The Heat is On

Mehina and Klondike enjoy oystersicles side-by-side

by Brennan Stoelb, Animal Care Specialist

The last Wolf Haven blog I wrote dealt with the increasing daylight causing not only wolves, but other animals as well, to shed. The shedding is due to more Prolactin being produced by their bodies in response to the increasing daylight. Most of the residents at Wolf Haven have completed this year’s shedding. And it’s just in time!

A quick glance at the thermometer, which is in the shade outside of the animal care

Freezing tunasicles for a hot day

office, showed the needle at a warm 90 degrees. Other than feeding and changing the water for our residents, we aren’t doing much in the sanctuary today. It doesn’t mean there isn’t grass to cut or other tasks to perform, but they can wait until the heat passes. There is no need to make anyone run around or move for that matter, any more than they want to.

Coincidental, today is Tuesday and we aren’t open for visits. If the temperatures are too high, we will cancel visits for human and animal safety alike. Last year I gave a visit to a friend of mine who just happened to give blood earlier in the day. That combined with the heat was enough to make her get light-headed and need to be wheelchaired out of the sanctuary. Stay hydrated and please – engage in no acts of kindness that require liquids to be removed from your body prior to your visit (by all means, give blood after).

Klondike shedding some of his unnecessary fur

So what do wolves do on a day like today? The same as you probably wish you were doing; lie in the shade and stay cool. The residents are often not too active on hot days. Often people who come on a visit do so because they are fascinated by wolves and want to see them. Unfortunately, sometimes you see more tall grass on a hot day than you do wolves. My best advice for visit times in the summer is a morning visit; that way you have a better chance to see and learn about wolves. Oh, and if you’re so inclined, give blood later in the day.