A PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER SPRING … · 2015-03-26 · Wolf Center Notes From Home 13 Tracking the Pack 14 Wolves and Wild Lands 16 Wolves of the World 20 Personal

A PUBL ICAT ION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTERSPR ING 2007

2 As a Matter of Fact

3 From the Executive Director

10 International Wolf Center Notes From Home

13 Tracking the Pack

14 Wolves and Wild Lands

16 Wolves of the World

20 Personal Encounter

23 Wild Kids

24 A Look Beyond

Features

THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER VOLUME 17, NO. 1 SPRING 2007

On The CoverTwo captive wolf pups play near a pondin Kalispell, Montana.

Photo by Leo and Dorothy Keeler.

Leo and Dorothy Keeler have specializedin working with wild eagles, wolves andbears since 1989 but occasionally photo-graph captive animals when needed toencourage conservation. See more oftheir work at www.akwildlife.com.

Departments

Kelly

God

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Visitors in Gray: HabituatedWolves in Europe

Whatever attitude people have toward wolves, most believethat they will avoid civilization and humans. But, in fact, thespecies has an amazing ability to adapt to changing condi-tions in its environment, including to urban areas. In thepast few years there have been cases of human-habituatedwolves in Romania, Italy and other European countries.

F l o r i a n W e t z e l

Wolf Conservation in theGreat Lakes States After

Federal DelistingOn March 27, 2006, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceannounced the beginning of a delisting process for gray wolves in the Great Lakes region. The departmentsof natural resources in Minnesota, Wisconsin andMichigan have been preparing for delisting for a longtime. What will delisting do to wolves in the region?

A d r i a n P . W y d e v e n

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Publications DirectorMary Ortiz

Graphics CoordinatorCarissa L.W. Knaack

Consulting EditorMary Keirstead

Technical Editor L. David Mech

Graphic DesignerTricia Austin

International Wolf (1089-683X) is publishedquarterly and copyrighted, 2007, by theInternational Wolf Center, 12615 Co.Road 9,Minneapolis, MN 55441, USA. e-mail: [email protected]. All rightsreserved.

Publications agreement no. 1536338

Membership in the International WolfCenter includes a subscription toInternational Wolf magazine, free admissionto the Center, and discounts on programsand merchandise. • Lone Wolf membershipsare U.S. $35 • Wolf Pack $60 • WolfAssociate $125 • Wolf Sponsor $500 • Alpha Wolf $1000. Canada and othercountries, add U.S. $15 per year for airmailpostage, $7 for surface postage. Contact theInternational Wolf Center, 1396 Highway169, Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA; e-mail:[email protected]; phone: 1-800-ELY-WOLF

International Wolf is a forum for airingfacts, ideas and attitudes about wolf-relatedissues. Articles and materials printed inInternational Wolf do not necessarily reflectthe viewpoint of the International WolfCenter or its board of directors.

International Wolf welcomes submissions ofpersonal adventures with wolves and wolfphotographs. Prior to submission of othertypes of manuscripts, address queries toMary Ortiz, publications director.

International Wolf is printed entirely withsoy ink on recycled and recyclable paper (text pages contain 20% post-consumerwaste, cover paper contains 10% post-consumer waste). We encourage you to recycle this magazine.

PHOTOS: Unless otherwise noted, or obvious from the caption or article text,photos are of captive wolves.

2 S p r i n g 2 0 0 7 w w w . w o l f . o r g

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Question: What is the prey of wolves in Riding Mountain National Park in Canada?

Answer: Wolves in Riding Mountain National Park prey on avariety of species. Elk, moose, whitetail deer, snowshoe hare andbeaver all inhabit this diverse island of forest in south-centralManitoba, Canada. �

Awaiting the Next Campaign

On my voice mail was a message left by an outdoor writer living in Oregon. He

was eager to find out whether the fragment of a story he had heard on the radio

about someone recently killed by a wolf in the lower 48 states was true. Since

I had heard nothing about a wolf killing from my usual trustworthy sources, before I

returned his call, I took time to Google the news to see if such a story was in print. While

some interesting articles came up from my search words, including information on Wolf

Blitzer and a variety of horror films (this being the end of October), I found nothing about

a human recently killed by wolves.

When I returned the call, the writer’s voice held noticeable disappointment as I

conveyed the empty results of my search. We exchanged pleasantries and

ended our conversation, but what lingered for me was that disappoint-

ment in his voice. An inner voice told me belatedly that I should have dug

deeper while we were talking to better understand his perspectives.

While his motives may not have been sinister, the conversation

we had reminded me that there undoubtedly will be a tidal wave of

bad publicity around the country if such a death occurs. And in this

current environment where campaign commercials flood the airwaves,

we are reminded about the prevalence of distortion in the information

we receive and how we must maintain a healthy dose of skepticism.

I also suspect that those who have been against wolf recovery will take

advantage of the situation to play “gotcha” and make every attempt to paint a dire

picture of our future with wolves on the landscape.

This reinforces our efforts as an organization to deliver the most accurate, objective

information possible and to be prepared when the distortions hit the media.

While anyone familiar with wolves knows the likelihood of a wolf attack is

extremely remote, no one can predict how a wild creature will respond, and that

certainly goes for wolves. And if we suggest with certainty that an attack will never

occur, we undermine the credibility of those who speak on behalf of wolves and efforts

to support wolf recovery. The fact is we live in a world filled with risks regardless

of whether we venture into the wilds or live in a metropolis.

The best reality check about the threat posed by wolves is the Minnesota example.

Amid the heart of this state’s wolf population (the largest in the lower 48, with some

3,000 wolves), people have lived, worked and recreated decade after decade. And out

of the millions of visitors to Minnesota’s wolf country, no one has failed because of

wolves to return safe and sound. �

From the Executive DirectorINTERNATIONAL

WOLF CENTER

BOARD OF DIRECTORSNancy jo Tubbs

Chair

Dr. L. David MechVice Chair

Dr. Rolf O. PetersonSecretary

Paul B. AndersonTreasurer

Dr. Larry AndersonCree BradleyTom Dwight

Nancy Gibson Hélène Grimaud

Jim HammillCornelia "Neil" Hutt

Dean JohnsonLinda LemkeDania Miwa

Mike PhillipsKristy Raines

Debbie ReynoldsJerry Sanders

Karen SaulPaul Schurke

Paul SlettenTed SpauldingTeri Williams

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Walter M. Medwid

MISSION

The International WolfCenter advances the survival

of wolf populations byteaching about wolves, their

relationship to wild lands andthe human role in their future.

Educational services and informational resources

are available at:

1396 Highway 169Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA

1-800-ELY-WOLF1-218-365-4695

e-mail address:[email protected]

Web site: http://www.wolf.org

I n t e r n a t i o n a l W o l f S p r i n g 2 0 0 7 3

Walter Medwid


On March 27, 2006, the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS) announced the

beginning of a delisting process forgray wolves in the Great Lakesregion. The population of wolvesbeing delisted is the Western GreatLakes Distinct Population Segment(WGLDPS), and the area includesMichigan, Wisconsin and Minnesotaas well as portions of Ohio, Indiana,Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota andNorth Dakota (see map). Wolves livemainly in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin; in late winter 2006the population was estimated atabout 4,000 wolves, of which three-quarters live in Minnesota. Thedelisting is expected to be completedin early 2007, and by the time thisarticle is published the delistingprocess may have been completed.

Minnesota’s wolf population wasdownlisted from endangered tothreatened status in 1978, at a timewhen reclassifications were donestate by state. Since the mid-1990s,the USFWS has reclassified verte-brate populations only by distinctpopulation segments (DPS). (A DPSis a discrete and significant popula-tion.) In 2003, wolves in Wisconsinand Michigan, along with those inother states in the region, weredownlisted to threatened as part ofthe Eastern Gray Wolf DPS. In 2004,the USFWS started a delistingprocess for the Eastern DPS, but a2005 federal court decision inOregon overturned the 2003 down-M

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Wolf Conservation in the Great Lakes States

After Federal

Wolf Conservation in the Great Lakes States

After Federal


listing and caused abandonment ofthe delisting effort for that popula-tion segment (see Ron Refsnider,“Gray Wolf Reclassification Derailed,Delisting in Eastern United StatesDelayed,” International Wolf, Winter2005). The new delisting attempt in 2006 reduced the size of the DPSto more of the immediate area wherewolves had recovered.

So what will delisting do to wolvesin the region? Is it likely to halt wolfrecovery and leave wolves unpro-tected? Will it halt population growthor cause wolf numbers to decline? Howwill the states deal with wolf conser-vation after delisting?

The depart-ments of natural re-sources in the threestates have beenpreparing for even-tual delisting for along time. Wisconsindeveloped a staterecovery plan in1989, and a statemanagement planin 1999. Michigandeveloped a state re-covery and manage-ment plan in 1997and is currentlyupdating the man-a g e m e n t p l a n .Minnesota developeda management planin 2001.

A summary of some of the simi-larities and differences between thestate management plans is listed intable 1. In general all plans showstrong commitments to long-termwolf conservation, and all planscontain minimum state populationgoals well above the minimumfederal recovery and delistinggoals. Wisconsin and Michigan arecommitted to maintaining at least450 wolves between the two states,four and a half times greater than the federal delisting goal for thesestates. The late winter 2006 countwas 465 to 502 in Wisconsin, and

434 in Michigan, for a combinedcount of about 900 wolves, ninetimes the federal delisting goals.

The Wisconsin plan is the onlyone with a management goal for thepopulation, which is 350 wolvesoutside Indian reservations. In 2006,at least 449 wolves occurred outsideIndian reservations; thus, the popula-tion was 99 wolves above the goal.Following federal delisting the statewould use a combination of proactivetrapping by government trappers,landowner controls, and possiblypublic harvest to bring the populationclose to 350.

Control of depre-dating wolves willb e h a n d l e d i nsimilar fashionacross the region.All three states willprovide governmenttrappers to trap and euthanize veri-fied depredators atsites where attackshave occurred, andall will providepayments for loss of livestock. OnlyWisconsin will alsopay for wolf depre-dat ion on dogs.Problem wolves willgenerally be eutha-nized because suit-able unoccupiedwolf habitat intowhich wolves can

MINNESOTA

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Distinct PopulationSegmentCurrent wolf rangeWestern Great Lakes Distinct

Population Segment

DelistingDelisting


for wolves to disperse into areas ofhigh farm abundance. The number offarms with wolf depredation grew to99 in Minnesota in 1998 but declinedthereafter and has been between 53and 67 farms in recent years. InWisconsin farms with wolf depreda-tions grew from 5 in 2001 to 25 in2005. By the mid-2000s Wisconsin,with 335 to 465 wolves, had similarrates of depredation on livestock asMinnesota did in the early 1980s,when that state had 1,300 to 1,400wolves. As wolves spread into agri-cultural areas of central and southernWisconsin, there will be greater

need to apply intense control onwolves near farm areas.

The states do differ in use of zones.Minnesota has two zones: Zone Awhere wolves would be encouraged,and Zone B where more liberalcontrols would be applied to problemand nuisance wolves. These controlswould probably allow wolf numbersin Zone A to fluctuate more naturallybut would reduce wolf numbers inZone B and near agricultural areas.Wisconsin has a four-zone system:Zones 1 and 2 are areas where wolvesare most encouraged but are geo-graphically separated from each other.

be translocated no longer exists inthe region. Landowner control ofwolves would a lso be allowed inWisconsin and Minnesota, but is notincluded in the current plan forMichigan. Additionally Minnesota’splan incorporates a state-certifiedpredator control ler program,whereby private individuals would becertified to control problem wolvesup to one mile from lands where wolfattacks have occurred and would becompensated by the DNR for removalof problem animals. Although somehave tried to characterize this controlas a bounty system, the high levels of control and restrictions in thisprogram make it totally unlike thegeneral bounties that caused wolvesto decline in this region earlier. Thosebounties were payments made forkilling any wolf anywhere anytime.

Minnesota and Wisconsin prob-ably have more aggressive controlprograms than Michigan for problemwolves because of high depredationlosses, high occurrence of farms near wolf range, and the potential

TA B L E 1 . State management plans for wolves in the western Great Lakes statesManagement activities and goals Michigan Minnesota Wisconsin

Federal delisting goal 100 with Wisconsin 1,250–1,400 100 with Michigan for 5 years or more for 5 years or more

Minimum state goal 200 for 5+ years 1,600 250*

Management goal None currently None 350*

Public harvest Not addressed Possible 5 years Possible if more than 350*after federal delisting

Control by landowners? Not currently Yes Yes

Lethal controls by government trappers on verified depredators? Yes Yes Yes

Proactive controls by government trappers? No Some Yes

Controls by certified trappers? No Yes No

Payments for livestock? Yes Yes Yes

Payments for dogs killed? No No Yes

Population estimations Annually Every 5 years Annually

Management zones 1 2 4

*Total number of wolves outside Indian reservations, which is 2–6 percent less than statewide wolf count

Slightly lower wolf numbers and morestabilized wolf range will not in any wayendanger wolves in the region. The wolf

population in the western Great Lakesregion is viable and healthy.


The states’ plans will likely cause wolfpopulations to stabilize in the region

and perhaps cause some minor declines,especially near agricultural areas.

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Zone 3 is marginal habitat in whichwolves would be more readily con-trolled, and Zone 4 is highly urbanand agricultural areas where wolveswould be discouraged. Michigan doesnot have a zone system, but nearly all wolves occur in the UpperPeninsula, which is separated from themore agricultural and urban LowerPeninsula by the Great Lakes.

The states also differ in the pro-cess for approval of managementplans. In Minnesota the plan requiredlegislative approval. The Michiganplan required approval by the DNRdirector. The Wisconsin planrequired approval by the WisconsinNatural Resources Board (statecommission), but if public harvestsare considered, legislative approvalwill be required.

So what will be the effects of theseplans on wolves in the region? Theplans will likely cause wolf popula-tions to stabilize in the region andperhaps cause some minor declines,especially near agricultural areas.Wolf distribution will probably stabi-lize and may shrink somewhat nearagricultural regions. The Minnesotawolf population has already stabi-lized in its distribution to mainlyheavily forested areas, probably dueto lack of suitable habitat outsideforests, higher mortality, and perhapssome impact from control programs.

Slightly lower wolf numbers andmore stabilized wolf range will not in any way endanger wolves in theregion. The wolf population in thewestern Great Lakes region is viableand healthy. Along with high levels ofconnectivity among the three states,this population is also well connected

to the Canadian population of graywolves. The greater intensity ofmanagement of wolves allowed in the three states following delistingwill improve local support for wolfmanagement, which ultimately willdetermine how many wolves theregion can hold. �

Adrian Wydeven is a mammal ecologistfor the Wisconsin Department of NaturalResources in Park Falls, Wisconsin, andhas led work on wolf management andrecovery for Wisconsin since 1990.


Wolves searching for food inyards and crossing roadjunctions? These wolf

sightings are hard to imagine, espe-cially in Europe. The wolf in Europeis, on the one hand, seen as a symbolof wilderness, of freedom and un-tamed nature. On the other hand,many people still fear wolves, and inmany European tales the wolf is the evil antagonist, the man-eatingbeast. When wolves broke out of anenclosure in Germany in 2002,worried mothers wrote: “Aren’t thereenough dangers for our children?Everywhere you have to be in fear ofthe wolves. . . . Restore our forests tothe state we once liked.” A study con-ducted in Southern France revealed

that a remarkable proportion of theinterviewed people said that theywould be afraid to hike in woodswhere wolves are present. However,many people in European countriesstrongly support wolves and theirreintroduction.

Whatever attitude people havetoward wolves, most believe that theywill avoid civilization and humans.But, in fact, the species has anamazing ability to adapt, throughlearning, to changing conditions in its environment, including to urbanareas. This so-called ethological plas-ticity is the primary precondition forwolves using urban areas as habitat:through learning processes like habit-uation a wolf can adapt its responses

to specific, civilization-dependentstimuli. The wolf’s fearful response tostimuli, like streets, vehicles or build-ings, will gradually wane. At the endof the habituation process the wolfwill show less or even no avoidancebehavior toward humans.

The basic prerequisite for habitua-tion of wolves to an area or stimulusformerly avoided by them is that nonegative consequences be connectedwith the specific stimuli. If wolves are persecuted, they keep on avoidinghumans, as a result of learning, ornegative conditioning. They associatehumans with danger.

How fast habituation takes placediffers in different circumstances.Wolves in the High Arctic, for

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Habituated Wolves in Europeb y F L O R I A N W E T Z E L


and fluctuates little, and food ismostly attainable without great expen-diture of energy. Wildlife species, like habituated deer and rabbits, areone important source. Additionally,domestic animals like dogs or cats area further potential food source forwolves. Another important food supplyis garbage. For a wolf population inItaly, 60 to 70 percent of the total foodintake consisted of garbage. Wolvesare attracted by these food sources andbegin to connect positive conse-quences with them, which is onereason why wolves are moving intosuburban and urban areas in Europe.

In the past few years there havebeen cases of human-habituatedwolves in Romania, Italy and otherEuropean countries. In Italy, forexample, wolves moved several timesinto a city with 30,000 inhabitants.Another wolf was observed on hisway through the middle of an Italianvillage, where he passed a tenniscourt, traveled along an empty swim-ming pool and then crossed a streetused by many pedestrians during the day. In Germany, wolves havemoved into a military training areaand have become habituated to thefiring of the soldiers’ guns.

The most famous case of a habitu-ated wolf in Europe took place in

Brasov, a Romanian town with about300,000 inhabitants. In the course ofa research project a female wolf wasradio-tracked on her way through thetown in the evening hours. Shecrossed streets with heavy traffic, ranthrough housing estates and passedparked cars without showing anysign of shyness toward these stimuli.

In Europe, where wolf populationsare gradually increasing in most countries, the number of human-habituated animals will also increase.The wolf is widely protected bynational laws, and expanding sub-urban and urban areas provide suffi-cient prey for wolves. In the absenceof persecution and given the presenceof suitable resources, wolves willmove into these urban areas. The chal-lenge for the inhabitants of civilizedareas is to recognize that the wolf is no“beast in the garden” and no lostroamer of snowy hills but an animalwith an amazing ability to adapt. �

Florian Wetzel received a M.Sc. inecology from the Technical University ofMunich in Germany. His master’s thesisis about the habituation of wolves to civi-lization-dependent stimuli. He is now aPh.D. candidate at the Konrad LorenzInstitute for Ethology in Vienna, Austria.

example, became habituated toresearchers within several weeks; inother areas habituation took severalmonths. Also the intensity of thestimulus matters; the higher theintensity of the stimulus, the longerthe process takes.

Habituation also varies amongindividual animals. Some wolveshabituate faster to the stimuli of civi-lization than others; some habituateonly after a longer period of learning,and some never habituate at all.

Habituation to humans can affectthe survival of an individual. Becausethe wolf that does not respond to astimulus saves energy, habituation canlead to an advantage in competitionwith other wolves. The saved energycan be invested in other, essentialbehavior such as reproduction.

Thus, areas developed by humanscan become usable habitat for wolves.Wolves require the adequate presenceof certain essential ecological factorsin their environment, such as foodand shelter, whether that environ-ment is wilderness or an urban area. A wolf can raise pups in a den in a remote area or in an abandonedbuilding, as a female wolf did in Italy.

Habituated animals can find newfood sources in urban landscapes. Thefood supply in urban areas is plentiful

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Through learning processes like habituation a wolf canadapt its responses to specific, civilization-dependent

stimuli. The wolf’s fearful response to stimuli, like streets,vehicles or buildings, will gradually wane.


Do you remember thecover of the fall 2006

issue of International Wolf,the image of the beau-

tiful wolf mask? Myfirst contribution tothe magazine ascommunicationsintern was toa s s i s t B a r bSimanton andMatt Stowell indelivering themask to a profes-

sional photogra-pher. I am from the

south of France andlive near both the

Mediterranean Sea andthe Italian border. Thismask reminds me of Venice,the Italian city that is wellknown for its carnival, itsextravagant costumes andcolorful masks. Loup is theFrench word for “wolf” andalso the name for Venetiantraditional masks.

If you try to imagine theatmosphere of Venice, themagnificent city also called“Serenissima,” with all itslavishly costumed charac-ters, then you might feel asif you were in a magicalplace where there is notime. That is exactly what Ifelt when I first came to theUnited States for my five-month internship at theInternational Wolf Center.Everything seems to bebigger—houses, buildings,cars—and the habits arevery different, especially

those regarding food andwork. I realized that myteachers in France wereright: smile and have a posi-tive attitude! I had to adapt,tame and explore!

What I experienced wasa time for self-reflection andaction. After five months atthe Center, I have learnedhow to talk about wolvesand other wildlife that I had never seen or experi-enced before. I also learnedhow to work with a team ofenthusiastic people in theTwin Cities office. I was ableto play my role among aCarnival of Animals, to referto Saint-Saëns’ belovedmasterpiece.

I am very grateful to myco-workers for welcomingme so warmly and for givingme so many opportunities to experience “real life.” I learned from both chal-lenges at work and thediscovery of nature.Some of my experiencesincluded assisting withthe promotion of theCenter at the MinnesotaState Fair, visiting theCenter’s amazing facil-ities in Ely, imple-menting the commu-nications plans forthe Distance Learningand Ethogram pro-grams, traveling toYellowstone NationalPark (see my blog at

INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER

Notes From Home

Metamorphosis at the Centerb y E m m a n u e l A l l a s i a

http://notesfromyellow-stone.blogspot.com, imple-menting online affiliate pro-grams, conducting varioussurveys for market ingreports, and developing apartnership with theMinnesota Orchestra.

This learn-by-doingexperience was the aim ofmy internship as a studentof EM LYON managementschool of Lyon, one of theleading business schools inEurope. On a more personalnote, I would compare myexperience in Minnesota toa metamorphosis since Ifound a healthy balanceamong high commitmentsin work, sports and culture.Moreover, I have found away to face challenges thatmake life interesting, andthe wolf mask keeps whis-pering that overcomingthem is what makes lifemeaningful.

Emmanuel Allasia, from France, isa communications intern for theInternational Wolf Center.

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Henry Crosby has been aloyal member of the

International Wolf Centersince 1985 and is also activein land conservat ionprograms. He has spentmuch of his life in variouscorners of the world as amember of the Red Crossinternational staff, but hesays his home and his heartare in Minnesota. Crosbyhas a deep commitment tothe wildlife and land in hishome state.

Crosby has high praisefor the Center’s educationalprograms. His personalfavorite is the AlphaWeekend, a weekend ofprogramming exclusivelyfor members who haveincluded the Center in theirestate plans. During oneAlpha Weekend Crosbyhiked with his cohorts to anabandoned wolf den andhowled with the wolves. It

was during this weekendthat he recalled the beautifulexperience of witnessingShadow and Malik, theCenter’s ambassador wolves,as pups. He said he has aspecial attachment to them.

Crosby also understandsthe problems associatedwith protecting wolves,such as attempts to reintro-duce them into previouslywolf-populated areas. “Someareas have been withoutwolves for so long, peoplejust object to the reintro-duction,” he says. He alsobelieves that wolves mayhave become more adapt-able to urban settings,which also hurts reintro-duction efforts.

Crosby is concernedabout all wildlife and pro-tecting land. He is excitedabout the North AmericanBear Center, also located inEly. During his work with

the Minnesota Land Trust,he has seen its program tointegrate conservation ease-ments on land deeds growfrom 9 in the early 1990s to 300. This type of ease-ment protects the land

Help Us Teach the World About Wolves!

Did you know that since January 1, 2006, there have been

22,815 downloads of our Wolves & Humans informational

flyer Are Wolves Dangerous to Humans? If every person

who downloaded this flyer distributed 10 copies, we would

teach 228,150 people about wolves! Download your copy

of the flyer by visiting www.wolf.org. Click the Learn tab,

highlight Wolf Basics and click on Wolves & Humans.

The International Wolf Center encourages the reproduction

of these informational flyers for your personal use or for

distribution to any audience.

Alpha Legacy Profile

from any further or futuredevelopment.

Both Minnesota and theInternational Wolf Centerare fortunate to have HenryCrosby as a friend andsupporter. �

The Alpha Weekend is Henry Crosby’s favorite Center program. Duringone of these weekends he hiked to an abandoned wolf den.

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INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER

Contributors SEPTEMBER–NOVEMBER 2006

ThankYou

MajorDonorsAnonymous

Bruce & CarolBryant

John and TanyaReiss Cain

Mark Carson

Thomas and Ellie Crosby

John Frey

Nancy Gibson and Ron Sternal

Hélène Grimaud

Jim Hammill

Neil Hutt

Michael Huwaldt

Dean and Ann Johnson

Susan HermannJohnson

Christine & Galen Kam

Karen Langford

Aron Larson

Warren Loiler

Shane Martin

Walter and MaryBeth Medwid

Dr. Teresa Meng

Dr. MargaretMontana

Jason Mulligan

Dody Nesbit

Rolf & CandyPeterson

Kristine Raines

Diane Rees

Debbie Reynolds

Jerry Sanders

Paul and SusanSchurke

Ted & BarbaraSpaulding

Dennis Sutliff

Rose Thurston

Nancy jo Tubbs

John & Donna Virr

Trish Zapinski

Honorary

In honor of Rives Loomis:

FARM

In honor of Katharine Oppeneer:

Nancy Jackson

In honor of Amber Tamblyn:

Jeanne Gehrman

In honor of Sheryl &Jim Williams:

Julie Sullivan & Jess Nordby

Memorials

In memory ofDonald Annino:

Elias Amador

Kenneth Carver

Doreen Cole

Mr. & Mrs. Gary J.Davis

Frank Farro

Patricia & Ronald Hussey

Sue Kern

Colleen Rice

Paul Robinson

Robert & WendiSmolowitz

Burman Stitt

Patti Williams

The estate of Denise Danielski

In memory ofMatthew A. Kolb:

Phyllis Burke

In memory of Arthur Hale:

Diane Dhanvada

In memory of Rob Mollner:

Alice Blomquist

Joan Lawson

John & KathieMollner

Terry & Brenna Olson

In memory of Ervin Reese:

Ruthie Rumpff

In memory of Linda Salzarula:

Carolyn Pilagonia

In memory of Pidge Slabodnik:

John Hodowanic

In memory of Buell Tubbs:

Steven & Deborah Muth

In memory of Waya:

Dental Plans.com

In-KindDonationsAnimal MedicalClinic

Tricia Austin

Ann Briem of Art with a PointTattoo Studio

Marilyn Capouch

Robyn Franklyn

Janice Hood

Tori and Neil Hunt of NR Hunt Studios

Melissa Lorek

Minnetonka AnimalHospital

General Mills

Andi Nelson

RoyaltiesMBNA Bank ofAmerica

MatchingGifts &FoundationsElmer L. & Eleanor J.Andersen Foundation

Michael Carpenterand the CommunitySolutions Fund

Raul Garcia and the Microsoft GivingCampaign

Sherry Green andthe Microsoft GivingCampaign

Ron Sternal andNuveen Investments

Thomas Gootz andthe Pfizer FoundationMatching GiftsProgram

Matthew Renner andthe Pfizer FoundationMatching GiftsProgram

Animal Charities of America

Ceridwen Sandersand the Tracy A.Weeks Fund of The Saint PaulFoundation

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sively with anti-inflamma-tory medications and painrelievers. Although he hadsome days of improvedmobility, his decline con-tinued despite the treatment.The decision to euthanizeLucas was made coopera-tively by the Center’s wolfcare management team based

on clinical observations bystaff and the veterinary teamcharged with wolf care. Themanagement team strives tomake such decisions in amanner that prevents theunnecessary suffering of anyof the Center’s wolves.

To gain as much infor-mation as possible aboutthe health and condition ofthe Center’s wolves, anecropsy, or animal autopsy,was performed on Lucas.The lab analysis of his bloodrevealed the most signifi-cant finding, the presence of

hemangiosar-coma. This isan aggressive,

metastatic form of malignantcancer that is common indomestic dogs and isknown to attack almost anytissue in the body. Tissuesamples revealed that Lucas’liver and lungs were alreadyaffected. It is also likely thatthis cancer had invaded thespine, causing some of thesymptoms we observed.

Lucas served the Centerwell over the years andtaught the staff anotherlesson on his death, that we cannot always knoweverything that is affectingthe health of an animal.Staff will use the lessonlearned to support theremaining Retired Packmembers, who will reachage 14 in spring 2007. �

Tracking the Pack

Joining the Gone but Not Forgotten Packb y L o r i S c h m i d t , W o l f C u r a t o r ,I n t e r n a t i o n a l W o l f C e n t e r

On Tuesday, July 11, 2006, Lucas, the

dominant male ofthe International WolfCenter’s Retired Pack, waseuthanized at the Center in Ely, Minnesota. Afterobserving Lucas for severaldays, the wolf care staff andarea veterinarians deter-mined that he would notrecover from what appearedto be a chronic, degenera-tive spinal condition andother age-related ailments.Born in April 1993, Lucaswas one of the original packthat served as ambassadorwolves for the Center.

As I previously noted in“Tracking the Pack” (Spring2005), the Retired Packreceived a complete medicalexamination in October2004, and Lucas was foundto be in overall good healthbut showing early signs of adegenerative spinal condi-tion affecting his hindquar-ters. After this medicalexam, wolf care staff admin-istered Cosequin, Durlactinand daily vitamins in hopesof slowing the progress ofthe condition and to opti-mize his overall health.

Lucas did very well untilthe last week of June 2006,when staff noticed he washaving significant difficultymoving around. He wasthen treated more aggres-

Born in April 1993,Lucas was one of the

original pack that servedas ambassador wolves

for the Center.

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Highlights from the International Wolf Center’s New Exhibit: Wolves and Wild Lands in the 21st Century

WOLVES IN THE SOUTHEASTHighlights from the exhibit panel

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Red wolves needcoyote-free homesCoyotes threaten thesurvival of wolves in the southeastern U.S. by interbreeding withtheir red wolf cousins.Thriving in just onecoyote-free wild area,red wolves need more space.

Editor’s note: This is thesecond installment in a

series that brings to ourreaders the ideas and

images portrayed in theCenter’s new traveling

exhibit. Each of the seveninterpretive panels addressesa narrow slice of wolf issues

in a particular region ofNorth America. Excerptsfrom the panel about the

southeastern United Statesare included in this issue.

Visit www.wolf.org for more information about

the exhibit.

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Interbreeding dilutes the red wolf gene pool

When a small red wolf populationlives among an abundant coyotepopulation, the two species will interbreed. This creates hybrids withpart red wolf genes and part coyotegenes. If unchecked, interbreedingcould lead to an all-hybrid popula-tion, wiping out red wolves in just a few generations

Back from the brink

Once nearly extinct in the wild, redwolves were returned to a refuge innortheastern North Carolina begin-ning in 1987. Red wolves thrive in therecovery area today because the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service preventsthem from interbreeding with coyotes.

Coyotes keep out!

Biologists stopped wolf-coyote interbreeding in North Carolina by removing all coyotes and hybrids in Zones 1 and 2 of the red wolfrecovery area. To prevent coyotes fromreturning, they sterilize coyotes and coyote-wolfhybrids at the western edge of Zone 3. Ironically,the sterilized animals guard the territory, barringfertile coyotes from coming back and inter-breeding with wolves.


Red wolfCanis rufus

Looks: 42–84 pounds, with mostly brown,buff, or reddish-colored fur. Eats: Prey includes white-tailed deer, raccoons,and other small mammals, such as nutria (non-native, beaverlike rodents), rabbits, and mice. Lives: Habitat in North Carolina includes agricultural lands, mixed forests, and wetlands.Population: 100 wolvesStatus: Endangered

� Historic range of the red wolf � Current range of the red wolf�� Area related to this panel’s storiesNote: The red wolf is a separate species fromthe gray wolf.

Wanted: A home for wolvesToday, wild red wolves thrive on an 875-square-mile peninsula in northeastern North Carolina.To ensure the survival of the species, biologistsmust find at least two more places to establishseparate populations of red wolves. Habitatshopping isn’t easy!

Wanted: Two large tractsof undeveloped land inthe southeastern U.S.Low numbers of roads,coyotes, humans, andlivestock a plus.Preferably near otherareas of wolf habitat thatcan accommodate anexpanding wolf popula-tion for years to come.

Where elsecan wolvesgo? The densepopulations ofhumans andcoyotes in theSoutheast andthe absence oflarge expansesof wild landslimit theoptions.

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the European Union countries, defi-nitely a positive step for long-termwolf recovery. Equally important isthe changing human attitude towardwildlife in general and wolves inparticular.

Wolves are faring well in neigh-boring countries, which could bepotential sources of wolf recoloniza-tion. Wolves roam the CarpathianMountains in Slovakia. Hungary,Croatia, Slovenia and Italy have wolfpopulations from which disperserscould travel into Austria. The closestviable population is no farther than200 kilometers from the border. The“green belt” wilderness areas on the old border between western andeastern Europe are possible routes for far-traveling wolves.

Studies show the importance ofAustria for thegenetic fitness ofcentral Europeanwolves. The Car-pathian, Balkanand SouthwestAlpine–Appen-inic populationscome togetherin Austria, thusmaking possiblethe exchange ofgenetic material.

Whether wolf recovery will besuccessful depends on the attitude ofthe Austrian people. Public discussionwill increase between wolf supportersand those opposed to wolves such as farmers and hunters. Livestock has to be protected, and new huntingregulations will create new challengesfor hunters. The economic value ofwolves can only be demonstrated by increasing numbers of naturetourists and environmental educationparticipants.

Recovery and protection of wolvesin Austria need progressive conceptsand support from both the public and from government agencies. TheAustrian Federal Ministry ofEnvironment is preparing a projectthat will frame conditions forpossible recovery. I have been chosento lead this challenging project. Insummer 2005, International WolfCenter founder Dr. L. David Mechinvited me to study wolf research and education methods in northernMinnesota. I was able to go out intothe wolf range of the SuperiorNational Forest and the BoundaryWaters Canoe Area Wilderness withDr. Michael E. Nelson, wildliferesearch biologist at the KawishiwiField Laboratory in Ely. I also visitedthe International Wolf Center, whereI met with Assistant Director ofEducation Jim Williams.

We hope that Austria will besuccessful in its efforts to restorewolves and that they will find a newhome and a welcome in some of theirtraditional ranges.

Heinz Dungler, Ph.D., is a wildlife biologist and sports scientist. He is aninstructor at the University of Salzburgand leads a project of the AustrianFederal Ministry of Environment to build conditions for a possible recoveryof wolves in Austria.

W O LV E S O F E U R O P E

Will Wolves Return to Austria?b y H e i n z D u n g l e r

Austria

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Austria’s spectacular alpine wilderness is traditional wolf country. Many old names in

Austria show the historic presence ofwolves, but by 1882, hunting, trap-ping and poison had eliminated thebreeding population. While singleanimals are occasionally sighted, noviable packs exist in the country.

However, there is new hope fornatural wolf recovery in Austria.Over the past 10 years, the number ofwolf observations has increased, andsooner or later, a wolf pack couldbecome established. Protected areassuch as national parks could supportwolf packs, and wolf numbers couldbe monitored. Two other conditionsmake it possible for wolves to thrivein Austria. The first is the newmethods of wildlife management in

The first litterof red wolf pups wasborn in the wild on the ARNWR in 1988. Sincethen, the population has expanded to over 100wolves roaming free in a five-county area.


W O LV E S I N T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S

Back to the Wild:The TwentiethAnniversary of the Red WolfReintroductionb y C o r n e l i a H u t t

In 1980, red wolves were consid-ered extinct in the wild. Habitatdestruction and human persecu-

tion had forced the last red wolvesinto marginal habitat along the Texasand Louisiana coasts, where they inter-bred with coyotes and succumbed toparasite infestation. After years ofcaptive breeding, eight red wolvesconsisting of four breeding pairs werereintroduced to the wild in 1987 atthe Alligator River National WildlifeRefuge (ARNWR) in northeasternNorth Carolina. This was the firstattempt ever to restore an officiallyextinct carnivore to a portion of itshistoric range.

No one knew if the wolves wouldmake it. Would they learn to hunt?Would they breed successfully in the wild? Would they adjust to thehumid heat of the coastal summersand the chill of raw winters?

Make it they did! One year afterthe reintroduction, the first litter ofred wolf pups was born in the wild on the ARNWR. During the ensuing 20 years, many more pups have been

born and survived. The populationhas expanded to over 100 wolvesroaming free in a five-county area thatincludes two other wildlife refugesand pockets of private land as well.

The Red Wolf Recovery Team hasfaced a number of obstacles through-out the years and has met each challenge with science-based actionplans and on-the-ground fieldwork.However, in spite of the successes of the recovery program, red wolvescontinue to die because of humans. Atone time, vehicular accidents were the number one cause of adult red wolfmortality. Today, and over the past

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several years, gunshot and “suspiciouscircumstances” are the primary causesof adult red wolf deaths.

In response to an alarming loss of red wolf breeders, the Red WolfRecovery Program in partnershipwith the Red Wolf Coalition andDefenders of Wildlife has launched amajor hunter education initiative.Thousands of hunter education cards(shown above) have been distributedthroughout the state. This wallet-sized card helps hunters distinguishred wolves from eastern coyotes and promotes the message, “Don’tShoot!” east of NC State Highway 32.

The Red Wolf Coalition is seekingfunding to develop a permanentexhibit that will demonstrate thebenefit red wolves bring to huntersand farmers in rural northeasternNorth Carolina. We want 2007 to bea year of celebration for the red wolfand for the people who are deter-mined to ensure its long-termsurvival in the wild.

For more information about the Red WolfCoalition, visit the Web site at www.redwolves.com, or go to http://www.fws.gov/alligatorriver/redwolf.html.

Cornelia Hutt is an educator andInternational Wolf Center board memberwho lives in Purcellville, Virginia.


In Belarus, a nation slightly smaller than Kansas,natural and semi-natural vegetation (dry land,grassy marches, dry-land meadows, raised

bogs) covers about 65 percent of the country.Additionally, large tracts of extended woodlands andforests remain intact. Wolves are present in all regionsof Belarus, but their population density varies (see distribution map).

The most important factor shaping the variationin wolf numbers is the hunting harvest. Accordingto Belarus hunting law, the wolf is a pest species. Itis legal to hunt wolves freely during hunting season(October to February) or out of hunting season ifone obtains a special permit. Also, anyone maysearch for wolf pups and take them from the den,and local hunting organizations pay for the wolf pups thatare killed. Thus, human persecution markedly limits thewolf distribution and population in Belarus. Wolf numbersfluctuate since hunting goes on intensively in winter, so inspring before pups are born, wolf numbers are depressed.Census studies conducted in recent years during the earlywinter estimate the Belarus wolf population to be between1,500 and 2,000 individuals.

To gather data on the diet of wolves in Belarus, a study wasconducted by the Vertebrate Predation Research Group of theInstitute of Zoology (Research Group.) In eastern Belarus, for

W O LV E S I N B E L A R U S

A Bold Conservation andManagement Planb y V a d i m S i d o r o v i c h

Belarus’s action plan for the wolf may seem controver-sial, but it must be kept in the context of the geographyand economics of the country. Most of the land outsidethe cities is forest or farmlands where people are tryingto survive in villages, working on collective farms ortheir own land with maybe a cow and a few sheep tohelp them get by. These people are frightened for theirlivestock and often for themselves because they areafraid some wolves may be rabid. It is difficult to replacedomestic animals, and the wolf is perceived as a threat to their modest means of making a living. Nevertheless,in Belarus human persecution is not so widespread thatwolves are in any danger of eradication.

—John Griffiths, author of “Researchers Begin Study in Remote Country,”

International Wolf, Fall 2006

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example, the study revealedthat wolves consumed wildungulates when these animalswere numerous. However, in years when wild ungulate numberswere low, wolves preyed on medium-and small-sized wild animals, such as beavers, and on domestic livestock.The rate of wolf depredation ondomestic animals and the appearanceof wolves both in and around ruralvillages increased exponentially whenwild ungulate numbers declined, and decreased when wild ungulatesbegan to recover.

To take into account both conser-vation aims and the demands oflimiting damage to wild ungulates andlivestock, a bold national action planhas been developed in Belarus. It is a two-part project. The first part is astudy on numbers of wolves and theirdiet, both wild prey and livestock. Thesecond and larger portion of the pro-ject is the management of the wolfpopulation, taking into account boththe need to decrease depredation onlivestock and the need to save the wolfas a part of the country’s biodiversity.

In the extended woodlands ofBelarus, the plan recommends keep-ing all wolf packs but controlling the number of individuals within thepack. Breeding adults will be retained,

and population control will be donethrough “pup searching” by speciallytrained personnel whose goal will be to save the breeding adults and tocull all but one pup in each pack.Reproduction numbers will be main-tained by pups in dens that will notbe discovered deep in the vastforested areas of Belarus. Addition-ally, hunting will be recommended as a measure to limit the number of wolves.

Such an approach to populationcontrol of wolves in Belarus mayseem drastic; however, it might be agreat step toward combining contra-dictive aims: limiting the damage

from wolves and conserving the wolfas an important component of biodi-versity. Moreover, such an approachto wolf management will promote a demographically well-structuredpopulation since the majority of wolfpacks will be maintained instead ofbeing eradicated each year. �

Vadim Sidorovich is the senior researcherat the Institute of Zoology at theNational Academy of Sciences inBelarus. Leader of the VertebratePredation Research Group, he hasworked with carnivores since 1985.

To learn more about Belarus, please visitwww.ecoethno.org.

Distribution of Wolves in Belarus Legend:

The wolf is a common species;the whole district is occupied by wolves; approximately onepack covers an area of 200–300 sq. km. (80–120 sq. mi.).

Wolf packs occupy an area of400–600 sq. km. (160–240 sq. mi.); there is much area thatis rarely visited by wolves.

There are few residential wolves.

In Belarus, a nation slightly smallerthan Kansas, large tracts of extendedwoodlands and forests remain intact.

Census studies conducted in recentyears during the early winter estimate

the Belarus wolf population to bebetween 1,500 and 2,000 individuals.

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barren-lands. But the summer sunrevealed that the land is anything butbarren. Low-growing birch andwillow are abundant. Patches of mosscampion with green leaves and tinypink flowers as well as fuchsia-colored fire weed blossoms providespectacular splashes of color. Fivevarieties of berries, including blue-berries and cranberries, add textureand color to the landscape. They alsoprovide essential nutrients to griz-zlies, sik-siks (arctic ground squirrels)and ptarmigan. Who could resistmunching on handfuls of ripe, juicyblueberries just there for the taking? I couldn’t!

I was awestruck by the remotenessand unique beauty of the tundra. Thewildlife was nothing short of in-spiring. I became obsessed with hikingover the next ridge in hopes of spot-ting another rarity. Ironically, wedidn’t always have to travel far to find

wildlife. A lone, mottled-gray wolf wandered nearlyevery day through the site ofthe lodge where we werestaying. Friendly, human-habituated sik-siks dartedfrom under the log cabins tobeg for peanuts. Footprintsin the sand gave evidence ofa grizzly traveling close by.We spotted one grizzly from the ridge behind thelodge, where our groupliked to congregate with our spotting scopes in theevenings. From the ridgetopthe moon rising and the sunsetting were breathtaking.

The wolves of thesebarren-lands are sometimesreferred to as tundra orcaribou wolves. They arepredominately white butcan also be shades of cream,gray and even black. Tundra

Over the Next RidgeFinding Wolves in the Barren-Lands

b y K r i s t y R a i n e s

Silently, our group of 16 hikerstrekked across the tundra, all ofus focused on a single goal—

locating a family of wolves. Ifsuccessful, we would find a hiddenplace to observe their activitieswithout intruding or stressing them.The pace was moderate on the variedterrain, across areas of spongy lichen, through tangles of stuntedbirch trees, and over ridge after rockyridge. We were just about to reach a hilltop when Canadian biologistDean Cluff, who was at the head of the line, suddenly signaled us tohalt, drop to our knees and stay low.I could feel the pebbles scraping my knees and palms as we started

crawling back toward the way we hadcome. In excited whispers, Cluffexplained the reason for our hastyretreat. Just over the next ridge lay a pure-white adult wolf slumberingin the midday sun. How rare to be so close—just 30 yards away from awolf in the subarctic barren-lands.

Such was the start of a week ofwolf watching in the Aylmer Lake areaof Canada’s Northwest Territories, atrip led by Dr. L. David Mech, founderof the International Wolf Center, andDean Cluff. Aylmer Lake is locatednorth of the 60th parallel, about 90miles south of the Arctic Circle. Thevast landscape, too far north for treesto grow tall, is often referred to as the

The wolves of these barren-lands aresometimes referred to as tundra orcaribou wolves. They are predominatelywhite but can also be shades of cream,gray and even black.

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ness in my throat as I tried to dampena squeal of pure joy!

Our group watched the three wolvesnap for hours in the afternoon sun. Sofar the wolves were unaware that 16 sets of eyes—through binoculars, spot-ting scopes and cameras—were focusingon their every move. I’ve never beenmore excited to see twitching ears! Butour patience paid off.

One of the adult wolves eventuallysat up, looking anxiously in ourdirection and sniffing the air. Thewolf’s keen senses had detected ourpresence, even though we were 200yards away and crouching low to theground. Soon both adult wolves wereup and apprehensive of the strangersin the distance. A subtle cue musthave been given to the cream-coloredpup, for it too left its comfort zoneand started following one of theadults, presumably its mother. Theother adult revealed itself to be thebreeding male, as he performed araised-leg urination before movingup the ridge. My heart raced as I, notwanting to miss a thing, franticallytried to keep tabs on all three wolvesthrough my spotting scope.

The lone pup followed its motherfor a short distance before I lost sightof both in what seemed to be a depres-sion of willows and birches. The adultmale kept traveling farther and farther

up the ridge before disappearing overthe top. All were out of sight. But notfor long! One of our group memberssuddenly whispered loudly, “Wolf!Wolf! On top of the ridge!”

The wolf watchers were beingwatched. The adult male peered overthe top of the ridge, revealing only hishead. If you weren’t looking carefully,you could have mistaken him foranother rock on top of the ridge. Itwas like watching a jack-in-the-boxas he disappeared behind the ridgejust to pop back up minutes later.

As the week went on, two addi-tional wolves appeared on the scene.They were lower-ranking, young-adultmembers of the pack as evidenced bytheir submissive behavior toward thepup’s mother. Often, only mother andpup were present at the rendezvoussite. The breeding male disappearedover the next ridge, presumably tohunt for food. But this year, thecaribou were not close.

During the summer, the barren-ground caribou migrate south throughthe subarctic on the way to theirwinter feeding grounds in forestedareas below the tree line. The migra-tory path chosen by the caribou can differ from year to year. It is aprecarious time for the wolves. If thecaribou are not nearby, the adultwolves may travel 50 miles or more

wolves travel above and below the treeline on the mainland of the NorthwestTerritories and depend largely on themigratory barren-ground caribou astheir major food source.

The wolves live in this subarcticregion above the tree line from earlyspring through fall. In early May they hover near their chosen den sitein anticipation of the arrival of pups.Dens are often dug in an esker—a ridge of sand and gravel depositedby melting glaciers nearly 10,000years ago. I was thrilled to enter along-unused den, knowing thatseveral years ago, it had been occu-pied by fuzzy, wriggling wolf pups.

When the pups are about 2 monthsold, the pack leaves the den site andmoves to a summer rendezvous site,where the adult wolves raise the pupsuntil they are older and able to travel.And that’s just what our group hadstumbled upon—the rendezvous siteof a tundra wolf pack! We soondiscovered that the slumbering wolfwe had spotted over the ridge was notalone. A second adult had joined itspackmate for an afternoon snooze. Weretreated to a vantage point to observethe wolves undetected. Much to ourdelight a wolf pup raised its fuzzyhead from its hidden resting spot inthe willows before lying back down tonap close to the adults. I felt a tight-

Dens are often dug in an esker—a ridge of sand and gravel deposited by melting glaciers nearly 10,000 years ago.

Kristy Raines with a sik-sik, an arctic ground squirrel.

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depend on the distribution of caribou.I miss waking up in the wee hours

with a wolf in my backyard and thenorthern lights over my head. Was it the trip of a lifetime? You bet. Oncein a lifetime? Not if I can help it. �

Kristy Raines is a veterinary technicianfrom Hudson, Illinois. She has partici-pated in numerous International WolfCenter adventure programs. She iscurrently writing a series of fictionalchildren’s books about wolves.

per day in order to provide food fortheir young. All the while the wolveslook for anything else they can catchand kill, including arctic hares,ground squirrels and even those ice-age holdouts—musk-oxen.

On our last day of observing therendezvous site, only the pup waspresent. Were all of the adults outsearching for food? Would they find enough food to provide for thepup as well as for themselves? We’llprobably never know the answers.But while the adult wolves were away,a lumbering giant was in their back-yard. A huge musk-ox meanderedclose to the rendezvous site as theanxious yet curious pup observed.

Perhaps this was the pup’s first glanceat the great creature that mightsomeday fall prey to hungry wolves.

In fall, when the pup is 5 to 6months old, the entire wolf pack willtravel together. They will head south to the caribou feeding grounds, oftencovering upwards of 200 miles to getthere. The wolves feed on caribouthroughout the winter. Then in Aprilthe caribou start a great northwardmigration to their calving grounds.The wolves follow the migratingcaribou until reaching their subarcticden sites, and the caribou continuenorthward above the Arctic Circle. Thecycle of life goes on, and the tundrawolves’ continued survival may

To participate in the next International Wolf Center trip to the Northwest Territories,August 9–19, 2007, contact trip coordinatorCornelia “Neil” Hutt at [email protected],

or write to 16156 Jonella Farm Drive,Purcellville, VA 20132.

Dr. L. David Mech and Dean Cluff led a week of wolf watching in the Aylmer Lake area of Canada’sNorthwest Territories. Back row, left to right: Debbie Reynolds, Neil Hutt, Jim Winkowski, JackieWinkowski, Colleen Coghlan, Jack Cornwell, Jane Schofield, Roy Schofield; front row, left to right:Nancy Gibson, Jack Daniels, Dave Mech, Deb Tastad, Kristy Raines, Dean Cluff, Gary Tastad, Des Coghlan. (The stuffed wolf was used as a decoy for behavioral studies.)

Wolves look for anything they can catchand kill, including arctic hares, groundsquirrels and even those ice-age holdoutsshown here—musk-oxen.

Aylmer Lake is located north of the60th parallel, about 90 miles south ofthe Arctic Circle. The vast landscape,too far north for trees to grow tall, isoften referred to as the barren-lands.

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in the world. Others demonstrate thedangers of talking to shady charac-ters. The oldest known versions ofthe story stress the importance ofclever, resourceful thinking in gettinga person out of a difficult situation.

No matter which version of LittleRed Riding Hood you find, be sure tolook deeper than its face value, andconsider the underlying culturalvalues expressed to get a full under-standing of the story’s meaning. �

Kevin Strauss is a naturalist, author and storyteller from Ely, Minnesota. Visit the “Shop” section of www.wolf.orgto purchase his book Song of the Wolf:Folktales and Legends from Around theWorld, and audio CD The MountainWolf’s Gift: Wolf Tales from Around the World. Contact him [email protected].

Try this!Go to your library, and check out asmany different versions of the LittleRed Riding Hood story as you canfind. Look for versions in children’spicture books as well as in folktalecollections in the 398.2 section ofthe library. Read through at leastfour different versions of the story,and discuss with a friend:

How are the stories different?

Describe one or two lessons thateach version of the story teaches.

Speculate about the time, place and person telling thesestories...what do you guessmight be true?

How does the artwork accom-panying the story contribute to your impression of Red or the wolf?

Little Red’s Ongoing Storyb y K e v i n S t r a u s s

You have all heard the Little RedRiding Hood story, right? Buthave you really? In your ver-

sion, does Little Red trick the wolfand escape? Does she get gobbled up with her granny?

Folktales are stories that pass fromone generation to another and fromone country to another by word ofmouth. These stories may have changedover time as storytellers adaptedthem for their own purposes. Itwasn’t until the 1800s that folktaleswere written down for the first time,allowing hundreds of generations ofstorytelling and story adapting totake place before that.

You can often find several versionsof the same story because there is no one “right” version of a traditionalfolktale. Each one represents the time, place and person telling it.Examining the cultural valuesexpressed in a folktale will help youunderstand the story and its under-lying messages better.

The classic tale of Little Red RidingHood is a good example of a story thatreflects cultural values.

Most versions of the story can betraced back to the 1600s to thefarming areas of central Europe. Thepeople of that time and place pos-sessed a general dislike for wolvesdue to the wolf’s predation on farmanimals. So the wolf was universallyconsidered a villainous character.

The story also gives us insight intoother cultural values such as the roleof women and children in society.Some versions emphasize the vulner-ability of little girls to moral perils


Chicken Little and Wolf Education Don’t Mixb y N a n c y j o T u b b s

The-sky-is-falling headlines andpromotional photos of deadwolf pups can provoke strong

emotions and may result in publicsupport for a cause, but fostering fear,catastrophe or even adoration ofwolves to get you to send money isnot our style.

To paraphrase Johnny Cash, youprobably didn’t join the InternationalWolf Center “in a fever hotter than a pepper sprout.”

We’d rather put a fire in yourmind to support the survival of wolfpopulations with credible, well-balanced information and a savvylook at the science, politics and intri-cate reality of wolves.

Center National EducationDirector Andrea Lorek Strauss puts itthis way: “Some organizations thinkof you as an empty bowl. They wantto fill you up with their bias so you’llthink the way they do. We see you asa candle whose interest we can sparkso that your brain lights up, and youthink for yourself about wolf issues.”

While the alarmist headline grabsattention, it also polarizes people and discourages healthy resolution ofproblems. Instead, we work to bringpeople on all sides of wolf issues tothe ongoing dialogue and promotelistening that leads to useful policy.

We also seek to tell the mean-ingful story. Kit Briem, the Center’sdevelopment director says, “Shouting‘Wolves Delisted’ in a headline mayfrighten you into sending a check,but it only tells part of the truth.” Atthe Center, we aren’t satisfied untilwe tell the where, what, who andwhy of the story. Our members are

willing to read further to determinethe underlying meaning and themany possible outcomes of an event.

Diverse opinions and voicesdeserve our respect. For some, wolvesare a source of archetypal inspirationand wonder. For others, the wolfcauses significant problems. Forboth, we encourage their tolerance of the real wolf, in all its complexity,in everyday life,

The great aim of education is not knowledge but action, saidEnglish philosopher Herbert Spencer.Please take what you learn from

International Wolf, the Center’scourses and our Web site and par-ticipate in public decisions about the wolf’s future.

We hope too that you will con-tinue to contribute financially as theCenter takes action in the service ofwolves. Your donations support anew distance learning program forschool kids, the Wolf Helpline in Ely and stakeholder dialogue in theSouthwest.

Alarmist headlines won’t save wolfpopulations. Objective facts, healthydialogue and programs that yousupport at the Center just might. �

Nancy jo Tubbs is chair of theInternational Wolf Center’s board ofdirectors, owner of an Ely-area resortand progressive opinion writer for theEly Timberjay newspaper.

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Documents

A PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER SPRING … · 2015-03-26 · Wolf Center Notes From Home 13 Tracking the Pack 14 Wolves and Wild Lands 16 Wolves of the World 20 Personal