Some gut piles from these carcasses were left adjacent to the enclosure for Ravens to scavenge. There was even an Eagle observed in a dead top white pine near the enclosure. There are plans being developed to build an 8 foot high feeding platform in the wolf enclosure to give the Ravens a place to perch and feed without being chased off by the wolves. The plan includes and enhanced microphone system in the enclosure so visitors can hear the diverse vocalizations of Ravens and begin to learn about the importance of scavengers in the ecological system.
Lori Schmidt(LS) came in to check the wolves on Christmas Day and discovered a fresh bite wound on Lakota's right rear flank. The wound was still fresh, and was still bleeding. LS isolated Lakota and cleaned her wounds, but Lakota was hesitant to allow a complete examination. Daytime temperatures were well below zero making a complete cleansing of the wound a posssible risk for Lakota. When Lakota was released into the main enclosure, Lucas aggressively charged her and drove her to the den, the other wolves did not interact.
Lakota still has moments where she is driven to the den by Mackenzie, but her behavioral displays have included more play bowing, and she appears to initiate some of these chase scenes. She's been subject to far less pack mobbing in recent weeks and has interacted with handlers more frequently and has been observed with an extremely high tail position for a Beta female.. Overall pack dynamics has settled into a quiet routine. Certainly, this may change as the pups reach maturity, but so far, Mackenzie is clearly the alpha female with Lakota as Beta. Lucas maintains alpha male status by default. The pups are primarily interacting with each other with Shadow more dominant than Malik. The pups are generally not dominated by the adults unless Lucas or Mackenzie are laying down and the pups come over and attempt to sit on them, then the irritation factor kicks in. Lucas especially, growls and snaps at the pups, but generally ends up running away leaving the pups as they stand. Occasionally, Mackenzie gets mobbed by the pups and Lucas joins in, initiating a chase scene, but usually Lakota stays out of the interaction. Mackenzie's response has been one of high hackles, tucked tail and lunging snaps until the interaction stops. She doesn't appear too conformable on the receiving end of this attention, actually, Shadow and Mackenzie have allot in common that way.
Lori Schmidt (LS) entered wolf enclosure and isolated Lakota in a small holding pen for further examination of area described as wet spot. LS discovered a 1" bite wound matted with blood and hair (the wet spot was where she had been licking the wound). The wound was tender to the touch and resulted in Lakota growling, barring of teeth and two short barks while being examined. After several attempts, LS was able to clean the wound with Novasan and apply a topical antibiotic. Lakota was very hesitant when LS examined Lakota for additional bite wounds especially when examining Lakota's hind quarters, but no further signs of injuries were noted. When LS released Lakota from the holding pen, Shadow quickly entered and immediately grabbed at Lakota's wound, Lakota guarded herself with tucked tail. Shadow then drove Lakota out of holding pen and chased her to the den. No other wolves investigated the wound, nor followed Shadow in the chase to the den. Dr. Chip Hanson, the Wolf Center Veterinarian, was contacted and Lakota's condition and treatment were discussed. There was also a discussion concerning the possible cause of this bite wound. It appears that Shadow is becoming far more intense in his climb for rank order and he has become more aggressive in mobbing Lakota as the omega of the pack. This is natural wolf behavior that ensures their survival in the wild, but make wolves in captivity a challenge."
Lakota's wounds have all healed and she appears to be relaxed and approaching the handlers more often. Janice Templeton, the former wolf curator spent some time with the wolves over the Christmas break. All wolves were very receptive to her visit and they all received a significant amount of her attention. Overall, the pack has been really calm since the Christmas day incident.
Sorry for the delay in posting logs, staff have been doing spring cleanup in the Exhibit pack including cleaning the deer hair from the pond drain. Lakota has had a good week, especially now that the weather is cooler. Last weekend (4/15) temperatures neared 80 degrees and the dense winter coat of the wolves made them very uncomfortable. Wolves have evolved to have the long permanent guard hairs the determines the color of their pelage and the dense thick undercoat that they shed in the spring. They do not have sweat glands like humans, so their mechanism for cooling themselves is to remain inactive and to pant, attempting to evaporate heat off their tongue.
The concern over the omega position is on everyone's mind. Will Lakota fill that role based on Mackenzie's protection of the pups or will Malik become omega based on Shadow's tendency to end up the victor of dominance interactions? Only time and further observations will be able to answer that question. This week, Lakota was observed in extremely high tail during a Malik mobbing. The times when Lakota was the center of the pack's attention, she seemed to be the instigator of the attention by displaying a play bow in front of Mackenzie and Lucas, then making a dash for the protection of the den opening.
Whenever there's leftover food from a Saturday night pack feeding, specifically deer heads, Lucas can be observed prancing around with it in his mouth, attempting to entice his pack mates into a game of tug-o-war or chase for the food. On 9/24, this behavior was observed. Lucas was in possession of the deer head and followed Lakota for several minutes. Lakota submissively rolled over to Lucas, and then jumped up to move out of his way as he continued to come at her with the deer head in his mouth. Lakota demonstrated several play bows to Lucas, but he never initiated a chase, nor did he let go of the deer head. Usually, Lucas follows the other wolves and then growls at them if they are too close to his deer head, even though he was the one who approached them. Lakota always seems to be confused as to how to respond to this behavior.
Written by Pups at One Year program participant: Pam Dolajeck & Lori Rhodes The Pups at One Year weekend was warm, humid and very rainy. Lakota was very active, interacting wtih visitors and snacking on her deer leg. Lakota displayed her status as omega with Lucas standing ovder her, which didn't seem to make a difference to either one of them. Age seems to have mellowed the retired pack.
All active, Lakota play bows and initiates the other wolves to chase her, all five wolves in den at one point (den dimensions 4' x 8'). Wild wolf tracks and bed depression directly behind fence, wolves intensively howling past several mornings.
The International Wolf Center advances the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wildlands and the human role in their future.