MacKenzie is continuing to slow down, and as the warm weather approaches, we are noticing a great deal of panting. Wolves have a difficult time during this spring adjustment period when the temperatures can be very warm, but they haven’t begun the shedding process. Wolves will generally start to shed around the first of June. If you’ve ever visited Minnesota during May, you may have experienced the black fly season. It might explain why the shedding process is a bit more delayed.
MacKenzie is very alert to all activity that occurs within her enclosure and outside of her enclosure. In this week’s photo, she is doing a threat display towards the male dominance hierarchy in the Exhibit Pack, even though their fence line is over 25 feet away. One day during wolf care, MacKenzie was in a very excited mood, actually running toward wolf care staff and submitting. Her video clip this week, you show MacKenzie in a submissive posture, before she gets up and runs across the enclosure to one of the staff. It’s always a thrill to see these older animals so excited.
One event that happened this week is the launching of the Center’s new Web cam that features a view from the top of the den. The den top is a favorite resting spot for wolves during the winter months. The cooler temperatures inside the den make it a favorite during the summer months, and we often have wolves lying in the doorway of the den when the temperatures increase. We would like to acknowledge one of our members, Johanna Goering, for donating this new camera and the resources necessary for bringing it to our website. Our plan is switch the retired pack camera to the Center’s website and, after fundraising efforts, get a camera that can follow the activities of the new pups in 2008 and thereafter reside in the Exhibit Pack. As we move through this transition, you can still find the existing webcams hosted by www.elyminnesota.com. MacKenzie has been doing surprisingly well. Just when we think we are seeing clear signs of a decline, she springs back with some much focused, social and pack oriented behavior. While we didn’t get it on video, after we fed the beaver, MacKenzie proceeded to approach Lakota’s beaver, grab it and run with it for her corner bed. Both Lakota and the wolf care staff looked surprised, as she rarely has that much spring in her step. Lakota managed to get it back and both had a full stomach by the next morning.
When looking at MacKenzie’s photo, you will notice a bit of allergy weeping in her right eye. This is also the eye most affected by the lipid deposits. She is good about allowing staff to clean it and treat it, and it usually dissipates after green up. Her video shows good mobility, and she maintains an alert and interested focus to her interactions.
MacKenzie shows some real focused behaviors when food is in the enclosure. In this week’s photo, you see the strong neck muscles as MacKenzie carries a 35 lbs beaver. Notice the raised tail as a counterbalance for the weight of the beaver. The retired wolves reached a milestone this week, MacKenzie and Lakota turned 14 years old. In honor of their birth, we fed them several pieces of chicken thighs, turkey breasts and a roasting hen. They were very enthusiastic with this special treat.
This will be the last log as a Retired Pack wolf before she moves to the Gone, But Not Forgotten pack. I would like to thank the people who have sent emails about MacKenzie, I will be posting those in her pages in the upcoming weeks. I regret not getting video footage when Lakota returned to the pack and the subsequent days when MacKenzie and Lakota were the happiest they had been in years. Our focus was on getting Lakota back to the pen and healing her foot. As her log states, she had a remarkable recovery and never touched her sutures. I'm sure the lack of pain from that tumor made her feel great, and MacKenzie responded with social interaction. On the morning of the 21st, MacKenzie ate well, cached food, rolled over for staff and interacted with the staff raking straw in the enclosure. Staff were in the enclosure until about noon, when MacKenzie went to the back of the pen in the shade to sleep. This is where we found her, in the same sleeping position. The necropsy showed a tumor in her lungs, and it is likely that she had a Pulmonary embolism, but that may never be known. We are waiting for the lab reports, but what we do know, is that there was very little sign of struggle. It was a shock to say the least. We know that every day at this age could be their last, but it's still a shock. To say that she will be greatly missed by wolf care staff is a gross understatement. She was the matriarch of this facility who taught us so much about wolf behavior, dignity, status and retirement. The video is a small clip of a memorial video produced for MacKenzie, the web size restricts the entire clip, but please know that we have fond memories and photos of her life.
MacKenzie’s video was taken during the snowfall. As the staff works on the snow removal process in the wolf yard, MacKenzie is very alert to the possibility of food or other stimulus arriving in her enclosure. The snow quickly covers the old straw beds, but when the snow quits, staff replenish the supply. This is why the “Workin’ for Wolves participants can always expect straw removal as part of the weekend chores in spring. “Workin’ for Wolves is a program offered twice a year by the Center. Participants assist with spring and fall duties to make the Center’s wolves more comfortable and to enhance their lives. In addition, the revenue generated from the program supports the Center’s goal of maintaining the wolves with the best possible care. If you’re interested in participating in the “Workin for Wolves program in May, check out the Learning Vacations link on the website.
It is always difficult to leave one wolf alone in an enclosure as they are social animals by nature, but the vet recommendation for Lakota to get 2 days of healing in a clean, restricted environment is in her best interest. After Lakota was taken off site to the vet clinic, MacKenzie spent time with wolf care staff and fed on several pounds of meat. She had some anxious pacing initially, but has settled down to lying in the front of the exhibit and greeting wolf care staff. By Saturday morning, she was doing well, but a deer leg on Saturday night also provided a great distraction. Normally separation of a pack member could result in that pack member not being accepted after a long separation because the rank order closes up and another wolf moves up in their spot, but in this case, it’s 2-15 year old females and Lakota is the omega. There’s no-one to take over her spot. MacKenzie is a confident wolf and doesn’t need to retake her status.
MacKenzie had a good day during Friday’s wolf check (jan 26th)… You can see her in a full submissive posture, with good mobility and range of motion. She later took a beaver carcass to her straw bed for an afternoon snack. As I said in last week’s log, she has her good days and bad, we are always appreciative of the good.
This week’s logs written by “Workin’ for Wolves program participants Andi Nelsen, Joyce Wells and Glenn Strid. Mac continues to exhibit anxiety as a result of external stimuli, such as maintenance work in the adjoining holding pen occurred during the weekend. Lakota’s active curiosity appeared to contribute to her stress. As a thirteen-year-old retired pack member, Mac’s hearing appears to be excellent, but the interpretation of sounds is problematic due to diminishing eyesight. Wolf care staff has noticed behavior such as unfocused pacing. As shown in this week’s video, Mac’s continual investigatory behaviors may be an indication of diminished sensory perceptions or early dementia.
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