Nyssa is doing well. Staff have noticed more play in her step lately. When staff approach, she demonstrates a play bow, then springs up and runs toward them in a more playful mode. This could be influenced by Maya's end of her estrus cycle or just the timing of approaching spring, when the more aggressive hormal cycles tend to calm down. Regardless, Nyssa seems to be fitting in better with staff and wolves alike.
Nyssa has had her fair share of Maya's dominance, especially since Maya came into heat. She seems to take it quite well, and if Grizzer's willing to help, Nyssa seems to do a good job of giving a bit of dominance back to Maya. Nyssa shows no signs of coming into heat, and has settled into the role of lower ranking female.
Staff been having a few issues with Nyssa. She's a snappy little female and I don't mean how she dresses. She has a habit of snapping when she gets excited. Usually, the snaps are directed to dead air space, but every once and a while, that space is close to a human's chin. Nyssa has also become adept at jumping from rock to rock and has even taken a few leaps onto the staff's back. She may be small, but that doesn't mean she isn't noticeable.
Of all the wolves in the exhibit pack, Nyssa seems to be enjoying the snow the most. She has been observed in the last week rolling on her back in snow piles, jumping up, play bowing to whichever wolf seems to be nearest and running at breakneck speed toward the den. Her enjoyment of snow usually causes her to have interesting white patterns on her fur, much to the amusement of the Wolf Center visitors.
While Nyssa is getting more dominance from Maya, it doesn't seem to stop her dominance bouts with Grizzer. If Grizzer is standing by himself, Nyssa will usually come over and start something. This can meet grabbing him by the scruff or taking a bite of his hind quarters and running away. Depending upon Grizzer's mood, he may chase her, but he's not as quick as she is. Nyssa usually runs circles around Grizz. Nyssa is still timid around new things and new people, but she readily greets staff at the fence. On the 4th of December, staff note a pack mobbing of Nyssa (all other wolves on Nyssa), Nyssa tucked tail and ran from the group.
There are no significant behavioral issues to report this week. All wolves seem to be enjoying the fresh snow which seems to fall daily. The only issue is the depth of snow and the height of fences (especially the retired enclosure). The wolf care staff are continually shoveling the winter waterers, paths and gates to ensure that day to day operations can continue. This week's log photos are reminder's of the days, months and years of care that's been delivered at the IWC. When winter arrives (as it has this year), the work can sometime seem overwhelming. Staff often talk about the good old pup days (we forget how much work pups are when the snow flies) Enjoy the pup pictures…
I hope you all had a great holiday season. The wolves weathered the holiday well considering the December 26th – 9 am wolf check was -34 degrees below zero. On New Year's day, nearly 10 inches of snow fell creating a great diversion for the wolves (the pups love fresh snow) and many hours of work for the curator. Enjoy the winter photos…
The following was written by Kristy Raines, a participant in the Workin' for Wolves weekend – October 2004. Nyssa continues to show us that no matter how well socialized as pups, wolves will respond to new situations with instinctual behavior. Nyssa ("The Princess" as dubbed by her nannies) was shy and elusive during the Workin' for Wolves weekend. She ran to the back of the enclosure when rock was being delivered, the first day and paced back and forth. The 2nd day, when the wolves were moved to the holding pen, Nyssa stayed behind in the main enclosure. I sat quietly near her and let her approach me. She greeted with tail wags and facial licks, before she slinked away and hid in the underground den until the rest of the pack was released back to the main enclosure. To be so close to such a beautiful elusive creature was a chance in a lifetime.
Nyssa seems to be having some issues with wheelbarrows. During the Saturday night feeding, she was shy toward the wheelbarrow delivering the deer. We will have to be very watchful of her since the Working for Wolves weekend (October 29 – 31) will involve hauling rocks into the main enclosure. We will make sure we have extra distractions to keep her calm and reduce her anxiety about work projects.
Nyssa is Nyssa… There's no way to describe it. She's got her own personality and she seems to do as she pleases unless Maya finds a need to pin her. These two females go back and forth in dominance displays, this week's photo shows Nyssa pinning Maya, with Grizzer's help.
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.