Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center M AY 2 0 1 5
Happy Birthday Sweet 16Akela!
COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
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Help us raise funds to have a MUCH NEEDED Documentary made by Steel Shavings Production Company. Indiegogo.com - search PROJECT WOLF This short video - https://youtu.be/poKtsN_mAoA - touches on the reality of what is happening to wolves in the wild and what we are up against. Operation Wolf: Documentary will be a full length film to help spread awareness to the plight of wolvesbut in order to make this documentary a reality- we need YOUR help! Please follow the link below to the Indiegogo campaign to help raise the funds needed to complete the film. Help us raise awareness to stop the ongoing slaughter and pending extinction of the Gray Wolf in the US. Over 20% are killed annually in the lower 48 States. www.indiegogo.com/projects/operation-wolf-documentary#/story COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
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COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
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Full Moon Tours
Check-In
FM Feeding Tours
May 30................. 7:15pm
May 29 and 31
July 4................... 7:30pm
July 3 and 5
August 1.............. 7:15pm
July 31 and Aug 2
Aug 29................. 6:30pm
Aug 28 and 30
Sept 26................. 5:30pm
Sept 25 and 27
Oct 24.................. 5:00pm
Oct 23 and 25
Nov 28.................. 4:00pm
Nov 27 and 29
Dec 26.................. 4:00pm
Dec 27
Standard Full Moon Tour
Tour lasts approx. 1 hour. One Saturday night a month!
Full Moon Feeding Tour
Combines our FEEDING TOUR with our FULL MOON TOUR. The Friday before and Sunday after our regular Full Moon Tours. Free snacks and beverages plus a traditional group wolf howl will be performed at the end of the tour. Visit our website for more information. All special events,full moon tours and full moon feeding tours are pre-pay.
Reservation required! 719.687.9742 FUTURE SPECIAL EVENTS: JUNE 21st : Father’s Day Celebration · OCTOBER 31st : Howl-O-Ween Event NOVEMBER 26th : Thanksgiving Turkey Toss · DECEMBER 20th : Winter Wonderland
Our Fight for Wolves and Wildlife CWWC is starting an educational, emotional and powerful campaign with Fox 21 news starting in May and ending in August. The teaser topic is Endangered and Misunderstood. check out the first video at http://youtu.be/gi7MF_eOiHs
COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
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COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
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HUNTER WHO WON AUCTION KILLS RHINO
Ted Turner Ranch in New Mexico Caught in Wolf Debate ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Media mogul Ted Turner set out years ago to establish a fund to bolster the dwindling populations of everything from falcons and frogs to Mexican gray wolves, using the nearly 2 million acres he owns in a dozen western states as home base for the projects. Now, one of his New Mexico ranches is caught in a dispute between the state and federal wildlife officials over the management of the endangered wolves. New Mexico wildlife officials recently denied the Ladder Ranch’s bid to renew its permit for holding wolves in captivity as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s wolf reintroduction program. That triggered calls for Gov. Susana Martinez to reverse the decision, but ranchers are standing behind the governor. Rallies are planned Tuesday at the capitol. Environmentalists say the New Mexico Game Commission’s decision raises questions about private property rights. “We find it odd and inappropriate for state government to interfere with philanthropic activities conducted responsibly by a private landowner on private lands to offset expenses that otherwise would be borne by taxpayers,” a coalition of groups wrote in a letter to Martinez. The governor’s office has remained quiet about the permit decision. Under the Martinez administration, the state Game and Fish Department pulled out of the wolf-reintroduction program in 2011 and voted to end a trapping ban in wolf territory. Rules also were adopted last year to require that the commission — not just the department director— approve permits such as the one held by the Ladder Ranch for the past 17 years. During a meeting this month, commissioners pointed to the ranch’s participation in the effort to return Mexican gray wolves to the Southwest. They said they couldn’t
support renewing the permit because of concerns with the program and the lack of an updated recovery plan for wolves. Officials with the Turner Endangered Species Fund said while it’s frustrating that the plan hasn’t been updated since 1982, the Ladder Ranch program should not have been set aside. “I don’t know that tightening the screw that is the Ladder Ranch is the best way to say to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, ‘Doggone it, you need a recovery plan,’ “ Mike Phillips, the fund’s executive director, told The Associated Press. The Fish and Wildlife Service said the ranch served as an important location to prepare wolves for release in the wild and for housing wolves that needed to be removed from the wild for livestock kills or other problems. Federal biologists also planned to use the ranch’s pens for breeding and raising pups in the coming years. Despite the commission’s decision, the federal agency said it has a responsibility to continue with wolf reintroduction. The program has been hampered by politics, illegal killings and other factors. Disputes over the program’s management have spurred numerous legal actions by environmentalists who want more wolves released, and by ranchers concerned about their livelihoods and safety in rural communities. Ranchers said they supported the Martinez administration’s position on the wolf program, noting the absence of a recovery plan even though wolves have been on the ground in New Mexico and Arizona since 1998.
CWWC went to the rally in New Mexico in hopes of saving the Mexican Gray wolf. You can be a voice and write to the governor. They need your help NOW! Contact the Governor’s office and request respectfully that she put an end to her Commission’s anti-carnivore state wildlife policies, grant the Mexican wolf permit to Ladder Ranch, and rescind the rule giving the Commission this authority. 505-476-2200 COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
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Dallas - A Texas man who bid $350,000 to hunt a black rhinoceros in Africa in what was billed as a conservation fundraiser has killed one of the animals, a Dallas Safari Club official said Thursday. Corey Knowlton of Dallas shot a black rhino this week in Namibia, said Ben Carter, executive director of the Dallas Safari Club. Knowlton was the top bidder in the club’s January 2014 auction. The funds go to the Namibia Ministry of Environment
and Tourism, which issued the permit as part of efforts to cull the herd, Carter said. Opponents criticized plans to kill an endangered animal. Federal officials received thousands of letters opposing Knowlton being allowed to import the trophy. Knowlton shot a mature black rhino bull, considered detrimental to the herd, Carter said. Older bulls, when no longer breeding, can threaten other rhinos, Carter said.
FEED YOUR PET’S INNER VEGAN Veterinarians are beginning to preach the gospel of gardening -primarily how organic fruits and vegetables can be used to improve the health of family pets. Everything from carrots to leafy vegetables and fruit can be added to the cat or dog dish. That saves money on pet food, too. “I’m seeing things like broccoli, cucumbers, apples and pears showing up in animal diets,” said Dr. Eric Patrin, owner of the South Whidbey Animal Clinic in Clinton, Washington. “Many pet owners are using them as treats. Ten years ago, no way dogs would be getting that.” The No. 1 nutritional problem for pets today is that they’re eating way too much, which leads to obesity, diabetes and arthritis, said Dr. Johnny Clark, who operates the Blue Mountain Animal Clinic in Luray, Va. “You can’t exercise your way off a bad diet,” Clark said. “Go with smaller portions. And try introducing green beans. They’re rich in fiber and don’t have any unnecessary calories. They make a good filler and that’s just the ticket for animals needing to lose weight.” Carrots, leafy greens, blueberries and
Green Beans, Carrots And Broccoli Are Filling; Flowers May Be Toxic
blackberries also are great pet-food additions and can be served up raw, steamed or sautéed. Peppermint, catnip and rosemary are standard petgarden plants, although many mints -- including catnip -- can be invasive unless contained. Beware introducing amaryllis, rhododendron, chrysanthemum, dieffenbachia and lilies to your property. They are among the most toxic flora known for canines and felines. Dogs and cats are grazers, frequently nibbling on grass to soothe what ails them. The problem with that, however, is that many lawns are loaded with herbicides and pesticides. “I always thought lawns were supposed to be a family ref-
uge,” said John Harrison, sales and marketing manager for the Espoma Co., which makes organic fertilizers for the retail lawn and garden industry. “You can grow good lawns using chemicals.” The company has a “Safe Paws” campaign that emphasized natural gardening solutions. Organic weed and insect control extends well beyond lawns, he said “Look at the totality of the garden or landscape,” Harrison said. “There are a number of situations that can be changed to make yards more hospitable to pets.” Those include: (1) Keeping compost in closed containers. Garden wastes can make your pets sick if eaten while decomposing. (2) Mowing grass frequently to keep flea and tick numbers down and mitigate pets’ allergies. (3) Avoiding standing water that might contain bacteria, parasites, worms and mosquitoes. (4) Storing hazardous materials in a safe place. (5) For more about plants toxic to dogs and cats, see this Cornell University website: ansci.cornell.edu/plants/index.html
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Business after Hours-May 19th, 2015 We have been planning our event for Business after Hours of Woodland Park for several months, so when I woke to 3 inches of snow and a very gloomy forecast, I was devastated. I knew that even though we prepared for 200 guests with food and drink, we could end up with 2. There were many delays due to the rain and we scrambled the day before to try and finish the walkway to the amphitheater with over 30 tons of gravel. The skid-steer would sink about a foot with each turn of the wheel and it was not looking good. The clouds rolled in and more delays ensued. However, the animal spirits in the sky came to our defense and broke through the rain with a howl. The clouds parted and the sun came out for the beginning of the event until the very end. It was beautiful despite the rather brisk temperature. Everyone had a great time.
This is our sign built and created by Brian Sibell of Weststar Masonary. It is to the entrance of our new ampitheater which Brian did all of the block and stone work on. We are so proud of this! Thank you Brian!
We want to give special thanks to: David Biondo, Carmen Tapas Grill, Ute Pass Brewing Company & Wines of Colorado 路 Special thanks to: Woodland Park Chamber, Weststar Masonary & Donovan Johnson - and I want to personally thank my dream team staff and their family members for making our first Business After Hours a complete success! Thank you: Catherine C. / Scott, Danielle L., Alison K., Beth S. / Andy, Daniel P., Mackenzie D., Dani L., Diane V., & Mike H. Behind the Scenes Team: Michelle S., Katie G., David F., Michelle H., Barb B., Colleen P. COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
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COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
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May in the rockies
Donated picture by Olivia Bigley an 8th grade student at the Eagleview Middle School
ADOPT ME FROM TCRAS the no-kill shelter in Divide, CO 719.686.7707 · tcrascolorado.com
Key
Looking for a gorgeous yellow-eyed friend? Go no further! I’m the one for you. My name’s Key! I must say, it hasn’t been easy for me to move to the shelter, so please be patient with me as I can be a little shy. Give me a chance, and I’m sure we can be buddies too!
OJ Hey! I’m OJ. Can we be friends? Meeting strangers can be intimidating for me at first so please don’t be offended if I’m not my normal friendly self upon first introduction. Give me a chance, and I’m sure we can be best buds. I’m a very curious boy...I turn my head sideways when I’m trying to figure things out...it’s pretty darn cute. Could you please open your heart to a handsome guy like me? I would really like to have a nice home to live and a family to love.
adopt me from
SLV Animal Welfare Society · slvaws.org · 719.587.woof (9663) Non-Profit Shelter · Monetary Donations Always Needed
Please give these abandoned brothers, Butch and Bandit, a home together. 2 years old, neutered, all vacc’s. Sweet pups!
Miami Yoder Elementary School COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
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Spice was abandoned with 5 babies. She is good with children and other dogs. Fully vetted.
COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
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Gardening Thoughts
by Katie Geist
Saving Water with Cactus and Succulents At this time of year many of us have already planned our gardens. At CWWC we are still waiting for the snow to end so that we can fill our pots with annuals. No matter where you live our environment needs us all to be water wise and conservation minded. This means being aware of what you plant, how you plant it and where you place it. Cactus and succulents are great choices because of their low water requirements. There are varieties that can grow in most outside gardens, and they make wonderful houseplants. My brother specializes in growing cactus and succulents in Colorado. He has several hundred plants growing in his home that he has started from scratch. He was happy to write the follow-
ing for CWWC’s newsletter. “Southern Colorado – where the Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center is located - is listed as being a high elevation desert. The trees, bushes, plants, flowers and ground cover all reflect this lack of moisture. It also allows certain species of cactus to thrive in the area. Locally you can find several Plains Prickly Pear Cactus varieties – Opuntia Polycantha and Opuntia Phaeacantha, as well as a little gem of a cactus called the Beehive Cactus – Escobaria Vivipara. I run a little operation wherein I propagate new plants from existing ones – mostly cactus and succulents, including the local ones. It is called Prickly Propagations in Colorado Springs. Cactus and succulents can
be propagated from seed – which is a long slow process – or from cuttings, splittings, pups, leaves and pads – which is what I tend to do. It is remarkable to see the life force in a cactus cutting – the pad can be severed from the main plant at its node and it will bend and reach for the sun, contorting its body as it does so. If laid on the ground or on soil the pad will send out roots anchoring it in place and will then regenerate into a new plant. I have plants for sale – at local shops and at farmers markets or even direct.” Mark Burski Prickly Propagations, LLC Pricklyprop@gmail.com
Many of us think that cactus and succulents are only for desert gardens, but they can add interest and texture to most gardens. Check out your local nurseries and your local Extension Agency for more information on growing these remarkable plants. They may surprise you!
COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
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