The Laughing Wolf

Wolf Park Auction: Thank You!

My thanks to those of you who took part, and who helped make this auction a success! More than $2,000.00 was raised for Wolf Park, and huge kudos for Volunteer Paul for all his hard work in putting this together and making it work.

LW

E-Bay Auction To Benefit Wolf Park Underway

Yes, I am still here, more soon, promise. No, I really mean it this time...

Meantime, please go check out this auction to help benefit Wolf Park. This link takes you to a page that gives you a lot of information on the auction and what is going on; or, if you just can't wait, Click Here to go directly to E-Bay.

Please check it out, and also please help spread the word on this. Thanks!

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

They have their eyes on you...

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Sometimes, the eyes just have it...

Friday Wolf Blogging

Was done yesterday. Go enjoy my goof...

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

You never know quite what to expect out of the wolves. Exuberant, quiet, grumpy, happy: they run the range. This picture captures one part of the spectrum, which could be either checking something out in the distance or a bit of introspection...

And then there is this one. Normally I try to show just wolves, and don't post any with people in them. This one, however, was just too good to pass up. Anyone with a dog, or has just spent time around them, has probably seen scent rolling -- usually on something nasty and smelly. The shoulder drops and the shoulders, neck, and even up to the jaw are rubbed in the source of the scent. The new wolf I met a couple of weeks ago, Karin, has the interesting habit of scent rolling -- on women's hair.

Like I said, too good to pass up.

I do, however, have some sad news to share: Deneb, the reigning matriarch of Wolf Park, passed away just shy of 17.5 years of age. The last time I worked it out using the 7-year conversion, she was somewhere around 142 human-years old.

She was also the first wolf I ever met. Because she had mellowed with the years, and was very tolerant of mistakes, she was used to evaluate new people. As a result, before I could go in with the main pack or anyone else, I had to pass the Deneb test. She was, as always, a sweetheart, with the softest fur and the most gentle contact. At least with most people...

You see, Deneb had a passion for turning summersaults. Now, the theory is that she was doing them to pop her spine, and used it to supplement some massage therapy she received. Her standard mode was to go up to one particular staff member, lower her head, raise her rump, and get the help needed to do this. Sometimes, however, things went awry and I got a great laugh one morning when I looked up to see the staff member on their back on the ground, and a very happy Deneb on her back on top of them, doing a shimmy.

I was very lucky in that I got to go out to the park one evening a few days before she died. I got to go in with the staff to take her her medicine, and so got to spend some time with her. About three days later, she passed away peacefully in her sleep. Rest in the light dear lady.

In interesting news, Basil the Fox has broken his leg. Basil is elderly for a fox, being (best guess) 10-years-old, but still quite spry and active. The theory is that he just jumped wrong, but if you are playing Wolf Park Clue at home my vote is for Ember the Fox in the Front Enclosure with a baseball bat because she wanted his caches. *G*

The interns spotted that something was wrong and got the staff, who realized when they went in the enclosure that something was indeed wrong since fox legs don't have extra joints in that location. A trip to the vet revealed a broken leg, so surgery took place and Basil is now in sickbay sporting a purple cast. He has the pathetic look down:

He will, unfortunately, have lots of time to use it as he is looking at some 16 weeks of treatment and recovery. While Basil is very good at caching for a rainy day, it tends to be treats and rabbit parts rather than money. If you would like to help Basil pay his medical bills, you can go to Monty Sloan's Wolf Park's Photos of the Day site today (Friday) and he has not only pictures of the X-Rays (and a big surprise to one and all -- Double-O-Basil?) but ways to donate. You can also just go to the Wolf Park site and make a tax-deductible donation there, or just call them at 765-567-2265 to do it by phone. I will point out that you can sponsor Basil just like you would a wolf, but unlike wolves, people under 18 (but meeting other criteria) can meet Basil and/or the other foxes.

So please help. How can you resist a face like this:

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Ah, the rough life of a pup. Catered meals, lots of attention from pack and people. Exhausting it is...

Just remember that you too can take pictures like this. Just sign up for one of noted wolf/nature photographer Monty Sloan's wolf photography seminars. Spaces are available, and the colder the weather, the more active and interesting the wolves.

Check out the newly re-done Photos of the Day site. With a very low fee, you can gain access not just to those of the day, but to the expanding archives as well. Well worth it. Want more? Then just go to Monty's site and peruse all the wonderful photographs and make a purchase.

Tomorrow will find Silly Safari at Wolf Park. Come on out and check it out. Oct. 21-23 will see a Wolf Intensive Weekend behavior seminar. The 29th will see the wolves getting their pumpkins.

Also, please don't forget the Wolf Park Freezer Fund. The freezer might get us through the winter, or it might not. A new commercial freezer of this size costs roughly $12,000.00. Thanks to your generosity and that of others, we have about $3,000.00 raised. Please spread the word and help us get the remaining funds. The animals (staff and wolves) would appreciate the help very much.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

I really do need to do a better job of remembering how I do some shots. I found this one and love how the background turned out, for that is the shot and not some special effect added later.

More later.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

A wolf pack is a dynamic thing. Puppy packs tend to be a rolling ball of stomachs, teeth and noise (not that dissimilar from any pack of human children). Full packs have interesting social dynamics as members rise and fall in status. This fine fellow has been experiencing some of those dynamics of late:

This is Chetan, and he is the father of this year's puppies and appears to now be the former Beta Male of the main pack. From reports, he seems to be somewhat comfortable with the change in status. Then again, Fluffy (as he is also known to some) has somewhere around eleven years of life experience by which to judge things.

That experience stands him well during the hottest days of the summer, when he tends to go spend the days in the dens. Underground, it is cool and there are no biting flies and such to bother him. It also means that he has been clear of puppies and yearlings, which he seems to regard in much the same light as the biting and annoying insects. Think there is a bit of Fields in there, with some clear "Go away kid, ya bother me" showing through.

As for the pack politics, they will continue no matter what. Nothing in life is ever carved in granite, and all one has to do is watch a wolf pack to see that truth.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Last Saturday was hot, but a very good day for all. Especially for taking breaks such as this fellow did:

I also continue my bleg for the Freezer fund. Please spread the word, and to all who have donated, my thanks. To all who have carried the story and spread the word, my thanks. Here is the story of the freezer. It is not a small thing, since it has to hold dozens upon dozens of deer and other contributions, most of the year's supply coming in the fall. Please help by spreading the word of the need, and doing what you can. Contributions can be made via mail, phone, or online. Thanks.

Also, don't forget to visit Wolf Park Photos of the Day every day, and to check out the wonderful work of (and upcoming photo seminars by) Monty Sloan

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

I have said it before, but will say it again: curiousity is not the sole provence of cats. One look at this face and the "What's going on?" look upon it should be enough to tell you that wolf puppies are wet furry bundles of curiosity.

I also continue my bleg for the Freezer fund. Please spread the word, and to all who have donated, my thanks. To all who have carried the story and spread the word, my thanks. Here is the story of the freezer. It is not a small thing, since it has to hold dozens upon dozens of deer and other contributions, most of the year's supply coming in the fall. Please help by spreading the word of the need, and doing what you can. Contributions can be made via mail, phone, or online. Thanks.

Also, don't forget to visit Wolf Park Photos of the Day every day, and to check out the wonderful work of (and upcoming photo seminars by) Monty Sloan

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

The eyes have it. Looking a wolf in the eyes is not something you should do, for it can be seen as a challenge. There are times, however, when it happens and is not a challenge, but something else. A moment of message, of understanding (even if it is understanding that you are about to be kissed or pounced upon). The eyes have it.

I also continue my bleg for the Freezer fund. Please spread the word, and to all who have donated, my thanks. To all who have carried the story and spread the word, my thanks. Here is the story of the freezer. It is not a small thing, since it has to hold dozens upon dozens of deer and other contributions, most of the year's supply coming in the fall. Please help by spreading the word of the need, and doing what you can. Contributions can be made via mail, phone, or online. Thanks.

Also, don't forget to visit Wolf Park Photos of the Day every day, and to check out the wonderful work of (and upcoming photo seminars by) Monty Sloan

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Things are hectic, but when I saw this I had to smile and relax a bit. Hard to do otherwise in the face of such an example.

Please don't forget to help spread the word about the Freezer Fund. To answer a question, such a large one is needed because fall (mating season) is when deer love to jump in front of cars, so we get the majority of the year's supply then. Please help.

My thanks to Jan Bussey, Ith, and Mickey for their generosity and help! Go check them out.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

It has been a lot of fun watching the puppies grow, and almost scary some days at watching how fast they learn. So, today I thought I would share this picture:

They love to explore, and I will say that curiosity is not the sole provence of cats.

Meantime, growing puppies need lots of food and the adults can put it away too. Road-kill deer is perfect for them, and is collected and frozen for later use. Alas, the current freezer is dying, and replacing it means that $12,000.00 is needed for a new one. Go here for details and here to make a tax-deductible donation using PayPal. Please help spread the word, and do what you can to help.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Not a bad puppy shot for today, though I do have to wonder if some Jimmy Durante genes got into the wolf pool...

Come on out to Wolf Park on the 13th to watch puppies be returned to the main pack, and a special Wolf Park After Dark program too.

Enjoy!

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Well, actually this is going to be Friday fox blogging. I realized that I have not posted any pictures of Basil recently, so am putting up this shot of Basil and Ember for your enjoyment:

More soon.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Another pup picture, just a day-in-the-life type of thing.

Enjoy the day.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

A couple of final puppy pictures:

LW

Priceless, Precious Pt II

Yet some more cuteness to share:

If anyone wants to take their own pictures, go to this Wolf Park page and schedule your session. The price is very inexpensive for what you get, and I think it is well worth doing. Not only do you get the puppies, but you also get some one-on-one time with noted nature photographer Monty Sloan.

Enjoy.

LW

Priceless, Precious Pt II

What can I say, the little stinkers are cute and fun. If anyone wants to take their own pictures, go to this Wolf Park page and schedule your session. I think it is well worth doing, not only for the puppies but to get some one-on-one time with noted nature photographer Monty Sloan. Also, don't forget the Wolf Park Photo(s) Of The Day.

Enjoy.

LW

Priceless, Precious

Having a box spring up some stairs may be priceless on one level, but here is a little something that is both priceless and precious. There is nothing quite so good for the soul as spending time with puppies of any type...

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

This one struck me as funny, simply because be it wolf, child, or teenager, the look is the same...

Enjoy your day and your weekend!

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Just something very short and sweet as all my time is being spent deleting the 300 plus spams that managed to make it through security yesterday. I really do want to introduce the spammers to the Grumpy Old Men... Meantime, here is something cute for the day.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Sorry, but between work and work on the new lair, not much time. So, I will leave you with two pictures for the day.

Ah, yes, that's the spot...

A quiet moment in the sun...

Enjoy!

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

While I will be working this weekend to sand and refinish floors, painting walls, and more, others will be doing different things. This looks particularly inviting to me right now...

Yea verily, my joints and I could probably get into that...

Enjoy your weekend.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Well, I've asked Tristan here to keep an eye on the place this weekend, as I will be off, and there probably will not be any posting. The reason is good: I have just bought my first lair, and am spending the weekend doing prep work, priming, and hopefully painting. Lots of priming is required, as it comes complete with many, many shades of dark green throughout the downstairs. Know how I want to do the dining room, and with luck will get it done along with all the primer coat(s). Enjoy your weekend, too.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Okay, okay, I know it is late, but at least it got done. To make up for the lateness, a special one for the afternoon.

Once again, I can't recommend highly enough Monty Sloan's Wolf Park Photo Seminars. Check them out, and go ahead and get your reservations in for the fall.

LW

Wolf Puppies

I got to meet the wolf puppies for the first time yesterday afternoon! There were six, but two have already gone to another facility that was eager to get them, so there are only four boys left. The thing that amazed me was how much behavior they were already showing. They are cute, but coming up fast and moving along -- to the point I suspect they may be a handful. With luck, I will get to spend some time with them on Saturday morning. If you haven't seen them, keep checking the Photo Of The Day site for pictures. That reminds me, don't forget to go give Monty's site a visit to buy some of the best wolf photography out there.

LW

On Hunting And Conservation

From a comment left at this post by Eric, I may have hit a nerve, which was not my intention. That said, the comment gives me a chance to tell a couple of tales and make some more points that I think need to be made.

First, I am a hunter. Anything that is a threat to mine or me is fair game and will be taken out as appropriate. Other than that, I hunt for food and only for food. To me, sport hunter is a contradiction in terms, and my rules of language here keep me from describing such creatures in in appropriate language. Bottom line is, you hunt to look after your own, to keep them safe and well-fed.

These, along with one-shot one-kill, were the rules my Dad taught me and I respect them and the thought behind them. Dad taught marksmanship for the Corps, and he was a cheap bastard frugal, so one shot worked well for both views. I can't count the number of times it was pointed out to me that each shell cost a dime (or more as the years went by) and not to waste them. The whole idea was to put meat on the table for a lot less than buying it at the grocery store, because doing so allowed us to do a lot of other things and helped give me the education I would not have otherwise obtained.

Within this, we also hunted in areas where deer were overpopulated. Thinning the herds helped them, and man had to do it as there were no natural predators to do the job. With good management, the populations not only came down, but became healthier and otherwise improved. Our own take was often on the young end of the spectrum, as a spike buck tastes much nicer than a tough old 20-pointer, and a young doe is even better when they can be legally taken. The place we ended up hunting the most was a cousin's dairy farm, where deer did a large dollar value of damage each year, and we also were able to cut down on the number of black-and-white spotted deer (i.e. dairy cows, along with the occasional goat) shot by yuppies (usually out of Atlanta) from the road.

When shooting herbivores, even those who are predatory towards lawns and landscaping, it really does not matter quite as much which ones you shoot. When hunting predators, it does. If you take out the hyper-predatory members, you actually can encourage those that remain to turn to things beneficial to humans and the environment. If you take out the less aggressive members, you encourage hyper-predatory behavior which is a BAD THING for humans and the environment.

I will illustrate the point with a true story from the days before Rabun County became a yuppie paradise. There, many of the larger predators were hunted out, with the result that the remaining ones were quite aggressive. To the point that at least one started hunting humans in its range. I know this because it hunted my family, and Dad eventually had to go out at night and hunt it to ensure our safety. It took a few times of each stalking the other, but Dad did win out, though he almost hated to do it as he disliked what led to it and had more than a bit of respect for the mountain lion. Yes, there were large cats there, and they made an effort to come back in a few years ago, which sadly failed to the best of my knowledge. I admit to harboring some hope that they might thin the herd of yuppies to benefit the human species...

Which leads me back to those predatory herbivores and a story that makes me laugh every time I remember it. Within the environmental movement are a lot of loons that seem to feel that nature was great, a peaceful and beautiful place before humanity came along. Somehow they seem to miss that man is an animal too, and a part of the ecosystem... They also seem to somehow feel that all was at peace and the mice willingly leapt into the mouths of the cats, the antelope into the lion's jaws, the bison into the wolf's jaws, etc. The concept of nature as it is, red of tooth and claw, seems to escape them.

One day, this lady who had moved into a place not far from where Dad grew up came into the feed and seed store. She was gushing on and on about the beautiful deer, the wonderful deer, the beauty of nature, and more as she bought a large number of trees, plants, and flowers. I seem to recall that it was more than $1,000.00 she spent, and think it could even have been much higher. It was less than a week later that she was back, buying everything all over again along with fencing and other supplies. That day, it was those "damned deer!" instead, as the local deer had seen all the plants in the same light kids see free ice cream. Dad tried hard not to let his amusement show.

So, I hunt the way I do any good land management: to improve. I thin herds that need it and eat what I shoot. I hunt to protect. When hunting predators, I hunt to encourage behavior that benefits me and the greater community. Take the time to do likewise, for just random shooting of predators can do a lot more harm than good.

LW

Life Lessons From Renki

Also known as Friday Wolf Blogging or in this case "Lies, Vicious Lies!" Today's post comes courtesy of this one from That 1 Guy talking about the Chicago Blog Meet. Yep, that's me all right, snarling, biting, but not fetching. I leave the fetching to Renki (and to Reudi) out at Wolf Park. For example, we have this shot:

or this slightly more reflective shot:

No, I leave the fetching to the professionals. I do wish I could have pulled one of Renki's favorites on that blonde, however...

Glad to have you back posting T1G!

LW

Some Quick Thoughts On Coyotes (and Glenn Reynolds)

Recently, I saw this post by Glenn, to whom I guess we may have to start referring as the Coyote Blender instead. This follows on some interesting and fun in-person talks with Eric in regards foxes, coyotes, and wolves.

To my mind, there are three issues here deserving of consideration. There is no doubt that coyotes, along with any other predator, can be a nuisance if not an outright problem. They can and will come into cities, yards, and more, on the hunt, and will take what is available. Yet, the large populations cropping up also might bear some thought in terms of what it means about rat, mice, and other truly problematic critter populations.

First up for consideration is getting the "right" coyote. Yes, a coyote may get your pet or such, but if you go start shooting at random, how do you know you got the one who got your pet? While it is anthropomorphizing to the point of hyperbole, if someone kills a family member (which is how we tend to see pets), do you just go shoot a random person on the street and say "even"? How do you know that the coyote you shot did not force out the hyper-predatory one who did the deed, and was there actually keeping nasty things in check?

Second, think on this latter point a bit more. Out at Wolf Park recently, I heard someone talking on this very subject, and they recounted something that the man who founded the park espouses. In this case, a farmer was having coyote problems, but that he was convinced to try something a bit different. The farmer was taught some behaviors that allowed him to identify "bad" coyotes and eliminate them. According to the tale, this resulted in a coyote taking up residence that did not prey on livestock, but rather on rats, mice, ferret-analogs of the area, and other problems. By being there, that coyote kept others away (they are not pack in the same way as wolves), further reducing problems and tensions. This happy state lasted for many years. This tale I will list for now as apocryphal as I have not been able to get in touch with the teller for a citation, but it does show a way. What is needed is not necessarily random or de-populating killings, but intelligent management for all predatory/problematic populations.

Third, as with most things, some consideration should be given to the food chain. Coyotes multiply and spread not just because of readily available and plentiful food supplies. One wonders if they would be quite so populous and problematic if the Red Wolves had not been effectively exterminated and the few remaining driven off from the mountains and forests into one small section of Virginia swamp. One wonders the same about the Grey Wolf, for wolves tend to be that next step up the chain, and a limiting factor of sorts on the coyotes.

Just some food for thought for the day.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Just one today, but it is one I think you may like:

Enjoy your day.

LW

We Have Puppies!

If you check out the Wolf Park Photo(s) Of The Day you will learn that Erin appears to have had her puppies. Somewhere in the next few days there should be pictures, as the puppies will be brought out to be hand-raised. More on this soon.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging/Canon 20D/Sloan Workshop

I still don't have the time to do this justice, but allow me to enthusiastically recommend Monty's photo seminars to anyone interested in nature photography. I also am in heavy lust with the 20D, as it is a fantastic camera. The only problem I have with it is the autofocus, which may well be just a matter of my needing to read the manual and tweak some settings to better use and control it. Then again, Monty warned during the lecture part of the seminar that such could be a problem in doing nature/animal shots and that he tends to use manual a good bit. That is semi-problematic for me since things work just a bit differently from my Nikon FM/FM2, so in this case the photographer needs adjusting. More on this soon, but for now, enjoy!

It was indeed a day to howl...

No, that is not a friendly look at all. Had I given it to my mom when I was a teenager, I would have been in a LOT more trouble than is this young lady.

A much more attentive and happy face, looking for treats

Oh please, do you think I'm going to fall for that again? (yes, actually)

Some quiet time for reflection...

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Short and sweet today:

Who says wolves can climb trees? Ayla would beg to differ on that...

Tristan standing up for himself, or is that just standing up, period?

More soon, as I have signed up for the last spring photo seminar tomorrow. Meantime, go check out Monty's work and buy one of his cool shots.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

I have spent part of the afternoon getting software loaded onto the new computer, so that I can do my usual Friday wolf blogging. Given all, I have decided to try some tests to see how some things work in regards making the pictures as high a quality as possible whilst keeping them as small as possible.

Tristan does have a thing about sticking out his tongue, doesn't he? Not a bad shot in many ways, and now we shall see how the extreme method works in regards quality.

Here is a shot of Erin, wet and muddy, after she came out on the bad end of a disagreement with her two daughters. She was so muddy right after said disagreement that two of us did not recognize her at first. This is my middle road for image presentation

My, what a fuzzy rump you have. This is better side of one of the puppies exploring a new hollow log, and it is also the high-end of the three methods. May have to look for a better median here, but you be the judge.

More to come soon, esp. once I finish getting software loaded and tested. Meantime, don't forget that Wolf Park is going to be doing tours Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during April. This is something new and you really should check it out.

For better pictures, check out Wolf Park Picture(s) Of The Day and go check out Monty's site for the best in wolf and nature photography. Don't forget, there are only a couple more springtime Photo Seminars left.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Not sure how long I will have access, so will keep this short today. The shots were made last week at the Great Easter Egg Hunt, and I plan to post more soon. It is also a test of some software (thanks Chris!) that seriously reduces file size without impacting quality. Without further ado, we have:

Not sure if the tongue is out and licking chops in anticipation or not...

A puppy (Renki I believe) goes for an egg, but has a little trouble getting it out.

Erin goes for an egg.

More later, I hope. Maybe.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Today's post will be short and sweet, as things are very, very busy. So, for now I will let the wolves speak for themselves, as Ayla (I think) does here:

Here is a better shot of Chetan, beta male of the pack:

Finally, the terror, the terror:

The terror that the belly scratch and rub might stop... Ah yes, so mistreated, stressed out, and miserable. *snort*

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Some quick news to share this morning: Wolf Park will be opening on weekends in April. Normally the Park is closed until May, but they are trying something new, so come on out and visit before the weather gets hot. Also, don't forget the Easter Egg Hunt for the wolves coming up the 19th.

Here is my Friday Pic for you, one of the "puppies" playing with a "stick" that had been put in a place guaranteed to get their attention:

If you are ever looking for a very good nature photography seminar, look to Monty. Monty is invited around the world to talk and to photograph, and he shares a lot of what he has learned in these seminars. This is a shot of a recent group out and about getting some shots:

Enjoy the day!

LW

Wolf Park Open House

Okay, this is not quite Rusty's Blog Sabbath, but today is short and sweet as Saturday was a long day and a late night, and today is Open House at Wolf Park, from 1-4 p.m. Hope that some of you will come on out and enjoy the fun.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging: Open House

There is an Open House this Sunday at Wolf Park, from 1-4 p.m. Hope that some of you will come on out, maybe even for Howl Night on Saturday and the Open House on Sunday.

Here is my Friday Pic for you, one of the "puppies" unsure of Mom's mood:

For a picture (or three) a day, check out the Wolf Park Photo Of The Day (NOTE: Monty has up pictures from his recent trip to Yellowstone), and then go visit Monty's site to buy a picture or three.

Hope to see you Saturday night and Sunday!

LW

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.

Wolf Haven Update

I find this story both troubling and non-surprising. More may be coming out soon, and when it does, I will let you know.

Meantime, you can go here, here, and here for background on the problems at Wolf Haven.

LW

Not A Lot Today

I am tired, but very happy. Friday night was wonderful, and set the stage for an even better Saturday. A large kindness was shown me, and the net result was that I got to spend some time with a wolf that I like a lot, and was cleared to spend time with the main pack. Not only did I get to socialize with them before helping clean up, I was also given the chance to go in again later and spend more time with them. I had a great time with the adults and with the puppies, and thanks to some great training and guidance, was not considered a squeaky toy. Thank you Pat for all you did and do! Thank you Gale, for letting/helping me to get my hands dirty and learn so much. Thank you Dana, for letting me be a part of this and for Saturday morning fox time. Thank you Monty, for being so willing to share. Thanks to everyone out there, and especially to the interns and practicums, for putting up with me, sharing, and making me a part of this. It is wonderful, even the "aged" venison greetings.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Today is a bit rushed, the joys of work, but Monty Sloan has given me permission to share this with all of you:

Go on over and check out all his fine work, and maybe get something for your wall.

As for me, all I've gotten recently is a bit more of an inferiority complex. The Alpha Female, Erin, and Beta Male, Chetan, have continued to mate and hope is rising for the possibility of puppies this spring. What has me feeling so inadequate is the fact that while mating, the pair went through the ice into the lake. They made it out easily enough, and were still tied when they reached land. I think of what happens in just a cold shower...

Enjoy the day!

LW

UPDATE: Monty calls this picture "Tristan and the Doggles" in an e-mail to me, and I rather like that title. The only problem I have is that to me it sounds like the name of a bad 60s band. *Ringo/Rongo voice on*Man, have you heard Tristan and the Doggles? They're really it.*Ringo/Rongo voice off*

Wolves Are Indeed Cool!

I mentioned last Friday that I had a picture done by Monty Sloan up on my office wall. He has kindly added that image to his gallery of images for sale, and you can see it here. What can I say, wolves are cool.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

The wolves at Wolf Park get a lot of enrichment in their lives. A topic for discussion later, it is important to their health both physical and mental. Wolfball is but one of the many types of enrichment:

though it is an extremely photogenic one. If you like the low-res pictures I do here, you really do need to go check out the work of Monty Sloan. Those into photography will understand what it means when one photographer buys the work of another, and I have one of Monty's best on the wall in my office. So go check him out, and buy some good photos of some nice subjects.

The story I mentioned earlier in the week about how socializing helps the people at Wolf Park take good care of the wolves is a nice one. One of the older wolves developed an eye problem, and the vet prescribed eye drops, three times a day. With non-socialized wolves, this could mean sedation, special cages, or just laughter at the idea of even trying to get drops into the eye. In this case, the staff knew that the wolf in question liked cheese. So, they used cheese to distract and entertain the wolf while the drops were applied. This made for a very cooperative wolf, who was upset when the drops stopped because it meant the cheese stopped as well. The wolf asked for both, but settled for getting a regular cheese treat after that. :)

Enjoy the pictures here, enjoy the good pictures by Monty, and enjoy your day.

LW

Wolf Haven Update

The vet at Wolf Haven has come forward to present his side of the events. While I will await the report of the investigation to make judgement, I am extremely unhappy with what I am hearing. Please keep the wolves there in your thoughts, for it is for them that I fear.

LW

UPDATE: The director at the center of the controversy has resigned. It is still not over, not by a long shot, but there is now an opportunity to begin to move forward.

Wolf Haven Update

A newspaper has picked up the story and is now following it. My thanks to everyone who is sending me information, and I continue to follow this. Previous post is here.

LW

I Hope It Is Not True

This story has begun making the rounds of the wolf community and reached myself and others last night. The shock is hard to describe, as one of the best things my "Ex" ever did for me was get me involved with Wolf Haven. I have visited there, sponsored Cris -- one of their wolves -- for several years, and made other donations as well. I know the staff and volunteers to be eager and dedicated. This hit like a hammer blow.

Since this is a story from the Old Media, and the medium of same known for extreme sensationalism, I will not rush to judgement. Because this is a (fairly) new Executive Director, and politics may potentially be a factor, I will not rush to judgement. I am also having some trouble downloading the video, since the site referenced seems convinced no matter what I tell it that I want it as RM. Until I can view the video, and the report of the investigation is released, I will not rush to judgement. The statement issued by Wolf Haven does provide a different explanation of events.

That said, what is available is such that I am withdrawing my link to Wolf Haven from the Support Your Local Wolf section and suspending all support until the investigation is complete. I recommend this to others as well, for if they are cleared completely and fully, then support should be reinstated immediately.

If these charges are found to be true, then those responsible need to resign and be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Period.

If this turns out to be the "non-story" claimed by Wolf Haven, and the result of internal politics or other malicious action, then those responsible need to resign, and face the fullest course of legal action. Period.

If this is an honest disagreement over the proper course of care for an animal, then all those involved need to communicate and to understand that it is not about them, but the wolves. Period.

I will be keeping an eye on this story, and will update as I learn more. The more I learn about wolves, and the way things are done at Wolf Park, the happier I am to be a volunteer there. Because they are socialized, the wolves can be given care not otherwise available. If someone reminds me, I will tell the story this Friday of how a wolf's love of cheese helped save their eyesight.

LW

Friday Wolf Blogging

Today you get a two-fer, as I just could not resist. First up is this shot of the wolves playing with a ball out on the ice. Yes, that is ice over a lake, and the wolves love the flat surface for games and more. They also like that it allows them to take shortcuts between different parts of their domain.

This second shot is of Basil, the fox, and the Unknown Intern. Yes, I know who it is, but they are bundled up so much it reminded me of the Unknown Comic of years past.

In the comments to this post, we got off into the start of a discussion on the benefits of wolf re-introduction. I am going to just summarize a bit here, and plan to write more on this one day soon.

The short version is that when wolves were re-introduced to Yellowstone (and other areas), they did indeed prey on the Elk, along with some other animals. The Elk herds did suffer losses, but also grew healthier in the process. As the Elk herds went down, Aspen began a resurgence, leading to re-forestation. With that came the return of birds and other species that had been driven out. With them came other animals, leading to a more balanced ecosystem. I want to cite some of the papers done on this as it is quite an interesting story. One other thing going on that does not get a lot of attention is the resurgence of herd protection dogs (Hi Sophie!), as having them can and does cut down on farm predation by wolves, coyotes, big cats, and other critters -- including dogs. Another fascinating story to go into in more detail one day soon.

Enjoy!

LW

Great News To Start The Day

Momma Bear just gave me a heads-up on some great news for wolves. This is one of those areas where I strongly disagree with the Administration, and I am so glad this judge called them on jerrymandering. This is not an effort to block the rival party and prevent any third parties from gaining a foothold; no, this was an effort to destroy a population. Remind me one day to talk about all the benefits that wolves can and do bring through re-introduction. Still wish this story had been true, as I think yet more benefits would have resulted.

LW
doing a very happy wolf dance

Friday Wolf Blogging

The weather is cold, but the sun is shining. What's a wolf to do?

Why nap, of course, on fresh bedding placed out in the sun. It is a wolf's delight, and not a bad way to spend a quiet hour. Made me want to do the same, truth be told. Don't forget, if you are in or near (within 3 or so hours of) Lafayette, Indiana, come on out to Wolf Park for the Saturday night Howl Night this weekend.

LW

What A Day!

Speaking strictly for myself,Winter Wolves was a nice success! Despite the weather, we had a fair turnout though I suspect some did stay away. After all, the television was full of dire warnings and predictions, but they did not seem to match reality. Wonder if it was yet another case of the models being right and the Earth being wrong... Other than some back roads I took, there were no problems though I did discover the racing tires, while technically snow rated, are not truly snow and ice rated. Took the turns carefully, and made it over in very good time.

Now, I am not saying it was a balmy day, just that I was well dressed and prepared for it, up to and including two containers of fresh coffee. The sad part is, I stayed out and so busy, I didn't get to drink much of it nor did anyone else.

We had multiple tours:

The wolves put on some good displays all day, from napping in the snow

to demonstrating the proper way to eat venison

to some "play" behavior that says a lot about social dynamics

and to having several show that Snoopy gets it naturally

The bison also appeared to enjoy the day and, unlike many of the human visitors, the weather.

Some of the puppies also managed to give me a good laugh. Off camera, for the most part, is a child of between 8-10 (I think) who was delighted that the pretty wolves were right there and following them down the fence. The delight I leave to you to imagine. Now, look at those faces. Think of the store, and shoppers sizing up chickens at the meat counter. Nuff said.

Now, being new and very well dressed for the weather, I spent almost all day outside helping with tours and such. Until the very end of the day, I had no problems with temperature or wind. I cheated with a special under layer that protected the chest area, and in fact made it hard for me to stay inside for more than a couple of minutes. Break my heart, I had to spend all day walking around, answering question, and watching the wildlife.

The only dissapointment of the day was that Wild Bill, the extremely elderly coyote in residence, let the staff know yesterday morning that he was not feeling well. As a result, he found himself off to the vet and missing the festivities. He is 17, which is considerably well beyond the 5 or so years that I am told is average for local wild coyotes, and I got to start "meeting" him a bit last week. Being a volunteer does not automatically get you anything, except a chance to work and learn and prove yourself. Part of process is being slowly introduced to the various residents, how to interact with them, and more. If you are lucky and good, you do eventually get to go in with some of them -- usually to pick up things with tongs and put them in plastic buckets. While I was not allowed inside, Bill came up to where I was standing outside and introduced himself/checked me out a bit. His vision is not what it used to be, but he sniffed me over and it was a very surprising and pleasant meeting.

Last night, however, brought me a very unexpected treat. I was taken inside the fox enclosure and introduced in person to the residents. Well, at least to one as the others take a little longer to decide you are okay. Basil, our "Platinum Blond" fox is not terribly shy at all, and as part of the fox lecture and demo at Howl Night, I was inside. I've been learning about them and the demo, and so -- to my surprise -- became a part of it last night. Basil spent time being scratched and meeting me, on my back walking around as I bent over, and I was even "kissed" on the mouth in a surprise move. The three of us being trained last night at one point bent over so that he could walk around over all our backs and show off a bit.

The wolves were very vocal last night, and the sing along a lot of fun despite the cold. The pack made lots of visits, and demonstrated a number of points for the audience. They don't always cooperate so well, but I think in some ways that they were having a good time too.

If you did not come out, you missed it. If you did, I hope you had as great a time as I (we) did with it.

LW

« ...hunt's ended

Friday Wolfblogging

Winter Wolves is this weekend, snow or shine, so come on out. Meantime, here is a photo of Marion The Barbarian to keep you warm and to entice you on out to visit:

Also, to give you an idea of how fast the temperature dropped in the last storm, here is a picture of the rain spout outside the lair:

I am adjusting and now have farmer's boots, snow pants, and am eyeing a few other new purchases to deal with the weather. Good timing too, since most of the stores are now doing clearance sale on winter clothes, long sleeve shirts, and the like. Being cheap, I can deal with that.

Enjoy your weekend!

LW

Second Annual Winter Wolves!

Would you like a chance to see wolves during the time of year when they are very active? Would you like to learn about the plants, animals, and insects of winter? Learn some basic tracking skills? If you have a strong stomach, learn how a roadkill deer is butchered? Sing with the wolves later in the evening?

If so, Wolf Park has the perfect treat for you next Saturday, 22 January. Ran or shine, snow or cold, Winter Wolves will offer a unique chance to see and learn as the wolves head into their breeding season. This is a great time of year to visit, and see a variety of behaviors and learn about the winter world. The price is quite nice too, and you can do both events, Winter Wolves and the Howl Night for far less per person than the cost of going to the movies. Trust me, the entertainment is quite probably a LOT better than going to the movies, and you can actually learn as you have fun.

Hope to see you there.

LW

Friday Wolfblogging

Running late, so not a lot to say but:

and

LW

My Night To Howl

I treated myself last night and made the drive to Wolf Park to take part in a "Howl Night." This is something they do most Saturday nights and made for a wonderful evening.

It started at the fox enclosure, with a discussion about foxes. They have several there, including one that someone had rescued from a fur farm and tried to keep as a pet. This led to some great information about foxes, including why they don't make good pets. Some 42 scent glands around the body are a start, particularly those that give off a musk reminiscent of skunk. They are climbers and will climb everywhere. Despite being a canid, they share a number of traits with felines, including the climbing, slit pupils, and the way they walk. If you think cats are bad about climbing and getting into things... They also cache food, and remember precisely where they put it. If you find and remove a smelly, squishy cache from the sofa cushions, they can and will come back to it and upon not finding it commence to dig. If you move it even a few feet away, they will dig and not find it, even though they can smell it, because they are going from memory, not scent or eyesight.

Then we went for the main festivities, the wolves. From where we were, we could see a number of the pack and as it turns out they were the pups. Of course, these pups are almost grown and look almost like adults even if they don't act like them. The Park socializes the wolves, raising them with people so that they are tame -- not domesticated. This helps with some of the interactions required for research and study, but does not mean they are safe. We had a nice lady tell us about the wolves, lots of good and fun information. Then, she did wolf calls, and got them to singing, and then did some coyote calls to show the difference. Coyotes are wild in the midwest, and you do hear them and some people do call them wolves, though they are not.

At this point, we all got to join in and had our first sing-along. Wolf calls can be broken down to solo, duet, and chorus, and we had a good chorus going.

Then, the lady who had been doing it and the lady who had given me my tour last time went into the pack enclosure to interact and teach. Note the two: the wolves are tame/semi-tame, and not domesticated. Two people for safety, a very good idea.

The wolves are fed road-kill deer, and some discussion of food brought out a question about coons. No, the wolves don't see coon as a delicacy. It seems that on occasion, a coon or other critter will for some reason climb or otherwise get by the fence and come into the pack enclosure. As it was put to us, "This is not a good career move." Such critters usually don't make it far, but rarely are eaten as "Once the squeaky toy is broken, it's just not fun anymore."

We had a good laugh when they went into the enclosure, as the ladies were mobbed by the puppies. The one who gave me my tour was almost swamped by happy, eager puppies. They knew she had treats, and one was fascinated by the wireless microphone set-up and spent considerable time and effort in games designed to get it and carry it off for further examination. When they behaved and asked properly, they were given treats of pig ears, and later some dog treats too.

It was fun to watch the play and the interaction, though I spent some time distracted watching one pup play with the photographer who was also inside, and then get up onto a large stump and play. He (she?) came back up to the front to say hello to everyone with a face covered in snow.

At one point, we were lucky enough to have the entire pack present. I think I have been mistaken on the photo I've been posting, as that may be the beta male instead of the alpha. No matter, I will learn in time as I have turned in my application to be a volunteer there. Not sure how much time I will have to give them, but plan on as much as I can. The place is interesting on many levels, from the research being done to the fact that the interns (and staff maybe even) come from all over the world. Neat, neat, place. In fact, I am now going to ditch all Burns Day activities so that I can be there for Winter Wolves on the 22nd.

I stayed late again, talking and being given another book to read on the spot. More on it later, as it is a scream. I have a balloon, do you have a balloon? I may even try to take the video camera next time, and share a bit of the music with you if all works out. No guarantees, but will try.

LW