Wildcast

Having been away for a couple of days I was anxious to get to the Wild Dogs as I’d left them at an interesting time.

The alpha female’s pups were now about 10 weeks old and BB’s pups were 3 weeks old, just at the age when they start coming out the den. And it was because of this I was anxious. What would the alpha pups do to these little fellows as they discovered their new found freedom?

I headed out to the den in the dark and about a km from the den saw many eyes coming towards me reflecting in my headlights. The whole pack was on the move, 11 adults and 6 alpha pups. No BB pups.

BB was out hunting with them. Had she lost or abandoned her pups?
They continued west and I lost them for about 20minutes and instead came across a hyaena carrying a huge chunk of meat, well actually dragging it. And being followed by another adult and 2 youngsters. All were extremely well fed and there was no ways the adult with the trophy was about to share with the others although you wonder where any of them could fit it in.

I caught up again with the dogs but they were now heading back east, towards the den, at a helluva pace. Had they caught scent of the hyaenas and needed to get the alpha pups back to safety?Well they arrived at the den before me and also before BB. The alpha female was in the den entrance enjoying her fair share of fun with BB’s little pups as they wobbled around being hassled by the alpha pups. But they seemed fine and for the first time I saw 5 of them. They weren’t out for long, so I’m not sure if this is the final count for the BB pups.

All the dogs were really lean and looked as if they hadn’t fed since I’d been away, but as the temperatures climbed the dogs settled in for the rest of the day.

In the late afternoon all headed west hunting again. But the alpha pups lost the adults about a km from the den. They seemed confused and when they heard a rustle in the grass they high tailed it back to the den to safety and to await the adults return.The alpha male and female and 4 other dogs arrived soon after dark but were still hungry.

About an hour later BB arrived back with the rest of the pack looking well fed. (I think for every time that I’ve known BB to go out hunting with the pack they’ve been successful).

BB didn’t feed anyone, but stood at the den entrance as another adult went half in and regurgitated meat for BB’s pups. This was supposed to keep it out of sight of the other adults and the alpha pups. But the alpha pups were soon in there tearing pieces of meat out the little ones mouths.
With the moon being almost half I’m sure the rest of the pack will go hunting later tonight. This pack seems to have more success with the moon than hunting in the day.