increase of the displays of a maturing female from Rieka, as well as the rise of a lower-ranking pack member in Blackstone. Rieka’s increased dominance over the yearling seemed to mostly fall on Blackstone, with Caz being on the receiving end of more socially-motivated interactions. This really set the tone for Blackstone’s place as the omega of the Exhibit Pack.

September was the last month of heat, and the wolves were becoming pretty indifferent to the daily enrichments. To keep them interested and stimulated, the wolf care team worked hard to come up with unique enrichments for our wolf ambassadors to receive. One of those came in the form of a scarecrow made of frozen hay and a gourd for the head (topped with a bisonhide toupée). While Blackstone may be on the lower end of the rank order, he seemed the most confident approaching the novel item. Grayson, Caz, Axel, and Rieka were a bit more neophobic in their reactions, but eventually engaged in tearing it apart.

We had really started to see the tremendous improvement in Axel’s coat by October. His oral and topical treatments were successful in growing back a thick coat, as well as maintaining adequate moisture of his skin and hair. It was apparent that he would be well equipped to handle the cold and snow of the winter season.

November started out with us looking like we’d have a normal winter; there was a good coating of snow on the ground and the Exhibit Pack was certainly beginning to display the beginnings of winter dynamics. By late November, we had observed Grayson displaying more confidence in his interactions with the rest of the pack. He was more assertive, held his tail higher, and sought out Rieka frequently to engage in social behaviors.

When December came around, it was clear that we were not going to have a normal winter. Temperatures were unseasonably warm, there was no snow, and rain was a common occurrence. At the end of the month, there was finally another snowfall that stuck, providing a blanket of white in the Exhibit.

As we look back at the year behind us, we are so incredibly gratefully for all of the support shown toward IWC and our ambassador wolves. We look forward to what the wolves will teach us in 2024. To watch the video version of this Pack Update, click here.