Luna and Grizzer Improvements

The Working for Wolves crew did an amazing job this weekend, cleaning, raking and giving the Exhibit Pack a fresh look.  Crew members shoveled and hauled nearly half a dump truck load of small rock to fix a significant digging issue under the east side pond.  Without this work, the concrete was at risk of cracking;  Losing the ponds functionality which would have been a critical loss for older wolves in the warm summer months.  Crew members also installed a new, more powerful misting system for the Exhibit that mists the Pack Holding area as well. Protective panels were installed, stained and concrete pads were positioned to protect our medical pens and reduce some of the drainage and ice conditions we experienced last winter.  The most noticeable projects on the webcam were in the pack holding area where crews mortared some protective rock to cover the sharp edges of the concrete, provide better visual appeal for photography and gave Grizzer a wider ramp off the back of the pack holding area den.  To allow time for the concrete to dry, a protective fence panel was constructed to keep Luna and Grizzer away from the wet concrete;  You may have viewed the panel on the Pack Holding Area webcam.    The wolves were very calm despite all the activity in the yard.  They especially like the part where we barbecue brats in the wolf yard. 

Grizzer – Shedding Pattern

Grizzer is doing great.  We celebrated his 14th birthday with a webinar and a pork roast.  He enjoyed both, especially since Luna took a break on the East Side Retirement area so Grizzer could enjoy his pork roast in peace.  I don’t want to give you the idea that Grizzer wants to be away from Luna.  After Luna’s medical exam and subsequent recovery in the Wolf Care Center, Grizzer spent a lot of time whining at the gate until Luna returned.  The issue is that Luna gets quite food possessive, so to eat a pork roast, it takes some time and it requires no distractions. It was a nice birthday gift. 

This spring season has had some unusual changes in weather.  We had snow and ice late in the  year, but when things finally turned to spring, we seemed to miss a transition and went right into the high 70’s and low 80’s for daytime temperatures.   While humans might find this weather welcoming, wolves with full winter coats are a bit overheated.  We are always concerned with heat and older animals.  You may have witnessed (possibly on the webcams) wolf care staff brushing the wolves during the morning wolf checks.   Grizzer has an extremely thick undercoat and is not shedding other than on his legs.  He usually ends up with a shed from below pattern, where he loses his leg, tail and stomach undercoat and keeps a large ruff of hair around his neck.  His sister Maya had  similar shedding pattern only in addition to the neck ruff, she kept a ruff a long hair on her back legs that made her look like she was wearing a tutu.  

Grizzer – Looking Good

Grizzer will be 14-years old on Saturday May 5th and he seems to be in better shape after this winter than he has for the past several winters.  We weighed him last week and he is still maintaining about 114 pounds of body weight which is a good value for him.   There have been a lot of variables that may have contributed to his status. Certainly, the “Working for Wolves” crews construction of the roof  between the East Side Retirement significantly reduced ice build up in an area that he frequently travels.  The protective area also allowed for additional cover hay beds out of the wind, but still receiving direct sunlight.  Luna’s been far more socially interacting and less obsessive since the change in feeding protocols; this allows Grizzer more interactions and more exercise with less stress.  In the last year, he has been taking daily Turmeric gel caps.  In a recent ad for Tumeric, the benefits included “A Stronger Heart, Sharper Brain, Pain-Free Joints and Youthful Energy” … could Grizzer be Tumeric success story?  We don’t have any way to measure that other than noticing that Grizzer looks good, but I guess that’s all we need and all we can hope for at the age of 14.  If you would like to honor Grizzer on his birthday, please consider a gift to the Wolf Care Fund. This fund goes directly to the continued care of current and future wolf pack mates.  Select Wolf Care under the designation tab; Feel free to write a note in the comment if you want a special treat for Grizzer. 

Grizzer – The Impacts of an Unfortunate Moment

Last week, we had a vet check on Aidan that started with staff rearranging the retirement area, and specifically Grizzer’s line of sight.  No, we didn’t move Aidan into the Pack Holding Area for the exam, we had to address a long-standing issue that Grizzer has with our Vet.  As we discuss rank order issues, you may hear reference to staff interpretation of behavior as “living in the moment” and “they don’t hold a grudge”, especially when wolves are observed in social interactions or resting together shortly after they had some intense dominance interactions.  What needs to be qualified is that there is a difference between “living in the moment as an expression of wolf communication” and negative conditioning or association with a negative event.  It’s been our experience that this negative association is often with an event surrounding a human, a portion of their facility or in Boltz’s case, the sound of a buzzing insect.  

So, back to Grizzer’s issues.  In 2008, after a medical exam prior to Aidan and Denali’s arrival on site, Grizzer was just given a reversal drug and was becoming alert to his surroundings, but not quite stable.  We had challenges during this immobilization with Shadow having an issue of acute gastric dilation or bloat that required intervention.  When Grizzer was beginning to move around, it appeared that he may have had some gastric dilation as well.  Unfortunately, the reversal had already begun working and Grizzer was far more aware of his surroundings when the Vet pushed on his stomach to assess his condition.  Grizzer responded with a quick grab bite and the event seemed to have left him with a negative association.  So, fast forward to 2018, we needed Aidan to be calm and interact at the fence to allow the vet to see his leg, so Grizzer needed to be moved out of sight for the scheduled visit.  All went well, with Aidan, but on the way out, we wanted to assess Grizzer’s cognitive recognition of the Vet.  Since he is nearing 14 years of age, this was a good test to see how Grizzer’s sensory abilities were aging.  At first, Grizzer showed no response visually, which aligns with our interpretation that his vision is not as good as it used to be.  As soon as the Vet spoke, Grizzer began the defensive bark-howling he’s displayed  since that fateful immobilization in April 2008. I posted it on last week’s Youtube, it’s not a fear response, it’s definitely more along the lines of a threat display.  This definitely makes for challenging times as Grizzer ages, but fortunately, the Ely Vet Clinic has several great vets who don’t have the negative association in Grizzer’s mind. This is an important lesson for wolf care staff reminding us all to be very aware of the wolves mental state in all circumstances.  This unfortunate split-second moment will be with Grizzer for the rest of his life.  

 

 

Grizzer – Resting Comfortably

Grizzer seems to be enjoying warm naps in the sun on top of the den in the pack holding area. We have had warm days and cold nights lately, and Grizzer has been observed panting to cool off since he still has his thick winter coat. He continues to be social with Luna as long as it doesn’t involve food, and seems to enjoy visits with wolf care staff.  As you may know, we have had mortalities of wolves between 13 and 15 years of age.  Although Grizzer appears very healthy, there are key things to monitor as he approaches 14 years of age.  The most important is kidney function, which can have some telling symptoms such as lethargy, weight loss, increased thirst, change in appetite or how an animal processes food (scats).  There are several great things about managing Grizzer.  First and foremost, he is on a hand-fed feeding regime with measured food amounts fed on a daily basis, so we know exactly what he eats.  Secondly, staff fill the waterers on a daily basis, so water consumption can be monitored, although we can’t tribute it all to Grizzer as he shares water with Luna.  Third, Grizzer has a behavioral pattern of trying to defecated on a high spot, so if there’s a scat on a stump, we are 99% certain it’s Grizzer.  As far as lethargy, that’s a bit more of a challenge, older animals like to sleep, especially in a nice cover hay bed in the sun, but a quick scan of surveillance cameras can judge the activity levels within a 24-hour period.  Grizzer’s behavior can best be described as crepuscular, which means, active at dawn and desk. 

Grizzer – Spring Fever

Grizzer is still very aware of activities in the main enclosure and is quick to watch from the back habitat den where he can see the action on the upper wooded portion of the enclosure.  We have witnessed a few chasing bouts throughout the enclosure, especially on the warmer days.  Some days it’s Grizzer chasing Luna, other days, it’s Luna chasing Grizzer, but it does seem that both are tolerating their various medical conditions quite well. 

Grizzer – Using his DewClaw

Wolves have 4 toes and a front dewclaw which some question as to functionality.  Grizzer is giving a lesson in grooming that involves the use of his dewclaw to comb ice and snow from his hide.  To say that wolf care staff cherish every day we spend with Grizzer is an understatement.   He will be 14 years of age on May 5th and we can’t help to think of those wolves that are “Gone but not Forgotten” who succumb to various issues at this age.  Grizzer is more alert and more active than he has been in years.  Luna may have something to do with this, but we certainly don’t have anything on our radar that makes us think he will decline anytime soon.  His weights on March 2nd were at a solid 115 pounds which is higher than he’s been in the last few spring weights. 

Grizzer- Looking Great for His Age

What can I say about Grizzer… He looks better than he has in the last few years.  His eyes are more alert, his coat is thick and in great condition and he can hear the wrinkle of a ziplock bag at 40 yards; Not bad for a wolf that will be 14-years old on May 5th.  We solved some of the early Luna conflicts with Grizzer by switching them to a daily feeding regime.  This was out of necessity to control Luna’s obsession about food and to regulate her diet, but the change seems to work well for Grizzer as well. In this photo, you will see him favor his back right leg as the main concern for his well-being.  Living with Luna has been a bonus and as changes occur in the Exhibit Pack, we will always be mindful of Grizzer’s well-being and reduce changes to his life unless necessary. 

Grizzer – Luna’s interactions make him younger

Grizzer and Luna have been extremely social recently. While sometimes he does not appear to be interested in Luna’s antics, more often than not her attempts to get him to chase are successful. Grizzer seems to be enjoying the snow and the cold, and is very active in the retirement enclosures. In addition to chases with Luna he is still observed doing his regular “Grizzer 500s.”

Grizzer – Aware of his surroundings

This week’s log was submitted by Wolf Photography Weekend Participants – Ken Kaveney, Lynn Kaveney and Anthony Brewer.

Grizzer was wary of the group of unknown visitors, moving at all times, circling Luna on the main retirement den. He continued walking “the Grizzer 500” the entire time, coming up to the gate just to check out these new observers.