Visitor

The logs this week are all the same. It’s been a busy week. We started with the discovery of some damage to an outside security fence behind the Retired Enclosure. It appears a wild wolf attempted to get into the secondary security fence behind the retired enclosure. There were a significant number of boards torn from the fencing with a lot of teeth marks. Surveillance video shows that it likely occurred on Sunday morning, although we don’t have a camera pointing directly at this fence, Shadow showed some tension and agitation. We had a group of students from Vermilion Community College volunteer with some invasive species removal. This is critical as the plants that they were pulling harden off with hundreds of burrs that get stuck in the wolves coats. Unfortunately, Aidan seemed to have the most stress about the work project. He was agitated while he was in holding, then after the students left and Aidan was released, he proceeded to have some fear avoidance behavior throughout the weekend. This created some interest from the other wolves that saw the dominant pack leader showing some weakness. We impose a lot of limits on activity in the wolf yard as winter approaches, but the removal of the invasive species is critical work that saves a lot of wolf frustration as staff try to pull burrs from their coat. Grizzer was a bit stressed by the work crew, but calms down quickly when he’s back to his routine.

Tug-o-hose

Grizzer had his pond cleaned again this week, and managed to the hose from me when I wasn’t looking. There seems to be a certain amount of satisfaction gaining a possession that can be tugged and dragged with very little recourse from the staff. Grizzer had a great time, I on the other hand, have 20 feet less hose than I did at 8 am this morning.

Back Scratches

If you watch the Youtube video this week, Grizzer displays the most interesting facial postures that indicate he likes a back scratch. As the weather got hotter, the wolves dug more holes and some even retreated underground. Their winter coats have been growing in since mid-August and a late August heat spell is miserable, and is even more irritating when the thick winter coat fills traps sand in the undercoat. All the wolves have been presenting themselves to the staff for a good scratching and dust removal.

No New News

The logs are all the same this week. As the curator, I work full time during the summer months and when I return back to school, my hours are reduced to part time status of 20 hours a week. Friday was my first day back, so the Friday routine of Youtube and log postings was affected. I hope to return to the Friday schedule as I get settled into a routine, but the 20 hours are dedicated to wolf care, and combined with other wolf care staff, the wolves won’t notice a change in schedule. As far as the wolves, we have had a very calm, socially active week. It’s also been over 80 degrees, which might have an influence on behavior. I will be back to posting individual logs next week.

Home Improvements

Grizzer had a busy week with some necessary vestibule work around his enclosure and some pond cleaning. He’s spent a fair amount of time in the back half of the enclosure while contractors work, but work is drawing to a close today and he should have his world back. The improvements will help dramatically as it now allows staff to monitor a wolf in holding overnight from inside the building. We found this to be necessity when Luna was in holding for a 12 hour fasting before her medical exam. There was a corner of the holding are that was behind a fence panel and we couldn’t see her. Which meant that I needed to sleep inside the kennel with her. While I may not be opposed to sleeping with a wolf, (especially Luna who has a tendency to sit on my head), other staff people may prefer to watch from the lab. We also find that the wolves may settle down better without staff constantly coming out to check on them. So, as with most of our enclosure upgrades, we always encourage Best Management practices and that includes the best facility design to care for our wolves. Grizzer is back up to 122 lbs which was his weight during the spring of 2009, when he was just turning 5. His highest weight was 129 lbs that fall. Maybe Grizzer is reliving his youth, certainly he has no food competition that would keep him from maximizing resources.

Fresh Meat

Grizzer started training in a new wolf care staff this month and so far, he’s liking the interaction of more people to give him massages. We know the Oscar relationship was special, but without a key wolf care staff and Oscar handler, we didn’t feel it was right for Oscar to spend so much time alone in the yard. Grizzer would socialize with him, but after a while, he did what most wolves do during the middle of the day, he took a nap, leaving Oscar to live a dogs life without a companion. Grizzer has good interactions with staff and got excited when my dog Tina showed some increase in confidence (it only lasted 20 seconds, but it is progress).

grizzer – Aug 3, 2013 12:00 AM

Someone had recently inquired about Oscar, so I thought I would take time in Grizzer's log to give an update. In early May, one of the wolf care staff resigned from their position at the Center to assist with a family resort business. She was the primary caretaker for Oscar, taking him home each night and developing a very strong bond. It was in the best interest for Oscar to be adopted by this staff member and we are happy to report he loves his new life. Grizzer had some adjustment and spent a lot of time focused on the lab, but I have begun bringing one of my dogs (actually, my grandson's dog) Tina, an Australian Shepherd to work. Tina is much more timid than Oscar, but Oscar was a one in a million dog for wolf work. On his first day to the yard, he greeted the wolves with a canine grin, a wagging tail and an attitude of total confidence. The wolves were tail wagging immediately and really accepted Oscar. Tina might have a different relationship, but at this point, Grizzer is interested, and the stimulus is good for him.

grizzer – Jun 30, 2013 12:00 AM

Written by Pups at One Year Program participant Lynn Kaveney: Grizzer enjoyed a busy weekend due to a buss full of guests enjoying the center. Between the group and the Pups at One Year participants, Grizzer was kept busy watching and changing enclosures. New bedding was added to all dens, along with cedar chips to aid in odor control and bug-repelling. He immediately scent-rolled and rubbed in and on the cedar chips. When I cleaned and refilled his water bowl, he watched intently, and then went back to enjoying his new digs.

grizzer – Jul 12, 2013 12:00 AM

We hope everyone has had a Happy 4th of July and continues to enjoy the days of summer. All wolves are doing well here, we are monitoring a growth that opened on Shadow’s cheek and are doing some repairs to the pond. Grizzer had a new concrete floor installed in his den because he was continually digging under the foundation. Luna’s growing back a winter coat, so we must be on the downhill side of summer. The Ethology Course begins on July 20th, we are sure to have some good behavioral observations to report next week.

grizzer – Jul 19, 2013 12:00 AM

Grizzer had an added opportunity to interact with Shadow even though it was only through scent marking. Malik has been a challenge for fly ointment so we moved Shadow into Grizzer's front enclosure (Grizzer was locked in the back), and brought in a staff member that Malik use to visit with when he was a single member of the retired pack, but this staff member is not someone that Shadow willingly accepts (well, he growls at the fence, we haven't pushed it beyond that)..So, back to Grizzer… When Grizzer came in, he sniffed areas that Shadow has marked, but didn't over mark. Usually that means he's not testing the other wolves status.