Wolf Care Staff Jen Westlund, noticed a dime size lump on Lakota's rear right leg, appears to be old scar tissue. Malik came up along the holding pen fence twice and exchanged whines with Lakota but they didn't share any aggressive behavior between one another. Noise in the parking lot from center visitors stimulated several minutes of nervous pacing for Lakota. She is very intimidated by a stranger approaching the fence line. Center policy is to avoid visitors to the outside fence unless accompanied by wolf care staff, this seems to be more beneficial for the wolves.
Mackenzie and Lucas went in with Lakota in Lakota's retirement enclosure. Lakota playbowed to Lucas twice. Lucas sniffed and started to play after Lakota's second playbow. When Lakota was in full submission to Curator, Lori Schmidt, Lucas came up and sniffed Lakota. Lakota remained relaxed and submissive and showed no intimidation toward Lucas. These interactions are very encouraging, Lakota is not viewed negatively by the alpha's and shows no sign of intimidation.
Wolf handlers, Jen Westlund and Andrea Lorek Strauss visited the adult wolves in the main enclosure while the yearlings were held off. Lakota approached both handlers and greeted Andrea with a typical wolf greeting, by licking her face. Lakota was skittish, but remained down in the front of the exhibit until the yearlings began whining from their holding pen. Andrea and Jen then went into the smaller holding pen and had good interactions. Little attention was paid to Lakota when the yearlings were release. Fed daily CVC to all.
Fed a beaver to Lakota while the yearlings were occupied in the pack holding area for a few hours. CVC to all and no problems after the yearlings were released. Curator's note: Generally during the winter (the natural breeding season for wolves), hormones are naturally higher and more intense and Lakota as the omega has become more restricted in movement (even though the wolves are spayed and neutered). This has occurred every winter since Lakota reached sexual maturity (she was the Omega even when Kiana was alive); In January and February, staff usually observes the Alpha's playing more and all other wolves getting dominated with more intensity. In the wild, only the alpha's breed as a method of population control (a pack can usually only support one litter), so the alpha's assert their position on the lower ranking wolves to make sure they don't breed. This dominance from the alpha's can cause the other wolves to redirect their aggression to the Omega, often chasing, mobbing and even ostracizing them to follow the pack at a distance. In captivity, this may mean the Omega has restricted movement. At the Center, we saw Lakota restrict her movement to the top of the enclosure in a dug den made by Kiana.
For whatever reason, Lakota chose to come to the front of the enclosure while the pack was sleeping in the mid-day sun. Her sudden appearance in an area that was usually restrictive for her caused the yearlings to get excited. The yearlings mobbed her in the front of the building and chased her back up to the top den. There's a real cycle of behavior that's hard to break. The more submissive and vulnerable she looks, the more the yearlings show an interest in dominating her and the more mobbings, the more submissive and vulnerable she looks. A previously scheduled Vet meeting on February 14th will allow for complete discussion of the current situation and future management plans. Curator's Note: I have been getting emails about the yearling's relationship with Lakota. I think it's important that the current behavioral situation be put into perspective.
Former student worker, Damon Haan visited the Center this weekend. The wolves were very excited to see him. The retired wolves were very active during his visit, Lakota showed no sign of favoring her foot. Two more bales of straw have been added to the retired enclosure since the area is very compacted, and no longer has the insulating value of fresh fallen snow.
The 8 am wolf check had actual temperatures of 15 below zero with a windchill reaching 45 below zero. It was the coldest day for wolf care this year, but that's when wolves need their handlers the most. Nancy Jo Tubbs and Lori Schmidt conducted a one-hour wolf check. Lakota seems to continue to have a tendon problem on her left foot, probably magnified by the cold temperatures. In a closer examination of her toe, she appears to be holding her middle two toes together and is sensitive to touch. There was no indication of ice build-up or pad injury, but her toenail on the 3rd digit is longer than the others. This may indicate a problem that has been restricting her weight distribution for several weeks. It may just be the combination of cold weather that makes it more painful where she holds up her foot. Dr. Chip Hanson, the Center's veterinarian was consulted and Lakota was started on an anti-inflammatory, Rimadyl, for a 5 day period. The hope is that by reducing the inflammation and irritation, she may allow for a more thorough examination.
Lakota's foot seems to be better after the short treatment of Rimdayl. A vet visit is scheduled for next week; this may have been a response from over activity or from the intense cold. Wolf care staff has been adding extra straw bales to the enclosure to reduce cold exposure to compacted snow in the enclosure. The vet and the curator will determine the next course of action.
The decision to remove Lakota from the rest of the pack was based on Lakota's physical injuries which affected Lakota's well being in the pack as well as the condition of shock which would have become life-threatening if left in the main enclosure. Rainy weather conditions continued throughout the day, and physical care was best done under the protective cover and straw beds of the pack holding area. Due to this situation, completing a retirement enclosure is a high priority for the organization. Fundraising has begun and enclosure construction is hoped to start before winter, but is dependent upon funding.
8-15-02 Lakota Incident Report On the morning of August 15, 2002, at around 6 a.m. the Forest Service men came in to work. One of these men went up to the Observation windows around 6:45 to observe the wolves through the windows as he usually does. He said that the wolves don't usually pay any attention to him when he comes up to the window but this morning he noticed that Lakota (the omega female) was cowering close to the windows in a corner with her tail tucked. There was blood around her ear and neck area. When the Arctic wolves would come near her she would scoot closer to the window. Lucas was lying down away from the other wolves seemingly uninterested. When he looked closer, he noticed blood on the rock and on the window like she was trying to get out. He then went back down to the Service Area and called Assistant Director, Gretchen Diessner. This bite must have occurred between 6:30 – 6:45 am, since Curator Lori Schmidt had been on site and had checked on all wolves observing no injuries. Lori Schmidt was scheduled to be off site until 8:30 am. Andrea Lorek Strauss came in around 7:30 am to take a look and she noticed that Lakota was tucked deeply in the corner cautious of the Arctic wolves. "The Arctic wolves milled about and lay down near the greeting rock". Malik had blood on the tip of his fur under his neck. She also noticed that there was blood on the window and pooling with the rain on the rock. She also observed trauma but that the Arctic wolves seemed to be leaving Lakota alone.
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