Wolf Logs – 2-15 to 2-28, 2003 MacKenzie has a blood spot on the inner side of her front right leg and she is noticeably limping on that leg. MacKenzie’s rear leg/hip still looks stiff, but appears to be better than yesterday. Temperatures are expected to reach -20 below tonight so all straw beds have been raked and replenished. All other wolves look good. A closer inspection reveals a broken outer toenail on her right paw. Despite MacKenzie’s limping, she still maintains a dominant posture over Lakota in all interactions.
Lakota aggressive/growl to MaKenzie, Lakota also showed raised tail over MacKenzie, MacKenzie didn’t respond to Lakota’s posture. MacKenzie's paw has healed and she in no longer limping, but it appears Lakota’s been asserting herself more since MacKenzie’s injury.
Curator, Lori Schmidt fed the gift packet of treats and cookies provided by Alpha Member Jan Makowski. The arctic wolves ate them without stopping to taste them, in contrast, the retirement pen was much more interested in scent rolling on them before eating them. Overall, the gift packages were a hit, if nothing more than to create a distraction on a day with limited human attention. Thank you Jan…
MacKenzie is doing great. She's relaxed a bit after being slightly on edge from the dominance in the main exhibit. As much as Lucas likes the denboxes, MacKenzie equally likes her outdoor straw bed in the corner of the enclosure. She's the type of wolf that doesn't like to have her back to anyone, probably a personality trait of a dominant wolf. She prefers to stay in the corner and get a wide view of the activities in the wolf yard.
All wolves are doing well in retirement. Mackenzie has a reoccurring issue with a small growth on her left paw. It seems to be irritating to her and she continues to bite at it, causing slight weeping and bleeding. Mackenzie doesn't allow staff to touch it directly, but close inspections have revealed a wart like bump, with no hair. She has had this for several years, but it seems to be more irritating to her recently. Topical antibiotics are relatively ineffective, as she licks them off. We will continue to monitor this condition.
MacKenzie's growth on her paw was bloody again today, her right eye seems more cloudy than usual and slightly sunken. A call was made to the Veterinarian to discuss treatment options. MacKenzie is currently being treated with eye drops for lipid deposits in her eyes, but after her last eye exam in August, it appears that she has advancing cataracts as well. Lucas and Lakota are doing well. Malik and Shadow have increased their play activity with the new snow.
MacKenzie has greenish discharge from both her eyes – possible problem with pollen in the air. Her eyes will be cleaned and Neomyacin ointment administered.
MacKenzie seemed stiff today, a noticeable change in her right hip. She was very subdued, and earlier observations of staff documented Lakota pushing MacKenzie against the fence and growling at her. There may have been a bit of dominance last evening that resulted in Lakota gaining a bit of status.
Curator’s Note: Again, this is the time of the year when wolves reach a hormonal peak as the breeding season progresses. Although the wolves at the Center are spayed and neutered, their dominance behavior can intensify in January and February. Staff are seeing dominance issues in both the Exhibit pack and the Retired Pack. Vermilion Community College Student, Damon Haan writes: "MacKenzie and Lucas are very intent on dominating Lakota. They forced her to submit 6 separate times in a 5 minute observation period, several times, by physically grabbing the scruff of Lakota’s neck and pulling her down. This dominance seems to start after the arctics have a dominance interaction in the Exhibit Pack.
Mac seems much more relaxed today and back to dominating Shadow. Malik has become very fond of the grooming time, and likes being brushed by handlers. It's hard to brush Shadow without having Mackenzie go after him. Mackenzie is very intent on limiting Shadow's contact with handlers
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