Just a quick update on Chief.  He is doing remarkably well.  He is still blind, though we believe he can see shadows, as he seems more confident when there is bright sun.  He has expanded his “territory” and wanders over a large part of the enclosure.  He occasionally runs into things, including Mohawk, but since he is moving at a slow speed, no damage is done.  He continues to eat and drink as normal, and his pack mates seem to have accepted this new version of him with no fuss.  It’s been interesting watching him rely more on his keen sense of smell.  He lifts his nose high and scents the air whenever he hears something he can’t identify.  He almost looks like a bear when he does it.  When we go into the enclosure, we make it a point to talk to him constantly so he knows where we are so he doesn’t get startled. While he does have good hearing, when conditions aren’t perfect, such as if there is high wind, he can get confused by sudden noises.  By talking constantly when we’re out there he can better judge where we are at all times.

Everyone else is just fine.  The younger pack has “earned their keep” this past week by engaging in a bit more howling than they have in the past. This has delighted us and our guests!  The younger wolves (the pups) still can’t hold a howl for very long, so it is very easy to pick out their contributions to the song.

We have a bit of snow in the forecast for the end of the week. We will see if winter peeks in for a bit.

TTFN