This will be the new format for wolf logs. Each individual wolf will have a status report on a weekly basis. Please be patient with us while we transition to these logs. The puppies take a lot of our time. Lucas is doing well in retirement. We did start him on a Cosequin supplement after staff and Veterinarian Dr. Chip Hansen noticed a slight sway to his walk and some stiffening of the hips when he lies down. MacKenzie is also on Cosequin and this is delivered through the fence in a meatball.
Lucas hasn't shown much interest in the pups, but he is very interested in the actions of the Arctics. As he ages, his activity level is slowing down. He still maintains his dominant status, but with more passive activity rather than aggressive. In this photo, he is doing a standover Lakota. Lucas exhibits this behavior frequently. Lucas's stiffness and limping we observed earlier seems to have subsided with the month long dosage of Cosequin. We will continue to keep him on a maintenance dose along with MacKenzie.
Staff have observed Lucas sleeping a lot more than usual. He's often in the den box and doesn't get up to greet. Of all the retired wolves, he's really showing his age. He's definetly lightening in color and opposite of Lakota, he's still shedding.
After 3 days of isolation, the yearlings are allowed back into the enclosure. The re-introduction goes smoothly with Mackenzie and Lucas excitably greeting the yearlings, Lakota retreats to the corner of the building with minimal interest from the yearlings. After Mackenzie and Lucas chase the yearlings up the hill, Lakota decides to follow and runs to the top of the enclosure to chase the yearlings. Within a minute, Lakota races back down to the building followed by the other 4 wolves, she clearly has great mobility, but is not quite ready to be so far away from safety. Everything seems to be going well with limited aggression toward Lakota. Staff observe Lakota on the deer carcass several times throughout the day.
Curator's note: For those interested in the progress of Lucas, his condition of Vitiligo appeared to be reoccurring with pink spots observed on his nose and pads in mid October. These spots occurred during the construction project when we were unable to maintain the vitamin supplement due to logistical problems with the secondary fence. Since the daily vitamin routine was re-initiated in late October, we have observed no advancement or further pigmentation loss. His activity level remains high and he has taken a very active dominance role over the yearlings. While there is no direct evidence that the vitamins have an impact on Lucas¹s condition, the staff have observed little pigmentation loss this winter and his activity level remains extremely high. Last year at this time, Lucas had begun to lose pigmentation in his nose, pads and lip and became very lethargic. Mackenzie¹s hips appear less stiff than last winter, again, no direct evidence, but this is the first winter we have used Cosequin. Thanks for reading the logs over the past year, please feel free to contact me directly with any questions. Curator@wolf.org
Feeding program- Shadow, Malik and Lakota claimed carcass, Lakota fed for 20 minutes with the yearlings, then the yearlings began chasing the adults from the deer. After the public left, a beaver was fed to allow Mackenzie an opportunity to feed. Malik and Shadow claimed the beaver with Lucas. After 5 minutes, Lucas left the beaver. Lakota approached beaver, but Malik charged her displaying aggression and Lakota submitted, Malik left her to go back to the beaver. Lakota approached again and both Malik and Shadow aggressively dominated her. Lakota displayed loud whines and yelps, and after 15 seconds, Malik and Shadow went back to feed on beaver together." Mackenzie ended up eating the remaining deer carcass later that night while the yearlings were occupied with the beaver.
Jen Westlund brought Peter Kramer to the fence (Peter helped raise the pups this summer) all wolves but Lucas greeted and all were very relaxed. Peter did outer enclosure check with Jen and helped pick up a roadkill deer carcass. Thank You Peter…
Nancy Gibson and Dave Mech visited the Center and spent time with the pack. The wolves were quite excited at first, but then calmed down. Lucas showed some avoidance of both Dave and Nancy, a behavior that has been observed by other staff in recent weeks.
Former curator Janice Templeton visited the wolves today and had a very good visit. The yearlings calmed down quickly, especially since Mackenzie and Lucas were actively dominating them. Lakota was very relaxed except when the yearlings were too close. Lakota's wounds are healing well, wolves have a great ability to heal themselves and it appears that Mackenzie and Lucas are frequently dominating the yearlings. Shadow and Malik submissively rolled over to Janice in a subordinate posture. All seemed very relaxed. Lucas's condition causing pigmentation loss seems to have subsided. He is active, appears healthy and has a black nose again.
All wolves isolated in pack holding area after 3 days of Treatment with Clomiprimine. Interns then entered the enclosure to do scat collection, wash the upper windows and scan the old den area for miscellaneous debris from the recent demolition project. Shadow and Malik were very calm and spent the time playing with a birch log, Mackenzie, Lucas and Lakota appeared much more relaxed than earlier experiences, with very little pacing behavior. Staff commented that Lucas didn't have that crazed look in his eye that he sometimes gets when isolated out of the main enclosure. Lakota did exhibit some fence biting near the end of the 1 hour test, but it was lacking in intensity. The construction is scheduled for September, throughout the next month, we will continually discuss the management protocol to ensure the construction goes smoothly for wolves and the humans.
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