I’m going to start out with an apology to our readers.  I forgot the footage of the Wolves 2009 Easter Egg Hunt in the camera and didn’t discover it until I uploaded some new footage I took recently on to my PC.  It should have been in last month’s newsletter.  So here it is and sorry it’s late, Wolf Easter Egg Hunt 2009 Video.  Hope you enjoy.  Better late than never!

We have managed to escape the usual hot weather we experience in early spring at Wolf Howl Animal Preserve.  Just in the past week have we managed to get in the high 80’s.  I feel blessed about that.  I’m sure the Wolves are thrilled too.  We did have one uncomfortable day and unfortunately it was the day I had some free time to video record them.  During the day they were pretty well resting but by dusk they were starting to stir.   In this Wolf video of our Wolves in spring, you will see some very typical Wolf behavior.  There is a lot of greeting going on and plenty of conversation.    In the howling scenes, you will notice that Nita, the Omega, often times has a very different howl from the other Wolves.  Hers is more like a yap or whine.  She also appears to be looking around frequently, as she fears that one of the other females will attempt to stop her from howling.  Though there are times I feel really bad for her, I will tell you that she instigates 75% of the reactions she receives from the other Wolves.  She can be very naughty and is relentless.  Recently she has taken to mounting Niko Akni while he is lying down resting and proceeds to ride him.  Very unbecoming and something he is totally losing patience with her on.  I’m sure I’ve told you all this before but I will say it again, Woha reminds me so much of her Mother, Ohoyo, when she was younger.  She’s always up to something.  While everyone else is resting, Woha is exploring, jumping up and grabbing leaves off of trees, hunting bugs, jumping on top of the houses or picking weeds (they love to eat certain ones, it helps to settle their stomachs). 

Spring is the official end to the hormones of breeding season.  I’m always relieved because the Wolves are back to their old selves.  You can almost predict their behavior.  I enjoy the fact that everyone is extremely loving to caretakers and display acts of affection to each other.  They actually enjoy being together during this time of year.  I’ve added some pictures as evidence to this in this article.  Here a few links to our Wolf Pictures galleries where you may enjoy more of the same.

Wolf pictures, Spring 2009

Wolf pictures, Woha

Wolf pictures, Chito

Wolf pictures, Nita


As I mentioned in the last newsletter, I planted grass seed twice in their main enclosure.  It really only took on one side and I have noticed that they seem to be avoiding it.  I’m perplexed.  They love to roll around in the grass in the isolation area so I just assumed they would like to have it in their main enclosure.  I think that I was wrong.  I’m wondering if it is the type of grass, Rye?  The grass is in the shadiest area of the enclosure so it could be that there are too many insects there as well, though I haven’t noticed much of a difference from the grassy area to the dirt area as far as bugs go. 

They are using their den to avoid the hot afternoon sun.  I will find as many as 4 Wolves inside during mid-afternoon.   I was in there on a particularly warm afternoon and the difference in temperature is dramatic.  It’s is so much cooler and there is a nice breeze coming in from the northwest through the opening. 

Their appetites are slowing down somewhat but not as much as last year at this time when temperatures were higher.  I’ve added some ground venison to their weekly diets and intend on ordering some ground bison too.  They really enjoy the venison.  I serve it as a side with chicken quarters.  Every other day they get organ or muscle meat as well.  Once a week I feed a dry kibble that is 100% grain and soy free.  The meats used to make it are venison and bison.  They really enjoy it.  Last time I served it, Wa-ta-chee carried one of the whole food pans up on the top of the den so he could enjoy it in piece.  Most times, since he is such a mellow Wolf, there are four other faces in the same food pan with him.  Waya guards food pans so unless I’m right there, he won’t share when he’s eating.  What makes me laugh is that there is usually one food pan with no Wolves around it but I guess it’s just no fun unless you can bug your packmates during dinner time.  Nita is famous for walking right past a full but unoccupied food pan and begging instead from either Ohoyo or Wa-ta-chee.  Her siblings and Uncle Waya are not the least bit tolerant of this habit of hers so she has learned to stick to the easy prey.