Grizz and Groan very active, Nubee distracted by their play. Nubee was feeding very vigorously. Nubee did well during most of the program. She walked around and explored the pen. Towards the end she was whining to get out. Did well during program-slept and exlored the pen. Also played with Grizz and Groan. Nubee howled with staff, adult wolves and the other puppies. Active today, engaging in play with Grizz, Groan and staff.
Today Nyssa is 35 days old. She now weighs 9.2 pounds and at one feeding took a whopping 7 ounces of formula. An apple and some ground venison caught her attention during one of the public programs. When the pups visited the outdoor pen, Nyssa enthusiastically greeted the Arctics and licked Shadow through the fence. She explored in the bushes and fought with Maya and Grizzer. She had a vet check and received her vaccinations today.
Nyssa is 37 days old today. Nyssa did well in program and occupied herself with beaver foot and pig ear. Nyssa has been exhibiting increasingly dominant behaviors with Grizz and Maya.
Nubee has been very vocal when she is displeased when being dominated by Grizz and/or Groan. Nubee seems to prefers to feed from the bottle while lying next to or on top of Grizz & Groan. Nubee growled at Malik when greeting through the fence.
Today Nubee is 20 days old. She is doing well during the public programs and slept during them today. She is attempting to dominate both Grizz and Groan and is initiating more play behaviors with them. Her activity level has increased dramatically, and her appetite has increased. She is still taking the bottle and eating vigorously. At times, she does not appear interested in eating and wants to get down and explore the pup pen. Her mobility and coordination is increasing every day.
Nubee growled at Groan when she came over to investigate Nubee's bottle. Nubee was also showing dominance over Griz after pen cleaned. She was standing over him and grabbing his neck. Nubee was anxious during the early morning Girl Scout program. She went to the gate continually wanting to get out. Nubee did some dominating of Griz. Nubee handled the introduction of the fan (for cooling) really well during the 11:00 program. Nubee tested the dominance phase with both Griz and Groan. Nubee slept through the entire 1:00 program. Nubee did very well during the 3:00 program. She was very active, and interacted with both Groan and Griz during the program. She appeared relaxed and at ease. When Grizz persistently pursued Nubee's bottle, she growled back at him. Nubee is starting to be very vocal when expressing her displeasure with her packmates. She not allowing Grizz and Groan to dominate her as much.
Nubee is 26 days old today. The pups were put in the outside puppy pen adjacent to the main exhibit. ML & SD showed excitement and greeted the puppies with whines and wagging tails. Pups were also excited with wagging tails as they greeted the arctics throught the protective hardware cloth fence. Her coordination is increasing, she was able to crawl out of a hole in the outdoor puppy enclosure. She's also initiating dominance interactions over Grizz and Groan. She even growled at Shadow thru the fence. Shadow didn't respond negatively. He just continued to whine at her.
Visitors frequently ask about the Name the Pup contest and how/why the names were chosen: As Nubee grows and increases her mobility, it’s time to recognize that she’s not a Newborn anymore… The Name the Pup contest judges selected three potential names for Nubee. KoKo (which happens to be the name of Grizz and Groan’s mother); Nyssa (pronounced knee-sa) which was described as Scandanavian for “Mischevious Elf and Teaka which reminded staff of the unique coloration of teak wood. Given Nubee’s recent exploits in dominating Grizz and Groan while they’re sleeping, the Mishevious elf description is looking more fitting each day.
Nubee has been riding up on Grizz. She is showing greater control over tail position and movements as well as her ears. Nubee did well during the first program. She tried to dominate Grizz & Groan, and became very vocal when they tried to dominate her. She also explored the pup pen and the rock. She appears to be relaxed and at ease during the programs. Nubee did well during the second program. She played with Grizz and Groan and explored the pup pen. She was also interested in smelling the rubber Kong stuffed with deer meat. Nubee was a little anxious during the last program and wanted to climb into Donna's (a member of the wolf care team)lap. She explored the pen a little and played with Grizz & Groan.
Nubee is 27 days old today. Nubee is initiating dominance interactions over Grizz and Groan. Nubee was anxious in response to Groan during pen cleaning. She was very active and showed much greater motor control. Her ears are also more erect. Nubee is also growling at staff but submits after being rolled over. Nubee was anxious during a presentation today and was not interested in anything but getting out of the pen. She briefly chewed on the beaver tail but Groan and Grizz took over. She was removed early due to excessive panting. Nubee was taken to the new pup facility. Nubee whined and briefly greeted Shadow and Malik. She then went down into the pond hole, climbed out, then sought refuge at the side of the pen with Groan and the nanny.
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.