June/July 2012 newsletter

JUNE 路 JULY 2012

A SECOND Chance...

FIRE MITIGATION With the recent threat from the Springer Fire that burned over 1100 acres just west of the wolf center, we are in

desperate need of financial donations and volunteers to help do some MAJOR fire mitigation around the center.

It will cost upwards of $20,000 to hire crews to cut trees, and clear areas surrounding CWWC. If you get a group of 5 or more people who are good workers (16 & older) and can commit to at least 6 hours, you will receive a free wolf tour.

Offer good until the end of July.

Chance, who is the wolfdog we rescued - went to her new home on June 17th. She was renamed Keana by her new owner Josh. After 2 weeks of getting to know her we felt that this relationship was a good match. Keana had 72 hours to live and now she has a lifetime.

Colorado Wolf And Wildlife Center | PO Box 713 | Divide, CO 80814 | 719.687.9742

CONSERVATION · EDUCATION · PRESERVATION We sent out an email requesting people get involved in a serious matter threatening the lives of 377 wolves. Thank you to all who made your voice known in support of the protection of these beautiful creatures...

Here are a some comments from a few of our supporters....

Thanks for sending. I made public comment.

M. Spencer Helping our community. As most of you know by now, we had another big fire west of Cripple Creek out towards 11-Mile Reservoir. Over 150 horses had to be evacuated to the Teller County Fairgrounds. Being in the Haymen fire in 2002 and understanding the threat to animals including ourself at this time, we donated hay to help care for the evacuated horses.

They only had one little tiny barrel out there for water, so Jack, Missie and Jeff hauled one of the tanks from the Donkey Pen to the Fairgrounds to help get the horses through the night.

Many thanks for that--- I have sent them an e-mail suggesting that these brave intrepid hunters join the Army and take on bigger game in such lovely places as Afghanistan.

That way they can also see what happens when that particular species of game have their ways of hunting and dealing with trapped and injured game.

C. Addams Regards, Rhiannon Hi and thanks for bringing this to our attention. I have today sent my thoughts to Montana - I copy them below.

Regards, R. Parker “I cannot believe that anyone can even consider allowing such mindless barbarity against other living creatures. The indiscriminate nature of the traps should be outlawed nation if not world wide to prevent unnecessary suffering. There should only be controlled hunting where the animals have proven to be harming the environment or other at risk species. Hunters should be tested to ensure they have the necessary skills to kill without wounding and again causing unnecessary suffering. I would urge you to reconsider the proposal and not to introduce any hunting at all. It is an honour to have these animals in your area - treat them appropriately.”

SHADOW IS GROWING LIKE A WEED...

Colorado Wolf And Wildlife Center | PO Box 713 | Divide, CO 80814 | 719.687.9742

CONSERVATION 路 EDUCATION 路 PRESERVATION

Volunteers from the Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology came up Barb and Kekoa and helped us out this month Leah and Darlene talking Kekoa on a fun walk

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T-SHIRTS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT THE VISITOR CENTER Colorado Wolf And Wildlife Center | PO Box 713 | Divide, CO 80814 | 719.687.9742

CONSERVATION 路 EDUCATION 路 PRESERVATION

Colorado Wolf And Wildlife Center | PO Box 713 | Divide, CO 80814 | 719.687.9742

CONSERVATION · EDUCATION · PRESERVATION

coming soon The World of Wolves new ipad app featuring The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is slated to launch in the next week or so on itunes.

We hope everyone will download it, share it with their friends and enjoy this fact-filled app about wolves.

The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center (CWWC), located in Divide Colorado, is a publicly accessible 501(c)3 wildlife sanctuary which provides educational outreach about Wolves, Foxes, and Coyotes.

Originally founded in 1993 by its current director Darlene Kobobel, CWWC has risen to the top in care for their animals and positive impact for wolves throughout the United States.

CWWC is one of the very few sanctuaries in the entire United States which has been Certified by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). With this title we are able to go beyond education and into application. CWWC actively participates in the Species Survival Program by providing a home to a pair of endangered Mexican Grey Wolves and four Swift Fox. Today, the sanctuary is home to over a dozen wolves, several foxes, and coyotes. It is open to the public year-round offering exceptional quality educational tours for a minimal fee. CWWC also offers a variety of unique, once in a lifetime, opportunities to interact with their wolves one on one during special VIP tours and other special events.

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED

COLORADO WOLF and WILDLIFE CENTER 719-687-9742 · Divide, CO 80814 · www.wolfeducation.org

ARCTIC WOLVES

INTRODUCTION:

MEXICAN GREY

HOME

LEARN MORE

FREE DOWNLOAD AT

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

© Jean-edouard Rozey

TIMBER WOLVES

The Red wolf (C. lupus rufus) is considered to be a critically endangered subspecies of the Grey wolf found in the southeast United States, specifically in the southern section of the Appalachian mountains. Red wolves are among the smaller subspecies of the Grey wolf and less is known about the taxonomic origins.

HEIGHT: 26 in (shoulder height) LENGTH: 4 ft (nose to tail) WEIGHT: 45-80 lbs.

AGE:

7-10 years (in the wild)

RED WOLVES

HOME

LEARN MORE

Colorado Wolf And Wildlife Center | PO Box 713 | Divide, CO 80814 | 719.687.9742

CONSERVATION · EDUCATION · PRESERVATION

SUMMER INTERNS & VOLUNTEERS My name is Michelle Smith, I was born and raised in Colorado. When I was born,my parents had a german shepherd puppy so we grew up together. He was probably one of the reasons I became an animal lover. Throughout my childhood, I was around animals, and I wanted to be a vet when I grew up. When I was five, my mom took me to a wolf program at a local nature park- it was actually Darlene with Chinook. Seeing a wolf that day set the stage for the rest of my life, but I didn’t know it at the time. A few years later I was at an animal sanctuary and I got the wolves to howl with me when no one else could - after that, I was all about wolves.

Throughout high school I still was not sure what I wanted to do with my life, I still thought that maybe I’d be a vet, so I began to volunteer at our local vet office. While I learned a lot there and the experience was rewarding, it still wasn’t what I wanted to do. After I graduated high school as class salitorian, I followed my brother’s foot steps and attended Colorado State. I joined their zoology program, hoping to work with wildlife, especially wolves. Unfortunately, I realized that the zoology degree they had to offer included several semesters of chemistry, a subject I never have been able to understand or enjoy. For the first time in my life I was failing school.

After struggling at CSU for three semesters, I decided I’d try a different path and attend my local community college back home. I left CSU to attend Pikes Peak Community College and join their ZooKeeping Technology Program. Upon attending PPCC I realized that this was the program I had been looking for- one where I actually got to take classes where I learned about animals and got to work with them hands on.

The program requires us to complete three different internships. I knew I wanted to work with large carnivores, specifically, wolves. When

time came for me to start my first internship, I decided I wanted to do it at CWWC. So far, being here has been very rewarding. All the people here are wonderful, and of course the animals are amazing. I truly enjoy getting to interact with my favorite animals every day that I am here. My favorite wolves at the center were difficult to pick out. Of course there’s Tala and Na’vi who are super social and love attention, then there are the Mexican Greys who have this amazing look and sense of awe about them, Nakai who gave my whole face a good washing with his tongue, and everyone else. But I always come back to Zaltana and Kwahadi. They just seem to have this feel about them, that if I ever got to see a wolf in the wild, it would be like them. Shy, elusive, with a howl that sounds like it belongs in a movie. They always approach from behind, and Zaltana scent rubs like it is her one and only job, it’s absolutely fantastic. They both love scent enrichment, more than the other wolves I think. The first time I laid down some curry powder in their enclosure, they both rolled in it with so much excitement that they rolled down the entire hill! I look forward to spending more time with both of them.

When I am not at the wolf center I am working, taking care of my pets; a two year old motley corn snake and a two year old boa constrictor, or seeing my friends. I also have several cats who like to play with laser pointers while I watch tv. I have several hobbies, including drawing, writing, and especially photography.

It is my hope to one day write short stories for children. My biggest hope is to one day be able to see a wild wolf here in Colorado, and see thriving packs across much of their native range. I hope to inspire and educate so that wildlife of all species great and small will have a place on this earth in the future.

My name is Lianna Ferguson. I am 21 years old and from Broadalbin, NY. I am a senior at the State University of New York at Cobleskill. I am majoring in Wildlife Management. About 3 years ago, my family rescued a wolf-dog. Unlike most scenarios concerning wolf dogs, it was the best thing that could happen for me. It sparked an interest in me that I never knew I had; an interest for wolves and the health of ecosystems.

Our world is changing, there is no doubt about that. Every species in an ecosystem has its niche. When a species is taken out of the equation, the foundation of the ecosystem crumbles; we are seeing the repercussions of these type of situations all over the world as we speak. Wolves, unfortunately are one of those keystone species that have been extirpated in most places, and not in the most humane of ways. Wolves are a predator species, that have endured a life of heartless torture, hatred and disrespect from humans. They are a species that is deeply misunderstood. My life goal would be to make a difference for these animals; trying to make right what we have done wrong for so many decades. Interning at Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center this summer, has truly been a once in a lifetime experience. I believe it has given me an insiders look at the effort, and passion needed in order for a center to be successful. Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center has touched the hearts of so many. A wildlife center, such as this one, is rare. Darlene, and the staff are truly the greatest group of people I have ever met. You can just sense the passion and love that everyone has for these animals, as soon as you walk in. I feel so grateful that I have been given this opportunity, it has truly changed my life. I have one more year till I obtain my Bachelors of Technology in Wildlife Management at SUNY Cobleskill. I then plan to further my studies in forest ecosystems.

Colorado Wolf And Wildlife Center | PO Box 713 | Divide, CO 80814 | 719.687.9742

CONSERVATION · EDUCATION · PRESERVATION My name is Corinne Santoro and I just finished my first year as an undergrad at Duke University in North Carolina. My father is in the U.S. Army, and as a result, I have moved from state to state or even country to country my whole life. Just after I graduated from my high school in Maryland, my family moved to Divide, Colorado, while I stayed behind with friends. Until my school’s winter break, I had not spent more than a few days at my new home.

It was during those three weeks of break I realized that with no friends and a busy family I needed to find something to do. That is why I originally decided to volunteer for the Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center. That and a lifetime fascination with wolves.

This last month working with Darlene, all of the other volunteers, and the wolves has been a true blessing. My main two goals were met: keep busy and make some friends. But I also learned so much. As a political science and economics major at Duke, it is hard to imagine that I would have learned the things I did about wolves, conservation, and the real problems that we as humans are causing if I had not spent my time at CWWC. Sadly, my time at the center is about to end. I will be leaving to spend the rest of my summer in Vietnam, doing service-learning projects through the Duke Engage Program. I know I will enjoy my time there and will make lasting relationships and memories. However, I will always be thinking back to the friends (animals and people) I made at the center. I can’t wait to come back for winter break!

I'm Leah Kruckman from Libertyville, IL. I will be a junior at Beloit College in Wisconsin in the fall and am majoring in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. I hope to attend veterinary school once I finish my undergraduate degree. I play volleyball and basketball for Beloit and even made it to the NCAA tournament my freshman year for volleyball. I love working at the center this summer and hope to be able to come back next summer. I love all of the wolves but Keara and Micah are definitely two of my personal favorites. Micah is so playful and frequently likes to play tug-of-war with my arm. Keara is a sweetheart and shy but loves to get belly rubs when Micah will back off for a brief moment.

My name is Andrew Yocum. I am going to be a senior at CSU Fort Collins this coming fall. I am studying zoology there, and plan to go into conservation, but that is still subject to change. I have enjoyed my previous years at CSU so far, through the good times and the bad. However, it is great to finally get out and apply a little bit of what I have learned, as well as teach others.

What really got me interested in working at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center was a paper that I wrote for one of my classes that touched upon wolves and their pack structure. Though there was only a little bit on wolves, I began to notice my curiosity peaking in that subject. I was delighted to hear that there was a place near Colorado Springs where I could go to learn more.

I was even more excited when I found out I could be interning at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center. I enjoy being outdoors for most of the day and being encompassed by nature, at least until I get a sunburn. It’s also great to interact with wolves, since not everybody can say that they can experience it.

My favorite wolf so far at the CWWC is Na’Vi. The reason why is his gorgeous black fur and his stunning eyes. He is a black phase gray wolf, and will eventually become grayer as he ages. His bright yellow eyes really stand out against his fur, which is cool and a little intimidating. However he is very gentle to those who enter his enclosure, and always likes to get pet.

Colorado Wolf And Wildlife Center | PO Box 713 | Divide, CO 80814 | 719.687.9742

CONSERVATION · EDUCATION · PRESERVATION CWWC special events : these tours and events are in addition to our standard 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm tours

FEEDING FEST TOUR

FULL MOON TOUR July 7 & 8*

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday CALL FOR TIMES

Wear warm clothes and good boots.

Bring a camera and flashlight.

Cocoa and coffee will be provided

Meet our resident animals during the feeding tour and observe them when they are most active...feeding time! Learn about hunting, howling and hierarchy and communicate with the pack in a group howl!

ADULTS $25 · KIDS $15 (8-12 yrs) No kids under 8

Adults $20 Kids 12 & under $10

Check in by 7:30pm.

Meet and greet one of our wolves at 8pm Tour starts immediately after and lasts approximately 1 hour.

Future Full Moon Tours August 4 & 5* · September 1 & 2* October 27 & 28* · November 24 December 29 *the first date must be full before the second date opens

walk on the wild side Thursday & Sunday CALL FOR TIMES Start by walking with a guide through the Center and seeing the wolves, coyote and fox then prepare for a 1/2 mile walk with one of our wolves down a dirt forest road.

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED FOR ALL TOURS AND SPECIAL EVENTS 719-687-9742

All tours have limited space and we have a no-cancellation policy from May-October

Colorado Wolf And Wildlife Center | PO Box 713 | Divide, CO 80814 | 719.687.9742

CONSERVATION · EDUCATION · PRESERVATION

The revelation, along with photographic proof, that at least three coyote puppies were recently born in Golden Gate Park raises some interesting questions about the future of the park - namely, how much time before roving packs of yipping wild predators drive humans and their decidedly un-wily pets out?

That, at least, is what the alarmists are asking, and the answer, according to the experts, is “never.” The presence of coyotes in the city is good for the ecosystem, city officials and wildlife experts said, even if a few feral cats go missing.

“It is important that people recognize that coyotes are part of our ecosystem and that they have intrinsic value and ecological value,” said Camilla Fox, the executive director of Project Coyote, a Larkspur nonprofit that consults with cities, ranchers and other groups on ways to live with coyotes without resorting to bullets, traps and poison.

Coyotes, she said, “keep the rodent population and other mesocarnivores - like foxes, skunks and raccoons - in check, which helps songbird and groundnesting bird populations.”

The cute, furry pups, born this spring, bring the number of coyotes living in San Francisco to 13, according to the best estimates of city Animal Care and Control officials. It is part of a Bay Areawide coyote population explosion and a remarkable migration of the wily canines from the suburbs into the city over the past decade.

Sightings of the clever carnivores began in 2004 in the Presidio, creating excitement and a good deal of puzzlement over how the animals got there. Answers came shortly after the first encounter when Golden Gate Bridge officials looked at a videotape that showed a coyote trotting across the bridge in the middle of the night.

Dogs can be aggressors

Sometimes, Katz said, dogs are actually the aggressors. An off-leash rottweiler was recently videotaped confronting two coyotes, which then harried the dog in an apparent attempt to prevent it from entering a den area, but no actual contact was made.

To guard against incidents like that, city officials have cordoned off trails, barricaded a restroom and put up “Be Coyote Aware” signs along John F. Kennedy Drive in the Chain of Lakes area, where the coyote family is known to have set up housekeeping.

Animal control officers are urging people to keep dogs on leash in the area and discouraging people from feeding coyotes. Several folks who feed feral cats in the park have been told not to leave the food out, lest they draw the coyotes to the area. A recent study in the Malibu area found that 13.6 percent of coyote scat contained cat remains.

Once plentiful in San Francisco

There was once a native population of coyotes. They were plentiful in San Francisco long before Europeans arrived, according to historical and fossil records, but the local population was killed off around the time of the Gold Rush.

Time was, and not long ago either, when such varmints loped fearlessly among the chaparral where now stand blocks of buildings.

Coyotes are not normally aggressive against humans or dogs, Fox said, but they will protect their dens from intruders during the pup-rearing season, which lasts from April through August.

“What we are trying to do now is get more people educated about coexistence.

It’s not an option for us to remove them.

We’re not willing to kill off the coyotes.

We think we should learn to coexist.”

Local residents and businesses have been warned not to leave garbage out.

“One of the ways we keep the population from being overly large is to not provide them with unnatural resources, like food from feeding or from garbage cans,” Katz said. “That way the population should stay relatively stable.”

Shorter life expectancy

Those worried about coyotes taking over the park should calm down, Fox said. Coyotes in urban areas often get hit by cars or suffer in other ways. Coyote pups generally have a 50 to 70 percent mortality rate in urban areas, she said.

“Coyotes are self-regulating in that they will not exceed the biological carrying capacity of the area,” Fox said. “Life expectancy is shorter in urban areas.”

Colorado Wolf And Wildlife Center | PO Box 713 | Divide, CO 80814 | 719.687.9742

CONSERVATION · EDUCATION · PRESERVATION A note we received from the Indiana Coyote Rescue Center

Since we spoke last, things at the rescue seem to be looking up. We have found the direction we want to take ICRC in and have come up with some pretty fantastic plans for the facility once we have some of the animals placed. I recently traveled to the Wolf Mountain Nature Center in upstate NY run by Will Pryor. He has 75 acres and arctic wolves, arctic foxes, and newly recruited coyote pups. We went up there to help him socialize his coyotes, as they are so much different than the wolves he is used to. It was beyond beautiful the way he has his place set up. All the animals in massive enclosures, happy, and very well taken care of. He had a lot of interesting ideas incorporated into his facility that he shared with us and showed us how to incorporate into our own. It has been an exciting couple of months getting plans drawn up and finally being able to see ourselves where we want and need to be for the betterment of not just out coyotes, but bringing education to N. America about them effectively.

Unfortunately, we desperately need donations to get these things done. We have some building projects to do, so we are always in need of lumber from 2x4s to sheets of plywood and whatever else we can scrounge together to make better coyote housing, play decks for enrichment, platforms for the foxes, etc. Money is also an issue. We have a wish list on our website, but it is far from complete. We are in need of so much right now that it has been nearly impossibly to choose which items we need the most as of right now. Thank you so very much for helping us in our time of need.

ICRC Wish List 1) money donations 2) building supplies (lumber/plywood) 3) air compressor (any size) 4) weed eater 5) stainless steel water buckets 6) padlocks for gates www.coyoterescue.org PO Box 275, Burlington IN 46915 · 765-566-3800 indianacoyote@gmail.com

e mails

Dear wonderful people of the center,

On June 7th, my husband and I were there on our anniversary and had our lives changed with the help of Micah and Keara.

Afterwards, on the tour, we learned the true plight of the wolves and it broke our hearts. I knew immediately that I wanted to do what I could to help be a “voice”. As I mentioned to our tour guide (I’m sorry, I forgot her name, but she was great), when I returned home I would put something on my website.

I’ve inserted a link below to show that it has been done, I hope it helps, and what you are doing there makes a difference.

The wolves just got another voice.

Thank you, for the experience.

Sincerely, Pol McShane www.polmcshane.com Dear Darlene and Diane, We have totally enjoyed the visit, learnt much and are grateful that your organization is looking out for a very misunderstood creature. Thank you for being such good stewards of our wildlife. Looking forward to visiting you all again.

Warmest regards Sandy Leow Subject Head of Literature - Raffles Girls’ School (Sec)

WE LOVE to hear from you.... email us at tours@wolfeducation.org Like Us on Facebook

Colorado Wolf And Wildlife Center | PO Box 713 | Divide, CO 80814 | 719.687.9742

CONSERVATION · EDUCATION · PRESERVATION Vieques Humane Society - Vieques, Puerto

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Rico, a small island located off the mainland’s east coast, for many years offered no veterinary or animal rescue services. During the early 1980’s, a handful of concerned immigrants from the states and a few local residents took a serious interest in improving the welfare of the animals. They began by feeding the island’s multitudinous strays and soliciting the help of veterinarians from Puerto Rico to sterilize them. By 1987, the Vieques Humane Society and Animal Rescue, Inc. was officially established as a non-profit organization. Today they still offer the only veterinary services on the island and have developed strong community based programs.

See available dogs at www.viequeshumanesociety.org CWWC will help you cover the adoption fees call us for information 719.687.9742

working together to make a difference...

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” ~ Immanual Kant

Mexican Grey Wolves www.mexicanwolves.org

Natural Resources Defense Council www.nrdc.org

www.aza.org www.projectcoyote.org

www.defendersofwildlife.org

become a fan of CWWC

“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.”

Wild Earth Guardians

www.wildearthguardians.org

For current wolf articles and to be a voice through knowledge

~ Martin Buber

...conservation education preservation Information presented on this newsletter is considered public information (unless otherwise noted) and may be distributed or copied.

Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credit is requested. Some of the documents in this newsletter may contain live feed references (or pointers) to information created and maintained by other organizations. Please note that CWWC does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of these outside materials.

NEWSLETTER BY: Melissa Macis | smallspaceorganizer@gmail.com