JANUARY 2017
Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center
EMAIL FROM: Steve and Susan B.
Thank you for the “Ultimate Alpha Experience”
CERTIFIED BY THE
The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Look for this logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things.
Hello everyone at the Center! Thank you for the most wonderful experience. Never did I think I would interact so closely with wolves. It was a surreal experience. I hope to bring my in-laws this summer! Thank you Clark and Kourtney for making the experience an awesome one and thanks to Kourtney for the fabulous photos! Have a wonderful New Years and hope to be back in the summer!
PLEASE JOIN US
The contents of the material we include in our newsletter does not necessarily reflect the views of Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center. We collect information from sources that are from other organizations, the web, news feeds, and/or other sources. We choose articles that are in the related field of education and conservation.
Dr.Volz, Terri, and Chelsa of The Animal Clinic of Woodland Park were here to help remove a sebacious cyst along with 4 other benign tumors from Kekoa’s back. It was wonderfully successful and even though Kekoa has a big bald patch shaved off from between his shoulders on cold day, he feels so much better as he ran down to greet Susan this morning and is now happily chewing on some elk rib bones. Surgeries are always stressful and I am so grateful that he is better and healthy. Thank you Dr. Volz, Terri and your whole team for always being there for our “not so easy” to work with animals.
Drake University Research Project DNA SWABS
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So You Want a Pet Wolf? Here’s Why You Should Probably Reconsider Anna Vallery - onegreenplanet.org Wolves have long been admired for their status and wild spirit; these animals are both feared and cherished. But sadly, their beauty and close proximity to the dogs we welcome into our homes, has made keeping a wolf or wolf hybrid as a pet something many people dream of doing. The idea of bringing such a majestic animal into your home as a companion may sound great, but there is much to think about before deciding to pursue it. WOLF BEHAVIOR Despite physical and genetic similarities between dogs and wolves, their personalities and behaviors are vastly different. For the past 10,000 years, people and dogs have lived and grown together. We have bred dogs to assist us and to live in harmony with our lifestyles. Although we might not realize it, we have selectively bred them for flexibility and an eagerness to please. Wolves, however, have spent the last 10,000 years as wild animals, living on their own and fending for themselves. Even raising a wolf from the time it is a puppy won’t erase the instinctual behaviors they will have. Despite this knowledge, many people end up going out and purchasing a wolf or wolfdog. As puppies, these animals seem quite similar to dogs. They are happy, playful and adorable. As they approach sexual maturity, however, most become territorial, pack-oriented and predatorial … personality traits that do not make for an ideal animal to share your home with. Many of these animals end up destroying furniture and homes, terrorizing other pets and their natural behaviors are perceived as aggressive. Typical wolf behaviors may frighten those who are unfamiliar with them. For example, wolves greet one another with “mouth hugs.” Gently biting one another’s face is a “hello” rather than a form of aggression. Having an animal the size of a wolf grabbing you by the face is enough to freak out even the calmest pet parents. If children are around an animal that displays these behaviors, it can easily make even the most educated parents nervous. Because of these unusual and un-dog-like behaviors, many pet wolves and wolfdogs end up living miserable lives, chained up outside or sent to, already overcrowded, sanctuaries. WOLFDOG EPIDEMIC Having a wolfdog appeals to many because of the belief that these animals are the “best” of both worlds. They will have the beauty and looks of a wolf, but the temperament and personality of a loving, doting dog. The desire to own
one of these illustrious animals has increased their demand and led many to try and breed them. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to tell how many wolf hybrids are being kept as pets at any given time because some people who have legitimate wolf hybrids choose to register them as Husky, Malamute, or Shepherd mix, to avoid legal issues. Some who claim they have a wolfdog actually have a mix of dog breeds that end up having similar characteristics to a wolf. Without knowledge of the animal’s lineage, there is no way to tell if the dog is a wolf hybrid or not. Experts familiar with phenotypic traits of wolves are the best at making educated guesses as to an animal’s background. But it is still guesswork. The issue occurs when a dog who is thought to have wolf genes ends up in a shelter. These animals are considered inherently dangerous, so many shelters do not want the liability of adopting them out and they end up being euthanized. A fraction of these dogs may end up in sanctuaries specifically designed for wolves and wolf hybrids. WOLF LAWS There are many legal issues involved with keeping a wolf in the U.S. It is felt that wolfdogs are not only the most misunderstood animals in the U.S., but also the most mismanaged. Though some feel they are wonderful pets, many opponents argue that they are unpredictable, impossible to train and inherently dangerous. Because of this, having a wolf or wolfdog as a pet is illegal in many places and is often associated with many rules in others – and with good reason. Sadly, there is no federal law regarding the ownership of a wolf or wolfdog. Laws are left to be determined by the individual states. It is illegal to keep them in Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland and several other states. In Alaska, it is illegal unless your wolf has been grandfathered in. Some states, like Texas, Ohio, and North Carolina, do not regulate ownership on a state level, but rather, leave it up to individual counties. This often leads to wolves and wolf hybrids falling into the hands of caretakers who find they cannot care for these semi-wild creatures, causing them to abandon or abuse these animals. CARE CONCERNS As if that wasn’t enough to deter you from considering a wolf or wolf hybrid as a pet, there are some care issues that
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come up with having these beautiful animals. It turns out that there are no approved rabies vaccines for wolves or wolfdogs. Though owners are encouraged to vaccinate their pets, they have two options when doing so. They can either lie to their vet about the what breed the animal is, or they can sign a waiver that states they understand the vaccinate is not approved, so if their animal bites someone it will be impounded, often ending with euthanasia. Wolves also require much more exercise than dogs, as they usually walk or run up to 100 miles a day in the wild. Their intense prey drive, however, makes it nearly impossible (and often illegal) to have these animals off leash. HOW WOLVES SUFFER Many wolf or wolfdog parents end up overwhelmed and underprepared for the challenges that come along with caring for such intelligent and cunning animals. A combination of wolf and dog can lead to any number of personality traits and characteristics. You may be lucky and come across an extremely docile wolf-hybrid, but there is a real chance that the animal you invite into your home is truly wild. “Wolfdogs aren’t easily pegged because they’re essentially a combination of wild and domesticated animals,” says Kim Miles to The Bark, vice president of the Florida Lupine Association. “A dog is like a 12-year-old child, and a wolf
is like a 35-year-old man. The dog will generally do what you want it to, but the wolf will do what you want only if he wants to do it himself.” Because of these many challenges, captive wolves and wolf dogs often end up at sanctuaries across the U.S. These sanctuaries provide the best home possible for animals that can’t return to a home or the wild, but they are stuck living in a limbo. And the saddest part about this is the fact that they would not be condemned to this life if we had not bred them in the first place. “These are beautiful animals, and a lot of people are attracted to something that’s exotic and different,” says Nicole Wilde author of Wolfdogs: A–Z. “They want to own a piece of the wild, and they often say that the wolf is their spiritual sign or totem animal. Unfortunately, they don’t realize that it’s not really the same thing as having a wolf in their living room.” Considering the fact that many wolf species in the U.S. are endangered, keeping these animals captive as pets just does not seem to make sense. There is a reason that wolves and dogs evolved apart from one another. It is our duty to keep these wild animals wild and adopt one of the countless (domestic) dogs living in U.S. shelters who need a proper forever home.
CWWC Staff Christmas Party
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NEWS FROM CENTER for BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY 2017 is off to a rough start -- a highly endangered red efforts have repeatedly been thwarted by illegal shootings. wolf has been found dead and we need to find the killer. The science demonstrates that red wolves can be recovered if these illegal killings end. The body was discovered in North Carolina’s Pocosin Lakes No one fights harder to save wolves than the Center. We’re National Wildlife Refuge, where red wolves are protected adding to this reward because red wolves are a critical part under the Endangered Species Act. The Center for Biolog- of America’s heritage, and we can’t let a few killers deny fuical Diversity is offering a $7,500 reward for information ture generations their opportunity to see these animals in leading to a conviction or fine in this latest illegal killing. the wild. We can only do this because wolf lovers like you The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has put out a $2,500 re- step forward by contributing to the Wolf Defense Fund. There are only 45 red wolves left in the wild, so the deward as well. To offer this reward we need the support of our members liberate killing of any individual wolf is a terrible blow to like you. Please give to the Center’s Wolf Defense Fund so the conservation of this amazing species. This deplorable we can bring this killer to justice. slaughter is a stark reminder of why we must act quickly to Although once abundant across much of the Southeast, save this precious species before it disappears forever. red wolves were pushed to the brink of extinction following decades of relentless persecution. After the species was For the wolves, declared endangered, wolf releases began in North Caroli- Kieran Suckling na’s Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, but recovery Executive Director - Center for Biological Diversity
Our Winter Wonderland Event was a big success. Thank to all who helped and attended
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Kenai wolves don’t deserve this Sean McGuire · newsminer.com/subscribe
In a disturbing and ominous December 2016 proposal, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game asked permission from the Board of Game to exterminate every wolf in more than a thousand square miles of Game Unit 15C. This encompasses a huge part of the Kenai Peninsula.
lic repeatedly that they care about wolves, that there is not a war on wolves, and that they can represent the 85 percent of the citizens who don’t have hunting licenses. Actions speak louder than words, and this new extreme proposal to exterminate all the wolves from this huge area exposes both their lies and their agenda. Even the local Homer Fish and Game Advisory Committee, made up of hunters, voted unanimously to oppose this wolf genocide. In a related and similar action, there was a push by the state in 2012 to kill off Kenai wolves, but in regional hearings, the local residents rose up and told the state to back off. The wolves were saved. But this time, the Board of Game meeting where the fate of unit 15C’s entire wolf population will be decided is set for January in Bethel. Few, if any, Kenai residents will even be able to attend. The killing of Africa’s elephants, lions and cheetahs is universally condemned and much is written about it. The killing of Cecil the lion in July 2015 was the No. 1 news story in the world for two days. Here in Alaska, there is a general feeling among residents that our wildlife agencies are honest brokers between the user groups, serve as a check on over-hunting and will make sure all species are protected. Sorry to break the news, folks, but we have a small minority of anti-wolf thinkers who want to turn Alaska into a moose and caribou ranch — and they are in complete control of our wildlife. Make no mistake about it, Alaska contains the nation’s last significant stand of wolves. There are only somewhere between 5,000-10,000 left in Alaska, just a tiny fraction of Africa’s lions and elephants. So when you look at the lack of any balance on the game board, the extreme anti-wolf and bear agenda that we have been witnessing, combined with the endless clamor by hunters for more moose and caribou, it looks bleak for our wonderful bears and wolves. If those who care about these iconic animals don’t begin to speak up, we are going to witness the slow and steady decline of one of the things that makes Alaska great.
During the past decade, these two entities have opened up a massive industrial-scale killing program on wolves and bears, killing more than 600 wolves in the Upper Tanana-Yukon Flats region alone — with, I might add, little moose and caribou increase. The main tool is helicopter gunning, but the practice also includes huge expanded hunting seasons and bag limits on these two animals. The most horrible is the legalized selling of body parts to Asian markets. Only during the past few years have Alaskans begun to realize the horror that has been taking place. The board-sanctioned killing of Denali’s iconic wolves and bears has become the symbol of the senseless war on predators. The great irony, of course, is that Alaska’s economy is in the toilet and tourism is one of the few bright spots. People come to Alaska from around the world in part because it is one of the last places on the planet where they have a chance to see wild wolves and bears. For God’s sake, we even have a grizzly bear on our license plates. Alaska’s Constitution says that the fish and wildlife belong to all Alaskans, but the game board has seven members, all hunters and/or trappers. There isn’t even a token conservationist or nonconsumptive user on the board. The Department of Fish and Game claims that it cares about all Alaskan voices, but it has carried out this backward and highly controversial assault on apex predators, who are critical to Sean McGuire is a longtime Interior resident and commuthe ecosystem. The two state entities have assured the pub- nity activist. He lives in Fairbanks.
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CONSERVATION CORNER
Orangutan
The Man of the Forest Katie Geist - CWWC staff member
Her second trip to Borneo was in 1986. She was already Kalimantan Borneo 1984 “Supinah waited patiently on the long wooden pier, her seeing changes in the environment that would continue to small ears alerted to the putt-putt of our kelotok engine. A negatively impact the orangutans’ future in the wild. Virvelvet black night engulfed her like a heavy curtain hiding gin rainforest trees were being cut down because of logging and the transmigration of farmers from a stage filled with mischievous and curious actors waiting to perform for the The palm oil industry is Indonesia. She noted in her journal, “What a disaster for the Dayaks (native group of innocent western volunteers. the leading cause people) and orangutans! Utter devasProfessor Birute Galdikas put down her of orangutan extinction tation.” Her last visit in 1995 was filled book. She knew Supinah and the rest of her orangutan friends were waiting to according to Orangutan with distress and frustration with congreet the human strangers. The engine Foundation International, tinued changes in Borneo because of “oil men, timber men and eco-tourists”. quieted and Birute rose and said ‘Here with 1000-5000 Orangutans are long haired, orange-colwe are at Camp Leakey.’ We followed orangutans killed yearly ored primates found only in Borneo and Birute down the pier that led to one of my greatest adventures. A calloused in palm oil concessions. Sumatra. Their name means “man of the hand reached for mine. I looked down forest” in Malay. They are highly intelliand saw a red hairy ape walking up right next to me. Tight- gent and well adapted to life in the tall trees of the tropical ly grasping my hand she was determined to show me the rainforest. Their long arms, which almost reach the ground when they’re standing, allow them to live high in the trees way.” These words were written by Louise Geist, my mother-in- in the jungle. They live on average 30-40 years. Orangutans law and best friend. She was 58 when she first traveled to are not as social as other apes with males tending to live Borneo. She joined Earthwatch as a volunteer to assist Dr. alone. Infants will stay with their mothers until 6-7 years Galdikas in her efforts in Borneo to research wild orang- old, learning how to survive. Females only give birth once utans, and to rehabilitate and care for young orangutans le- every eight years. They are omnivores, eating mainly fruit gally taken from people who had them as pets. Dr. Galdikas and leaves from the jungle trees and sometimes bark, inhad been chosen by Dr. Leakey as one of three women to sects and rarely meat. conduct great ape research, along with Jane Goodall and Today Tanjung Puting National Park in Central KalimanDian Fossey. Louise traveled to Borneo four times to work tan is habitat to the largest population of wild orangutans in Borneo. The park is over a million acres of mangroves, at Camp Leakey.
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black rivers and rain forest. However it’s also surrounded by palm oil plantations, mining, towns, farms, forest fires and poachers. Dr. Birute Galdikas continues her work to protect these wild orangutans and to educate the world about their plight. Her organization, Orangutan Foundation International, and other organizations are working to protect this endangered species and to educate the world about the importance of saving this animal before they become extinct. According to World Wildlife Foundation there are only about 41,000 orangutans in Borneo and 7500 in Sumatra. A century ago there were over 230,000 wild orangutans. Some experts indicate that the population has dropped by 50% in the last decade. The International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed orangutans on both countries as critically endangered in 2016. WWF says the biggest threats to orangutans today include palm oil plantations, other agricultural plantations, illegal and unsustainable logging, hunting and illegal wildlife trade, including pet trade. The palm oil industry is the leading cause of orangutan extinction according to Orangutan Foundation International, with 1000 – 5000 orangutans killed yearly in palm oil concessions. You can help simply by not buying products made with palm oil. Check out the 3 Easy Ways to Kick Palm Oil out of Your Life brochure. From Louise’s travel journal on her last visit to Borneo: “I was so disappointed in the changes from eight years ago that I was looking forward to my last day at Rimba Lodge, but when it did arrive I had misgivings. The experiences,
wonderful and not so good, were in my blood. I felt a sense of belonging as if I had lived here in a past life and would return in my next life.” Louise died in May 2011, and I miss her every day. She was more than my mother-in-law. She was an inspiration and best friend to me. I’m thankful that I got to travel with her to some remarkable and remote places in the world. Her motto was “If you act on your dreams, you can live them”. worldwildlife.org/species/orangutan orangutan.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ 3-Easy-Ways-to-Kick-Palm-Oil-Our-of-Your-Life.pdf iucnredlist.org/search · orangutan.org/
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ADOPTION CORNER Available from TCRAS Teller County Regional Animal Shelter tcrascolorado.com · 719.686.7707 NO-KILL shelter in Divide, Colorado
Available from San Luis Valley Animal Welfare Society slvaws.org · 719.587.woof (9663) · Non-Profit NO-KILL Shelter
Don’t have any other dogs, you would love these two together!
KEN & BARBIE. They would love a home together. 3 YEAR OLD MALE/NEUTERED DOMESTIC SHORTHAIR/MIX Hi. My name is Bronco. Don’t I have the coolest eyes? Well, if you think they are great, you should come by and meet me...I am a loving boy. I love to be petted and loved on. I may be a little shy when you first meet me, but I warm up quickly. I know my house manners. Now all I need is a home and family to call my own.
2 YEAR OLD MALE/NEUTERED BLOND/BLACK SHEPHERD/MIX Well hello my name is Jasper! I am a very handsome guy. I have a lot of energy to go hiking and learn new things, which is good since I have a lot to learn. I do need an owner who is able and willing to work with me on proper dog to dog introduction, give me proper boundaries, and help me with my fear and anxieties. Would like to meet you to see if we can be forever friends.
W TCR IS A HL S IS T
FOR DOGS • Busy Toys for dogs, e.g. Kongs • Hanging Stainless Steel Water Buckets • Dog Treats • Peanut Butter for Dogs Food for Dogs: • Science Diet Food (Adults Dogs and Puppies) • Science Diet Senior Food for Dogs • Science Diet Weight Management Food Adult Dogs • Grain Free Food for Dogs (e.g., 4Health at Tractor Supply) Miscellaneous Items: • Carabineers (150 lb. load) – for security kennels • Live Traps (cat size – sold as raccoon/skunk traps). Go to www.trucatchtraps.com to order.
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Neutered/spayed, current on vaccinations. They are each about 75 lbs. They play all day long together. They are approximately 2 years old.
EVIE 2 year old Golden Retriever mix. Children love her, wonderful family dog. Best as an only dog or with a male dog. Spayed, all vaccinations current.
ADOPTION FAIR
Every Saturday 11am to 5pm Petco Colorado Springs · 5020 N. Nevada
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Why Do Some Dogs Have Different-Colored Eyes? By Melissa Schindler - Cuteness Team
Most dogs have two matching eyes, but your pooch may be a bit different! Instead of having two brown eyes, one might be brown and the other blue. In most cases, thankfully, that one blue eye isn’t a cause for concern. One thing’s for sure regardless of cause -- having two differently-colored eyes gives your puppy quite the fascinating mug! When a pup has two different colored eyes, it’s called heterochromia. This literally means two different colors. While it can occur in humans, it’s not very common. It’s much more common in dogs, cats and horses. The distribution of melanin in the iris determines eye color. More melanin means he’ll have a darker eye, like brown. Less melanin results in green or blue eyes. Heterochromia can also cause one eye to lack melanin altogether. When his two eyes have different amounts of melanin, they’ll be two different colors. The most common combinations include brown, blue and white.
the two different colors since he was born, the cause is most likely genetic. BREEDS Some breeds are more likely to have two different colored eyes. Australian sheepdogs, Siberian huskies, American foxhounds, Alaskan malamutes and shih tzus are all more likely to have one blue eye. In dalmatians, having one or both eyes being blue is linked to deafness.
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY In most cases, heterochromia isn’t indicative of an underlying disease. However, since heterochromia can be a result of a disease like glaucoma, your pup should have his eyes checked out by his vet. Heterochromia has been linked to eye disorders such as cataracts, retinal dysplasia or an underdeveloped optic nerve. Let your vet know if Max has had the color anomaly since he was a puppy, or if it developed recently. She’ll also need to know if Max has any other CAUSES symptoms, like swelling or redness in his eyes that could Heterochromia is an inherited disorder. This means he got indicate another disorder. Always consult with a qualified the genes from his mom and dad. Some diseases or an in- veterinarian about the health and welfare of your pet. If jury to your puppy’s eye can cause it to change color and Max gets a clean bill of health, relax and enjoy your pup’s lead him to have two different colored peepers. If he’s had unique gaze.