The Laughing Wolf

Friday Wolf Blogging: Why Have A Wolf Park?

This is a fascinating, and fun, question that is oft asked. Why do we have a Wolf Park?

The answer is simple: research. You can go here to get some bare-bones history, but the full story is a lot of fun and shows how necessity truly is the mother of invention. Dr. Klinghammer, who founded the park, was doing research on animal behavior, and developed a rather severe allergy to his original subjects. A colleague suggested wolves instead, and having experience with dogs (and knowing there were no allergies), research commenced.

Here is where the question always becomes "But why not do studies in the wild?" Well, they do studies in the wild, at a considerable distance. In real life, as opposed to fairy tales and Hollywood, wolves really don't like having a lot to do with humans. In point of fact, they tend to keep at least .25 to .5 miles away from us, flight distance, which means that they can observe us from safe distance and have room to maneuver and fly away if we start towards them. While they will come closer, that usually happens in one of two cases.

In the first, they determine that it is safe to do so and curiosity about us and our gear (and mayhaps the smell of food and such) will draw them in. Curiosity does kill more than a cat on occasion... An ex-girlfriend of mine got a taste of this up in the Canadian wilderness when a wolf came into the camp she was in with a group, late, after everyone was in their tents and/or asleep. She never did say if her sleeping bag needed cleaning after said wolf responded to a pack howl while still fairly close to her tent. Note though that the wolf came in only after the humans were secured, it was dark, and he/she had every possible advantage and clear exit lanes.

In the second, it can mean that the wolf is sick. For a truly wild wolf to approach you openly usually means some severe form of organic damage: rabies, brain tumor, etc. That said, however, I have read of wolves that were pets or not raised wild to approach as well. The problem is, telling what circumstances apply. Best bet, back away and get away if ever approached in the wild.

Quick Side Note: Do not believe the myth that wolves see small children as puppies or potential pack mates and such. They see them as a quick and easy meal. If you let your child, particularly a toddler, approach a wolf or run away alone into the woods, don't expect to get them back or to start a new Romulus and Remus myth.

Wild wolves fear adults, and keep away. In zoos and other facilities, wolves that are either wild caught or raised with limited or no human interaction share that fear. They do their best to hide from the scary humans, and it does impact both health and behavior. Think about how you might react if some huge creatures with strange powers put you in a cage.

That dilemma is the strength of Wolf Park. Puppies born here, or those brought in at an extremely young age, are hand raised by humans. In that process, they become socialized to humans -- but not, repeat, not domesticated or tame. With socialization, the wolves lose or do not develop that instinctual fear of humans. In fact, from their viewpoint, we are delightfully easy to train. With the proper commands, we will scratch and otherwise engage in social grooming not possible with the packmates. we deliver food, and, we will give treats and other delights in response to command. Of course, from our viewpoint some of the commands are desired behaviors, but you do have to look at it from theirs.

Ah, yes, as Monty's photo shows, they are just so stressed out here. Since humans do not induce fear and stress in them, they go about their business and display a wide range of behaviors. Researchers (and lucky volunteers) can watch some of this up close and document with audio, video, still photo, and other means. We can collect scat samples, use bilateral scratch reflex to get blood samples, give shots, etc., and we can even do mouth swabs for genetics testing.

In the wild, researchers have to keep a good distance away and use remote cameras, time-lapse, telephoto lenses, and other sensors and still have no guarantee of what -- if anything -- they will see. Visitors to Wolf Park may see more wolf behavior during a Howl Night than some researchers may see in several years of wild study.

Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of a facility such as Wolf Park is that it provides a check. Behavior seen in the wild can be checked against the wolves here, while behavior here can be checked against wild studies (over time). The other great advantage is that researchers can come here from about anywhere. The interns and practicums literally are from around the world, and a most interesting paper on a facet of wolf behavior is being turned in/presented next week in the Netherlands by a practicum.

If you, or someone you know, is doing wildlife research, be sure to let them know about Wolf Park. Serious researchers are most welcome to call. If you are not a researcher, come on by to some of the events that are open to the public, or even take the step and become a member or sponsor a wolf. The park gets no government grants and such, so depends on visitors and those interested in wolves to keep the doors open.

Hope this answers a question or two, and shares a bit more about the Park. Hope also to see you at the upcoming Open House or maybe later at the Easter Egg Hunt. Maybe next week I will remember to talk about environmental enrichment and how important it is -- and how you can help.

Meantime, hope you enjoyed.

LW

The picture at the top, BTW, is of Chetan, the main pack Beta Male, getting interested in a "discussion" between two other members of the pack.