July 8, 2024

Another Red Wolf pup check is complete. As the pups move around the habitat more, catching them up becomes the hardest part. No longer can we just open the den door and quickly gather them up. Instead, a coordinated team effort is needed to quickly, efficiently, and safely catch up the pups.

This took less than five minutes (4:55 to be exact) to get all five pups back in the den. With a watcher and timer on Wolf Overlook, and four teams of staff moving or stationed strategically through the wolf habitat, each pup scurried along the edge of the habitat eventually running back into the den.

Once in the den, we still move quickly to limit our time with the pups. As of now, the five pups fit into two carriers. We load them up and take them to the side area of the wolf habitat. This allows us to work in a contained area on a flat surface yet still only be feet away from the yard.

Today’s check was confirming microchips, getting new weights, preventative dewormer, and their first round of vaccines. Dr. Tara Harrison’s team from the NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine did a quick physical, with heart rate and respiration rate, among other things, too.

As for weights:

• M2562 weighed 4.2 kg, which is 42% more than his last weight.
• M2564 is our heaviest, at 4.45 kg. He’s up 48%.
• F2566 is right behind her brother, at 4.40 kg. She’s 47% more than her last weight.
• F2567 is up 48% and now weighs 3.55 kg.
• F2568 increased 50%, and now weighs 4.05 kg.

The next pup check is later in July. Stay tuned. In the meantime, come on by and see the pups for yourself while they are still small.