Cub Diary Archive

Cub diary - 20th May

It’s been a busy week with the cubs progressing well on their 3 hourly feeds and, after an intensive weekend, they have settled into bottle feeding without too many problems. All three have gained weight in the last week which is a good sign that they are doing well. Nuka, a robust boy, is much more vocal than his sisters and decided it was his place to start howling at 10 days old.

Tala, the smallest of the three, is certainly the most active and a fidget until she settles onto her bottle, whilst Tundra certainly seems to be the calmest of the three happily being weighed each morning when her brother and sister fidget and squirm to get out of the scales.

Cub diary - 26th May

Recently the cubs have been moved onto a more solid diet of crushed up rusks and puppy milk. This morning however, it was decided some mince would be added. Tala and Nuka seemed to like this idea and took to it straight away, whereas Tundra didn’t seem too keen.

The cubs have also been moved from three hourly feeds to four as they are becoming much more active and eating more. They have our handlers rushed off their feet as they love to have the opportunity to explore their new surroundings of the pole barn. Nuka is usually the first to become tired and want to go to sleep and will often try to climb back into bed himself, when no one is looking!

Cub diary - 31st May

This week the cubs have ventured out of the 'den' to explore and play in the grass. As well as chasing around the lawn after them during their mini photo-shoot, the handlers are being kept on their toes as already the cubs are clambering up the hay bale walls of their den, trying to make their escape!
On top of their puppy milk, the handlers are also trying the cubs on some bits of chicken and a weetabix or two.
They’re each doing well and gaining weight daily. Tala, the smallest of the three, weighs in at 2.9kg, her sister Tundra at 3.0kg and Nuka at 3.4kg.

Cub diary - 4th June

The cubs are now a month old! Their pen in the barn was doubled in size on the 3rd in order to give them more space in which to run around. The cubs continue to grow apace, with Nuka remaining the heaviest cub at 3½ kg.

The cubs have been given a marrow bone to gnaw and they're exploring their surroundings with interest, playing with towels, shoes and tugging at people's clothing. They're given the run of the barn after feeding and their stamina is increasing daily. Although they still enjoy milk from the bottle, they're also eating chicken and beef.
Two of the cubs (Tundra and Tala) have cataracts but we're hopeful that'll resolve itself. If not, the vet will operate and that should cure the problem.

Cub diary - 8th June
At just over 5 weeks old the cubs are continuously growing with Nuka remaining the largest of the litter at almost 5 kg, although Tundra isn’t very far behind!

They were all wormed on the 6th, which none of them were very pleased about! They love their chicken and mince and are now consuming around a bowl each during meal times. They are also being tried on chunks of beef which they seem to be taking a liking to. The weaning process continues with them slowly reducing the amount of milk they take from the bottle and increasing the amount of meat; it’s a slow process which allows their small stomachs to get used to the change.
The cubs are full of energy, play fighting with each other and running around the barn. They particularly like playing tug of war with towels and chewing on anything they can find.

Cub diary - 12th June
The cubs are now approaching six weeks old and all are doing well. They're continuing to gain weight, with Nuka now weighing over 5½kg. Chicken and beef mince forms a large part of their diet, with only a small amount of milk as a supplement.
On Saturday the cubs spent some time in their specially-built nursery pen, where they thoroughly enjoyed chasing and wrestling each other under the sunny June skies. We've put toys, straw bales, logs and more in the pen and the bark on the logs proved very popular for gnawing.
Later on the visitors on the wolf walk were brought to see the cubs in their pen and a photo session ensued; the cubs are already used to cameras going off around them!

Cub diary - 15th June

The cubs are spending more and more time in their outside nursery pen and are loving the chance to explore the outside world. They are quite literally coming on leaps and bounds and it is hoped that before long they'll be able to stay in their outside enclosure permanently.

On Wednesday they were given their first vaccination and all went well. It wasn't long before they were up chasing and wrestling each other to the ground again, with the two girls ganging up on their brother Nuka and pinning him to the floor.

Cub diary - 23rd June
The cubs have now been weaned off milk and trying out liver and other new meats. They are being weighed weekly and continuing to grow and develop. They are spending more and more time in their outside pen as they are rapidly outgrowing their den inside the pole barn. As they are continuously growing, it will be a matter of days when they'll be placed in their outside pen permanently.
They are all now showing their own individuality and personalities. Tala is certainly taking after her aunt, Mosi, being very inquisitive and rather naughty at times. Her black coat is also not as black any more, as you can clearly see some silvery markings coming through. Nuka is rather shy and does not come as willingly as the girls to greet you. Tundra is the most affectionate and looking to be very similar in her love of people as her mother Mai.

Cub diary - 30th June

The cubs are now living in their outside enclosure permanently and are loving every moment of it. They are next to their mum, Mai and she is very happy to see them again.

The cubs are now going out on training walks with their handlers, preparing them for their roles as UK Wolf Conservation Trust ambassadors.

They are enjoying wolfing down a variety of meats, including rabbit. It is hard to believe they are already 8 weeks old.

Cub diary - 8th July

The cubs are continuing their training walks with much enthusiasm.

As boisterous as ever, they continue to run around their enclosure launching attacks on one another.

Mai is often seen at the fence interacting with them and even Motomo has been seen playing with them through the fence. He seems to have gotten used to their presence and handlers have witnessed him running up and down the fence with them.

Arctic diary - 7th July

The cubs continue to settle in well to their new home, going on training walks within their enclosure with their assigned handlers.

Pukak and Sikko have adjusted quickly however Massak seems to be a little more cautious than his brother and sister.

Their handlers are not worried however as he is showing signs of improving with each passing day. They are often seen chasing each other around their enclosure or jumping in and out of their water trough to cool down.

Arctic diary - 15th July

The Arctics are continuing to do well, going on training walks in their enclosure and become accustomed to their new home.

They even delighted visitors on the Howl Night and gave a few howls of their own!

They are even already starting to choose favourites in their handlers! All the signs are of them feeling more at home at the Trust.

Arctic diary - 20th July

The Arctics continue to do well on their training walks and are impressing members who come to visit in all their creamy-coloured glory.

They seem a much more laid-back pack compared to their neighbours, seeming uninterested at showing each other who is boss. They seem happy at running around after each other and having fun.

Cub diary - 16th July

The cubs were microchipped this week and had their final jabs. The vet also gave them a check-up and their eyes are clear of cataracts, which can sometimes occur in captive wolves. Unfortunately the vet has found that Tundra has injured her leg. She has some small fractures in her foot however they are already healing. In order to help repair the soft tissue and protect the foot, Tundra is now sporting a bright blue cast. Despite her handlers trying to keep her calm and quiet to rest the foot, she isn't fazed by the cast and still trying to bound around and play with her brother and sister.

Cub diary - 21st July

As Tundra is still sporting her leg cast the handlers have tried to keep her rested - not an easy task with a wolf cub! The three cubs have been brought into the pole barn a few times to have a play with their handlers in order to keep them out of the wet.

Tundra doesn't seem at all bothered with her cast and isi still happy to play with her brother and sister. Her handlers are pleased with her progress and feel there is no real cause for concern.

Cub diary - 28th July

Today Tundra had a trip to the vets to have her foot checked. The vets are pleased with the progress but have replaced the old cast with a new one for another 10 days in order to help protect the break from the rough and tumble she insists on having with her brother and sister.

In order to prevent her cast from getting wet and pining for Nuka and Tala, all three cubs are brought into the pole barn to play when the ground is wet. Getting bigger by the day, the cubs seem to be rapidly outgrowing their puppy phase and now look just like miniature wolves!

Arctic cub diary - 29th July

The Arctics tried rabbit for the first time today.

They seemed to enjoy wolfing down the new treat as it didn't last very long! The handlers went in to spend time with them again and tried getting some more photos for the Trust's database.

Trying to get three wolves to co-operate and stand together and look at the camera is not an easy task!

Cub diary - 3rd August

Today the cubs 'participated' in a children's picnic. Children visiting the Trust made ice lolly and melon treats to give them to enjoy in the blazing sunshine.

Nuka and Tala especially loved their melons stuffed with chicken, tuna and other tasty bits while Tundra enjoyed cooling off with her meaty ice lolly.

Cub diary - 5th August

Today the vet visited the cubs and announced that Tundra's cast was able to come off. Poor Tundra did seem a little confused once the cast was cut off but she seems happy to have her freedom again. She's still a little wobbly but once she's got used to having all four legs working again she'll be back to normal.

With the cast off it now means she can stay out with her brother and sister at night rather than having to sleep in her kennel.

Arctic cub diary - 4th August

The Arctics were given a frosty treat today by children visiting the Trust. With the help of their parents, children made some meaty treats and then froze them into ice lollies.

Each of the cubs enjoyed licking and crushing their frozen treats, crammed full of sausages, ham, tuna and chicken. Not exactly our choice in icy refreshment but the wolves loved it!

Arctic cub diary - 11th August

The Arctics continue to progress and are captivating guests who visit the Trust with their gentle nature and fluffy white coats. The cubs conttinue to go on their training walks around the enclosure with their handlers and are doing very well.

They are still much more laid-back than the Beenham Cubs and it is early days but it does seem that Pukak is showing signs of emerging as the more dominant one.

Cub diary - 12th August

The cubs are certainly now beginning to assert their dominance over one another. Compared to their Arctic neighbours they are a lot more feisty but they wouldn't seriously hurt each other on purpose; it's all front and part of pack life.

It does seem that Tundra and Nuka often choose to spend time together and play or sit together while Tala is much more inquisitive and spends her time exploring.

Cub diary - 26th August

Tundra is now having physiotherapy for her leg to help strengthen her muscles again. She seems to be doing well with it and enjoys the extra attention from her handlers. At almost 4 months old now, the cubs have grown tremendously, now looking like gangly teenagers!

Nuka also sustained a minor cut to his paw and is having treatment to ensure it doesn’t become infected but he is showing no real signs of discomfort and is as boisterous as ever when he greets his handlers or when he is wrestling his sisters to the ground.