Today's picture shows clearly how Malik takes any opportunity to show higher status than Shadow. Both arctic wolves were given their Bio-spot treatment for the flies, and while Shadow was scent rolling and digging, Malik position himself in front of Shadow in a T1 tail position. Center Staff had noticed this behavior since Maya and Grizzer were introduced, with not a good result for Malik.
Malik contiues to be an independent personality, attempting to take advantage of Shadow whenever he can, but Shadow's strong social behavior and calm nature seems to allow him to take these advances in stride. During a wolf check on Monday, Malik stole the camera lens cover that dropped in the enclosure. Staff used the med tray to distract Malik to get the cover, but as staff were reaching for the lens cover, Malik grabbed the med tray. This is why we have the policy of "No objects set next to the fence and No fingers through the fence"
Malik is doing well, he continues to test Shadow on a regular basis, but he doesn't get much of a response from Shadow. We predict that things will change when winter approaches. The interesting combination in this situation is that Maya doesn't have another female to dominant, so she takes after Grizzer, which usually slows him down from chasing Malik.
The wolves are enjoying the fall weather which is brining cooler nights. Due to time constraints, this week's logs will be duplicate for all wolves. Some general comments on the videos. In Lakota's video, small rodent populations have increased due to the new seeding in the pack, she enjoys the hunt. MacKenzie's vision may be going, but she can still hear the movement of a ziplock bag of meat in the lab. Grizzer, Maya and Shadow enjoy a pack howl together, with Malik watching the action. Even though Malik doesn't chose to be very interactive with Maya and Grizzer, he still gets his fair shair of beaver.
Malik has had a heightened level of interaction with the pack. He continues to show a hackle response if Shadow, Maya and Grizzer are interacting. He has proven to be quicker than any of the others in the pack, and typically runs in for a bite on Shadow while his back is turned to the young adults. Grizzer has been attempting to hold eye contact with Malik, but so far, Malik is ignoring him or growling at him and running. Shadow seems to take his brother's behavior in stride, with some chase or follow behaviors, but rarely with a hackle response, unless Malik makes contact with his teeth. This is the life of the male rank order.
Wolf Care Staff have been busy providing logistical support to a film crew, working on a series called "Ms. Adventure" for Animal Planet. So, needless to say, there's not much time today for wolf logs. So, we'll have the same posting for all wolves. The Retired Pack is settling into a routine, when small amount of food are given, Lakota is fed in the holding area, while MacKenzie gets her fare share in the main enclosure. The Exhibit Pack is doing well, there's a bit of tension between the male's over rank order position, but so far, no real issues. Maya continues to be the predatory wolf, hunting small birds that are landing in the enclosure searching for seeds before their fall migration. Other than a few noisy moments, the wolves are still calm and remaining in a more crepuscular (dawn and dusk) pattern to avoid the heat. All the wolves have begun the winter hair growth of their dense undercoat, so when temperatures increase now, it's even more uncomfortable. As you can see by the video this week, the best place to be is in the wooded portion of the enclosure.
Malik and Shadow have their moments, mostly when Malik comes from behind and grabs Shadow, but they're still brothers and during this morning's wolf check found them both lying together in the new straw placed at the top of the den. Malik continues to hold the flat ear posture and looks nervous when the big eye of the camera is faced in his direction. He doesn't like eye contact from Grizzer or the camera operator.
Sorry for the delay in the logs, Wolf Curator, Lori Schmidt was in Anchorage Alaska last week for the Wildlife Society National Meeting and general wolf care was the main priority in her absence. As fall approaches, hormonal changes result in increased dominance activity between wolves. This is very common behavior, and is termed ritualized dominance behavior. Biologist believe that this type of dominance behavior actually reduces more intensive fights among wolves for rank order position. At the Center, Malik has been looking for opportunities to increase his rank by testing Shadow. This is normal behavior for a second ranking wolf, but what's unique about Malik is that he's not very confident when he starts some action. He tends to start a growling behavior with full hackles, then makes a run for the top of the enclosure and crosses the pond log, looking to see if he's being followed. One thing for sure, Malik gets his exercise.
Written by Planning for Pups program participants Linda McCormick and Don Gossett: During Saturday's feeding, Malik showed reluctance to enter the holding pen and needed to be coaxed in. Malik joined Grizzer and Maya after the "What's For Dinner" program while Shadow stayed in the distance. Malik continues to demonstrate a non-flight behavior and receives more than his fair share of the meal.
Written by Planning for Pups program participants, Patty Kierski, Rebecca Kierski, Kate Kierski and Lindsey Ivins: "Malik continues to shed his thick winter coat, so still appears somewhat shaggy. During wolf care, he showed dominance over Grizzer through hard muzzle bite, causing Grizzer to roll over. Unlike Shadow, he was unaffected by the Planning for Pups Participants. After enclosure enrichment, he scent rolled in some tuna, and after findting and eating some chicken legs, he stole some of Maya's cache. When Maya and Grizzer were interacting, Malik treid to get involved, but they ingnored him."
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