WORDS FOR WILDLIFE ARTICLE #10 - Stork Brings New Arrivals To Refuge

“Apache” mother Timber Wolf with six two day old cubs at Witter Wildlife Refuge

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Words For Wildlife
by State licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, James Orr

STORK BRINGS NEW ARRIVALS TO REFUGE

Normally storks and wolves do not work together but one must have snuck in the wolf pen as the wolf population just increased by 6. When checking on the wolves I was surprised to see that Apache (The lowest ranking female) was missing from the group. This is particularly surprising since they all like to get in line to wait for permission from the Alphas to get a piece of fresh meat.

I looked in the cave and much to my surprise she had a litter of cubs. She had not shown any signs of being pregnant as she is the smallest and slimmest of the pack. Readers may remember Apache is the wolf that was injured several months ago by two of the middle level females when she ate out of order. I was unable to have her spayed as scheduled because of her injuries and I am now seeing the result of procrastination.

According to Dr. Meenen, the consulting wolf Veterinarian it is extremely unusual for wolves to have cubs in the winter. They almost always have them in the spring. He is concerned about hypothermia killing them if they get away from the mother for even a very short length of time.   There is little I can do at the moment as Apache is not one of the tame wolves and it is not wise to try to bring her inside as she has never been contained in a small kennel. The trauma of containment might cause her to stop nursing altogether or even trample the babies in fear.

The male Alpha is the father. He is the only male permitted to mate within the pack, Alpha Privilege. There were 7 cubs, but one was still born. I was able to get into the cave and add some blankets and a radiant barrier (mylar bubble wrap) under the straw to help offset the 12 degree temperatures the day they were born. The mother allowed me to remove the dead cub and relocate the others to the thermal blanket and new straw. It was a little scary in a dark cave with an untamed mother wolf and her newborn cubs. I was not sure what she would do. The Alpha female who is tame stood beside me watching everything I did as closely as the mother. I think the Alpha’s presence made it OK for me to be there.   Both seemed to know I was helping.

The Alpha acts as proud as the mother when she escorts me into the cave. She assists with the babies by guarding the entrance and nudging the cubs back under the mother if they start to stray. All the wolves sleep in the cave at night but leave the mother and Cherokee (the Alpha female) alone with the cubs during the day. The Alpha male and proud father “Bubba” goes inside to check but for the most part leaves the baby-sitting to the females.   If any other wolf tries to enter the Alpha female keeps them out.

The Alphas have also extended special feeding privileges to the new mother allowing me to feed her in the den with her own bowl of high protein food. Normally Apache would be in serious trouble having her own food supply and absolutely no one is allowed to eat in the den except the Alphas. Under normal conditions she would simply get left overs as the lowest ranking wolf and would only eat after all the others finished. As a mother they not only allow her to have her own dish of food but none of the others steal anything from her dish leaving it all for her to eat at her leisure. As I’ve said before too bad people could not all be as kind, helpful, and supportive of each other as the wolves. Next time someone accuses you of “Wolfing down your food” consider it a compliment. Unlike most dogs, wolves eat slowly, chew carefully and have a lot of social manners.

DONATIONS NEEDED If you would like to help any donation amount it is greatly appreciated. Donations should be made out to Witter Wildlife Refuge and can be sent to P.O. Box 1118, Huntsville AR 72740.

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