Luna
Breeding/ dominant female
Relation
Mother of 2014 pup cohort. Likely mother of Atka, Scruffy, and the other yearling, Curious George
Age
Young prime-age adult (est. 4 years?) based on darker coat on rump
Description
• Other than Romulus, she is the lightest wolf in the pack. She is much smaller and leaner than Romulus
• Poodle tail; smooth transition from thin hair at top of tail to thick hair at tail tip
• Long and thick fur on back of hind legs is more caramel/yellow as compared with the rest of her coat
• Has a lean profile (less so if she has just fed) which is accentuated by the lack of hair on her underside from nursing
Behaviour
• Ravenously begs for food (solid or regurgitation) when any pack-mates return to den. This can look awkward/confusing because her begging looks submissive while the returning wolf will actually be behaving submissively (with the exception of Romulus). Looks especially odd when Remus returns, because he is so much larger than her and has to crouch especially low to the ground in order to display submissive behaviour towards her
• When she begs for a regurgitation, she will approach tail tucked and crouching (this is why it looks submissive) but she licks at the muzzle while her body frantically rotates around the face of the other wolf (left to right to left to right etc.)
• Protected the den from the other pack-mates (including Romulus) before the pups emerged from the den. Did so by getting between the den and the other wolf, but never acted aggressively. Atka, however, was allowed in and near the den
• Prior to pup emergence, would only leave the den for 1-4 hours at a time, and would return immediately if there was any disturbance (such as the sound of a helicopter)
• When sleeping near the den, she is constantly opening and closing her eyes. Resting while maintaining vigilance
• For the first 11 days since the den was discovered, she showed no real concern or interest in us. Possibly because she was so pre-occupied with her pups.
• Her relationship with Romulus is very sweet. They appear to enjoy each other's company. She will often go to him when he is bedded and sit down near is head, appearing to be soliciting attention/affection from him
• After many hours resting at/near/inside the den and after recent nursing, she gets restless and solicits the other wolves to accompany her on a hunting foray.
