Malik continues to have howling communication between the pack, but it appears that Shadow is the most likely to respond to him. This is a good sign which indicates that there is still a relationship between the litter mates, and when the time comes to retire Shadow, this will be important. Malik has received more staff attention in the last month than he had in the last several years, so life in retirement for him has had some experiences, not to mention, he never has to wait for food, or compete, except for a few over confident ravens.
We've been getting some scraps from local deer hunters. We generally feed these mid-week to give the wolves some extra bones. Unfortunately in retirement, this means that Malik, who is the master of guarding food, will cache extra bones in the den and keep Shadow out of the den. This happened again on Wednesday, and the surveillance camera recorded video of Shadow having to sleep in the small rock den on the other side of the pond. He didn't look too comfortable. On Thursday morning, Wolf Care Staff cleaned out the den and helped reclaim Shadow's space. This week's photo for Shadow and Malik show some of the posturing that occurred. First Shadow made Malik avert gaze (Malik's photo), then Malik made Shadow avert Gaze (Shadow's photo). When Malik gets to guard food, he gains some status. It takes a while for Shadow to gain it back.
Malik had a good week of calm, relaxed behavior, but the change in weather has created some increase in posturing for the pack. Grizzer has been intently eye-staring towards Malik, a definite sign of dominance. While Malik was doing a squat urination, Grizzer rested his chin on Malik during the whole urination, another sign of dominance. This is why we developed the Ethogram, so people can watch these subtle, but critical signs of dominance and hopefully predict when the tension will increase.
The main pack had an uneventful week, with the exception of a special program scheduled on December 28th. An enclosure enrichment was a special offering this week to holiday visitors at the Center in Ely, Minnesota. At 1 pm, wolf care staff locked the wolves into holding and placed some treats throughout the enclosure, including a 10 lb turkey, some pigs ears, milk bones and meatballs. The purpose of enclosure enrichment is to give the wolves an opportunity to use their sense of smell and investigate the hidden treats inside the enclosure. Malik was the first to find the turkey, but getting there first generally means the other wolves will chase you. As you will see in Malik's video.
Malik is doing very well, and is very interested in the Grizzer/Denali interactions. We are continually assessing his participation in social activities, and his attitude toward the pack. There is snow in the forecast for Sunday, and this generally brings on more dominance. Staff management plans are in place for retirement, now it is up to the wolves to dictate the when of retirement.
Nancy Gibson writes: The wolf pups made their final trip to the vet on June 27 in the Twin Cities in preparation for their journey to the International Wolf Center on June 29. The pups are seven weeks old and Shadow weighs 14.2 pounds. Malik weighs weighs an even 14 pounds. They received their first distemper vaccination in combination with parvovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus and parainfluenza. This is the same protocol for domestic dogs. They were wormed and given tablets for heartworm. They were listed in excellent health and the staff at Oak Knoll Animal Hospital is to be commended for their excellent help and guidance. Health care will be transferred to the local vets in Ely, Minnesota. The pups are spending most of their time outside except during the night. They experienced their first major rainstorm by sleeping through most of it by a large tree. Their guard hairs are an effective raincoat. A small pool of water has attracted much of the pup's attention. They use it to cool their feet then splash the rest of the water underneath their body. The pups will quietly meet the adults at the International Wolf Center is a series of controlled sessions with a fence separating them. All wolves produce a nuturing hormone called prolactin in the spring and summer to stimulate all members of the pack to help rear the pups. We expect the adults and the pups to be excited to see each other.
The pups had been visible to, but separate from, the adult wolves since the pups arrived at The International Wolf Center in Ely, MN at the end of June, 2000. On August 9, 2000, early in the morning, Shadow and Malik were introduced into the adult's enclosure and started along the path of becoming members of the pack. The pup introduction to the adults was carefully planned to avoid shifting the hierarchy dynamics of the existing pack. While the pups were in their overnight holding pen, Lakota and Lucas were each lured into separate holding areas. Then the pups' holding pen was opened to the main enclosure, and the pups ventured out to explore and greet MacKenzie. The pups ran around alternately exploring and greeting MacKenzie by licking her muzzle and smelling her. MacKenzie responded well to the pups, smelling them and following after them as they explored. After about 15 minutes, Lucas was let out of his enclosure and he joined the smelling/licking/chasing romp. The pups continued to explore the new sights and smells of the main enclosure. When Lakota was released from her pen, she investigated the pup enclosure at length before greeting the pups, apparently searching for food scraps.
As the next few hours unfolded, the interactions among the animals ranged from complete submission of the pups to the adults, to defensive snaps from the pups to the adults. The pups are learning their new subordinate role in the pack structure. At times, the pups were observed climbing over MacKenzie while she rested, muzzle mouthing each of the adults, racing through the grass in the enclosure, and getting mouthed around the torso by the adults. Dave Mech commented that it seemed like Lucas was using his mouth to attempt to pick Shadow up by the torso, a behavior he had not observed in adult males before. (Note that Lucas' mouth fit nearly all the way around Shadow's torso!) Other behavior observed included active submission/roll over behavior by Malik to all of the adults, occasional submission by Shadow to the adults. Malik dominating Shadow, Shadow snapping at Lucas with Lucas jumping away, and general romping and exploring. Shadow's snapping might be attributed to his insecurity with the adults, but it could also be related to the defense of a bone he found in the enclosure. Wolf care staff anticipated this sort of pup behavior while the young ones are establishing a place in the pack structure.
Malik has had some calmer weeks, there doesn't seem to be as much focus on him as in previous months. The difference is that Denali is keeping Grizzer busy, and Shadow puts Grizzer down if he shows dominance. Unfortunately, Malik continues to enter into the mix showing some dominance towards Grizzer. Typically, this colder weather would bring more focus to the lower ranking wolves in the form of redirected aggression, but Malik is getting some relief as the male rank order and the maturing of Denali has taken a priority in pack dynamics. Of course, staff need to be watchful of the redirection from Grizzer, if there's been a lot of dominance and testing of Grizzer, he needs to have an outlet or he will redirect to Malik.
The wolf puppies made their journey to their new home at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota on June 29. They slept most of the trip minus about 20 minutes of intense playing with each other. The International Wolf Center staff vigorously greeted the pups for about half an hour with enthusiasm displayed from the humans and pups. Nancy Gibson, who raised the pups, greeted the three resident adults wolves to allow them to smell the puppies on her clothing and shoes for the first step of introducing the pups. The adults are also socialized by humans and sniffed every inch of Gibson's apparel. Step two was to bring the pups to the fenceline separating the adults and pups. The adults raced to the fenceline to inspect the pups. The pups were initially scared by the eager canine reception and crawled up on their handlers legs and curled their lips with a slight growl. That didn't deter the adults as they whined and wimpered for the pups. The alpha male, Lucas, fought off his lower ranking packmate for attention from the pups while his body bellowed a welcome whine. The initial meeting was a success. All wolves produce a nurturing hormone called prolactin during the summer to stimulate all pack members to care for the pups. The wolves were living up to their reputation as being good mothers. The pups were then placed in their new spacious enclosure adjacent to the adults with a single fence and dig out wire between them while they are fed several times daily and to finish the critical socialization process. It is important for the adults and pups to watch, smell and hear each other for the next 6-8 weeks before they are placed in the same enclosure. The following day the pups and adults were licking each other through the fenceline. The pups are in view at the Center four times a day. KARE TV followed each step and will air the segment on July 9, 2000.
The International Wolf Center advances the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wildlands and the human role in their future.