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Redding, CT

A Wild Experience at Wolf Conservation Center

I was planning a day out today with the family and got lucky, managing to book us on to The Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) program. I had wanted to visit previously, but always left it too late - the programs fill up very quickly. We were booked onto the Wolf Tails for Kids - Mythology of a Predator, which started at 2pm. The WCC is located in South Salem NY, so it was an easy 25 minute drive from New Canaan.

We sat in a cabin and our guide, Alex taught us about the relationship between the wolves and humans of the past. We listened to various wolf mythologies - some portraying wolves as loyal to humans, and others as evil. We learned there are no wolves living in Australia, South America or the Antarctic. Also the numbers of red and grey wolves have greatly depleted. Presently there are only approximately 400 Mexican gray wolves and 300 red wolves remaining in the world.

It was then time to go and visit the four Ambassador wolves - Atka, Alawa, Zephyr and Nikai. Before we headed up the path, Alex told us we would need to make our approach heard. Our group was quite large, so to give the wolves an idea of numbers we were asked to howl as a group so they could sense numbers. We did this twice with one of the Ambassadors responding, as if to say "OK, it's cool bring the group up." When we reached the enclosure, inside stood beautiful Zephyr (black) Alawa (brown and gray) and Nikai (tan and gray), who were eagerly awaiting the food they knew was coming. A third wolf - Nikai was the youngest of the pack at only eight months, was a little more cautious. Our group asked questions, took pictures and Alex threw in chunks of venison. The wolves were used to humans but in no way were they domesticated so fingers were kept away from the fence.

We moved on the an different enclosure where Atka (sable) had chosen to live alone. He was the wolf teacher and only Ambassador who could travel. But being 12-years of age, road trips are now being kept to a minimum. We asked about the weather - this December being so much warmer than the last. Alex pointed out Atka's 'snow shoes' - his long, large feet, and his thick fur - to keep him warm in temperatures as low as minus 70° Fahrenheit. Extreme cold conditions are not a problem for these animals.

A third enclosure housed the red wolves. Rarely spotted, we were lucky enough to see a male.

it was a very special way to spend a couple of hours, learn valuable information, support the center, and get close to these magnificent animals. Following are a list of programs offered by the WCC - you need to register in advance for all of them:

DAYTIME PROGRAMS:

* Photo Sessions run 2 hours and lecture lengths vary.

EVENING PROGRAMS:

Don't hesitate in booking up! It's a really rewarding experience.

More about the WCC.

The Wolf Conservation Center (WCC), founded in 1999 by Hélène Grimaud, is a private, not-for-profit environmental education organization located in South Salem, NY. The WCC’s mission is to promote wolf conservation by teaching about wolves, their relationship to the environment, and the human role in protecting their future. The WCC accomplishes this mission through onsite and offsite education programs emphasizing wolf biology, the ecological benefits of wolves and other large predators, and the current status of wolf recovery in the United States.

The WCC also participates in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) and Recovery Plan for two critically endangered wolf species, the Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) and the red wolf (Canis rufus). The Mexican gray wolf and the red wolf are among the rarest mammals in North America, both species at one time were completely extinct in the wild. Presently there are approximately 400 Mexican gray wolves and 300 red wolves remaining in the world, the majority living within the network of facilities like the WCC participating in the SSP. Every one of these endangered wolves in captivity is a part of something bigger than their pack and the facilities that house them. These special canids are integral parts of the recovery of their rare species. Many of these wolves contribute as ambassadors, living on view at a variety of zoos throughout the United States to help people learn about the importance of their wild counterparts. The WCC's 2 SSP exhibits offers visitors to the Center an opportunity to behold these species and our 8 WildEarthTV webcams extend 4 wolf families to a global audience. Some of these education wolves can also contribute to the revitalization of their species more directly as participants of the SSP Wolf Captive Breeding program. A special faction of captive wolves, however, can have the most direct impact on the conservation of their species as well as their ancestral habitat in the wilds of North America. These wolves are candidates for release into the wild. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), under the Endangered Species Act, is re-introducing Mexican gray wolves and red wolves to portions of their historic range, and 2 wolves from the WCC have been given this greatest opportunity - a chance to bring an ecosystem back to balance.

Looking forward, the WCC aims to become the pre-eminent facility in the Eastern United States for the captive breeding and pre-release of endangered canid species, and to continue expanding our education and outreach programs to communities far beyond the gates of our facility.

Image: Alawa and Zepher

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Submitted by Redding, CT

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