Returning songbirds tweet joyfully in the trees. Geese honk overhead. Ground squirrels have reemerged and the sound of their chirping surrounds us. The trees are starting to bud, and the grass is starting to green. This morning, I heard Sandhill cranes trumpeting near the corridor. Spring has returned to Teton Valley. The transition from winter happens quickly each year, and with it, a flurry of activity takes place here at the ranch.
Ramble and Bramble awoke from hibernation in early March. It was an unusually warm winter, so it was shorter than usual for them. Even though it was brief, they seem to have enjoyed the first season in their new winter den boxes.
Following their long winter’s nap, they often wake up a bit groggy and—let’s be honest—grouchy. After all, it takes time to wake up from a three-month nap with an empty belly. This year, they woke up a bit groggy, but also affectionate. They tilt their heads slightly as their sweet little sleepy eyes greet each of us, and they remember they are in their incredible new homes. We’ve been feeding them fresh greens for several weeks now and have slowly started adding some low-sugar fruits and vegetables, their specialty kibble, and a bit of protein. Ramble gets a bit worked up if Bramble is fed first, so we make certain Ramble is always first in line. Otherwise, we’ll have a 600-pound toddler throwing an adorable tantrum. Now that they have been awake for several weeks and are returning to normal activity, our animal caretakers have been busily preparing the gardens so the brothers can go out and take their first swims of the season.
Ramble and Bramble aren’t the only ones enjoying the spring weather. Last weekend, I was walking by the fox gardens and found a very content and sleepy Lightfoot lounging in the warm sun. We had recently introduced him to Foxy Moxy, and that friendship seems to be blossoming. Foxy Moxy was sleeping on her memory foam bed inside her enclosure, while Lightfoot was out in the garden laying in the sun with the door open between them. It made my heart happy to be in his presence, watching him sleep so contentedly as one of his hind legs twitched, almost like a dog having “puppy dreams.”
The wolves are also celebrating the spring weather. Now that mating season is over, the nurturing hormone prolactin becomes more prominent. In the wild, this is when new puppies would typically be introduced to the pack, so they are naturally at their most affectionate. This makes it the best time of year for us to try creating new relationships. For example, Kenai seems quite taken with wolfdog Hope, so we want to try putting them together in the garden. We also want to let Promise out with Sikanni (two alpha-type males), shy Luna with cautious Tundra, and momma Destiny with timid Sun’aq. It gives them and us great pleasure to see them form relationships with as many in their pack as possible.
Spring is a magical time of year here at the ranch. A time for new beginnings, and a time to renew our mission to protect all Life.
