Grizzer has increased energy

Grizzer – Great Improvements

I will only have time for one log post today and I thought it should be about Grizzer.  As I reported last week, we were concerned about lethargy, weight loss and an overall lack of interest in socialization with staff.  These were characteristics that were not typical of Grizzer.  After some blood work, we discovered some low liver enzymes and with consultation from our Veterinarian, we started him on Milk Thistle, increased his vitamin B and have transitioned him to a daily feeding rather than the large carcass gorging pattern characteristic of wolves in the wild or the Exhibit Pack feedings (you may recall, we did the same for Shadow and Malik in retirement).  We are happy to report that his blood work today showed an improvement in liver enzymes, he loves his daily feedings (we added coconut oil for amino acids) and he still gets a special Saturday night carcass, it just happens to be a chicken carcass.   Most importantly, the Grizzer attitude is back.  When Grizzer is feeling good, he is animated (play bows, Grizzer 500’s or as he ages 250’s), vocal (yes, he talks back), rolls over, demands staff time and is indignant when we leave.  For the last few weeks, he would barely greet, so we are more than happy to see him feeling good.  Here is is weight progression, we will continue to weigh him every two weeks:

6/13/2014 Grizzer 55.8 kg or 123.0 lbs
5/1/2015 Grizzer 50.8 or 111.9 lbs
6/12/2015 Grizzer 52 or 114.4 lbs
6/26/2015 Grizzer 53.4 or 117.73

 

Grizzer – A Broad Muzzle

Grizzer was nicknamed “Grizz” when we picked him up at his USDA facility because we thought he looked like a grizzly cub.  When looking at this photo, we definitely still see the big blocky nose that was evident as a pup.  As summer approaches, we see less activity from the wolves.  But this summer, Grizzer seems to be going into an even more lethargic routine than usual.  Because of his age, our concerns are magnified.  We were able to take some blood samples without immobilizing (usually an indication that a wolf is not feeling well, they tend to resist the blood draw) and while his CBC’s seemed to be in normal range, there was some indication that his liver functions are on the low end of the range.  We started him on some nutritional supplements today and will be watching closely for improvements. Now more than ever, we are committed to the fundraising effort to get the lab extension completed.  With this new lab addition, Grizzer could access an indoor kennel via the pack holding area vestibule.  Check out our website for the Crowd Rise campaign that combines some current facility needs with efforts to complete this building addition or the Wolf Care Canoe Raffle with all proceeds going directly towards the building.  Contact Lori Schmidt at curator@wolf.org for details.

Grizzer – A Great Patient

Grizzer has had issues with his right eye for several years.  He received some tissue damage at the top of his head from altercations with Denali that resulted in some nerve and muscle damage.  This resulted in his inability to blink his upper eyelid.  His 3rd eyelid or nictitating membrane does close offering some relief from irritation.  When we watch nightime surveillance video, we are able to document the movement of this membrane as it obscures the “night shine” of the cornea, at a rate of about 1 movement per every 5 blinks of his left eye.  The nictating membrane is important to remove debris from the cornea and it’s wolf care staff’s responsibility to clean debris from the corner of his eye (actually, all the ambassador’s) on a daily basis.  During last week’s unusually dry and windy weather, his eye was a bit irritated.  To provide him some relief, the veterinarians prescribed an eye ointment that was delivered twice a day.  Grizzer willingly took his treatment and his eye is better this week, especially with the return of some moisture to the air.  We weighed Grizzer on May 1st as part of the spring medical regime.  Grizzer’s weights have fluctuated the last few years, but we are certainly at a heightened state of awareness with Grizzer’s loss of 11 pounds since last spring’s physical.  Grizzer is scheduled for a full blood panel later this spring and we definitely want to test all systems to make sure he is aging well.  The loss of weight might be in response to the fact that he tripled his real estate by having access to the East Side enclosure after the sad loss of Shadow and Malik.

6/4/2013 Grizzer  118.6 lbs
8/14/2013 Grizzer 122.76 lbs
6/13/2014 Grizzer 123.0 lbs
5/1/2015 Grizzer  111.9 lbs

 

Grizzer – That Feels Good

Grizzer likes the wolf care checks when we massage his coat and do a good check for ectoparasites and other issues.  His facial expressions certainly tell us that it feels good.   During a Wolf Enrichment Webinar last week, the pack was very distracted and seemed to be focused on the upper wood line of the enclosure.  Based on the pack’s behavior, I asked a staff member to go to the back door and check it out.    We had a wolf adjacent to the fence line by the Exhibit Pack.  I don’t know who was more startled, the wolf or the staff member.  The wolf took off and circled behind the enclosure to the East side enclosure.  Grizzer didn’t respond much at the time, but Aidan was sure hopping and running the fence line. Several bouts of howling were recorded on the Wolf Watch program on Friday night (the night before the webinar), I guess we have our answer as to the stimuli.

Grizzer – Sharing Territory

 We continue to see a lot of howling behavior from Grizzer towards the back of his enclosure. We likely have some activity from other animals in the area surrounding the International Wolf Center. There have been several sightings of Lynx and Bobcats in the Ely area, and prior to the melt, we’ve seen quite a few signs of wild wolves nearby. With the melt, it’s very difficult to determine what is hanging around the enclosure, but Grizzer is certainly aware of it.

               The International Wolf Center is also hosting a fundraiser to help us expand the Wolf Lab, to allow more space for new pups, but also an indoor enclosure that older, or sick wolves may be brought into for better care. This expansion would connect directly with Grizzer’s enclosure, allowing him to come into the indoor enclosure with ease if needed! Please keep an eye on our facebook profile for more information on how you can support this project!

 

Grizzer – New items in the enclosure

Wolves are very quick to pick up on new things in their environment. We’re reminded of this whenever someone comes into the enclosure with new boots, pants, gloves, or even a shampoo. New items often become the focus of the wolves very quickly. In this week’s youtube, you can see Grizzer’s fascination with some new pants one of the staff was wearing. It’s important for wolf care staff to understand safety protocols regarding captive wolves’ interest in the items we bring into the enclosure. This could be gloves, hats, cameras, etc. There have been many times the wolves have gotten an item or two from wolf care staff, which is why we often have zippers on our pockets!

Grizzer – Howling in the Night

Since the loss of Shadow, we have been experiencing less howling within the social groups.  Recently, Grizzer has been observed by webcam viewers howling in the late evening. Someone had recently asked about Grizzer’s right eye.  It is slightly misshapen and doesn’t have the same blink reflex as his left eye.  This was the result of some dominance issues between Grizzer and Denali starting in the winter of 2010, and eventually lead to Grizzer’s retirement in March, 2011.  His antagonistic behavior towards Denali resulted in some threat displays from Denali, and with Denali’s added height, lead to some head scrapes on Grizzer.   Grizzer received several sutures to the top of his head and by the last incident, it appears that there may have been some nerve damage.  He shows no pain response, but seems to have limited blink response in his right eye.  His 3rd eye lid, called the Nictitating membrane, does blink, but not at the same rate as his upper eyelid.  This is hard to see during the daylight, but can be viewed by our night vision camera.  When his 3rd eyelid blinks, the tapetum lucidum (a layer of tissue in the eye that reflects light) shows his blink response, slower than his left, but still present.

 

Grizzer – Contact Outside of the Enclosure

Grizzer has been having a bit of howling stimulus from outside of the enclosure lately.  It is the wild wolf breeding season, and certainly wild wolves may be more actively defending territory.  We haven’t been fortunate enough to catch it on camera, but the surveillance camera and our closest neighbors have been providing time and dates of these communications.  Otherwise, Grizzer has been extremely fortunate that we have an excess amount of deer in the freezer and he has shared two deer torso’s this month with the ravens.  You can definitely see why wolves have evolved to eat large portions of food at one time, the ravens can make short work out of any deer carcass left in their view.

I wanted to comment on a question asked in one of my recent YouTubes about Grizzer’s blink response in his right eye.  Grizzer had some altercations with Denali in the winter of 2010/2011 that resulted in some wounds to the top of his head.  Two things resulted from these altercations.  Grizzer was retired and he has some nerve damage that controls his ability to blink his upper eye lid.  If you look at Grizzer’s infrared video (our night time webcam view), you will see his blink reflex does occur, but it’s from his 3rd eyelid blinking from below.

Grizzer – Who are you Calling Retired

Grizzer may live in the Retired exhibit, but he is far from the view of a retired wolf… This week’s YouTube shows the famous Grizzer 500, where he excitedly races around the enclosure in response to wolf care interaction.  It’s enjoyable for both wolves and humans.

Grizzer – Possession Rights

As you know, Grizzer lives alone, but he still displays possessive behavior and a desire to cache his food.  Why be possessive when you have no pack mates?  Scavengers are likely the motivator to protect his food resources.  When we feed either pack (Retired or Exhibit), a significant amount of ravens take advantage of the food resources and roost, waiting for the perfect opportunity to land and feed.  We also know that Grizzer can display his possession rights against the staff.  If staff are picking up scat and step on a cache, this can stimulate Grizzer to display threat behavior defending his cache.  He has the right to guard and possess food from the staff, it’s our job to look, listen and learn from the behaviors displayed by the wolves.