Colorado Wolf AND WILDLIFE CENTER AUGUST 2017
ORENDA LOVES THE ATV
A Message from WildEarth Guardians
Time is running out.
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.
Speak out and defend our public lands from fracking. Tell President Trump and his Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke that that the American people come before the profits of the fossil fuel industry. On behalf of oil and gas companies, Trump and Zinke are giving away our public lands at a furious pace. Now the two are moving to auction off 98,000 acres of Montana and 2,100 acres of New Mexico for fracking. They stand to sell our lands for as low as $2.00 an acre. Their aim is to surrender our public lands to the fossil fuel industry, undermine clean energy in America, and destroy our climate. WildEarth Guardians is stepping up to challenge these ghastly fossil fuel plans, but they need your help to win. Join us as we rise up. Send a letter today so we can show Trump and Zinke that Americans object to their attempts to sacrifice our public lands for oil and gas. Our public lands are our lifeblood here in the American West. Yet Trump and Zinke’s plans would decimate our lands and our heritage. In Montana, the iconic plains of the Powder River Basin are in industry’s crossharis . And in New Mexico, the Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns National Park are all facing increased pressure from fracking. Our western wildlife, our clean air and water, our communities, our climate all stand to lose while companies like Exxon and BP win big. This has to stop. Make your voice heard. Join us today as we speak out and keep up the fight for our lands and our future. To learn more, visit www.wildearthguardians.org
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.
To subscribe to our newsletter, visit our website at
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Always on a mission
Keara had a condition known as mammary hyperplasia. Fortunately, it was benign Thank you again to the amazing staff at The Animal Clinic of Woodland Park
To Save Elephants, New York To Crush Nearly 2 Tons Of Ivory “Crushing the ivory shows that the ivory has no value, so people can stop killing the elephants,” a Wildlife Conservation Society spokesman says.
By Nina Golgowski · huffingtonpost.com
A rock crusher in New York’s Central Park destroyed nearly two tons of ivory recently to try to help end the illegal trade of the material. The destruction of piles of confiscated tusks, statues, and jewelry aims to send a clear, public message against the slaughter of African elephants. “These crushes raise awareness,” John Calvelli, a spokesman for the Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs the city’s zoos, told the New York Daily News. “Crushing the ivory shows that the ivory has no value, so people can stop killing the elephants.” The ivory being destroyed was confiscated thanks to a New York ban on ivory sales, a state law passed in 2014. The confiscated goods have a value of more than $8 million, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The NY law, which prohibits the purchase and sale of ivory and rhino horn and increases penalties for wildlife traffickers, has led to increased confiscations and prosecutions — as have state laws in other ivory markets and the federal ban,” the council says in a blog post. New York has been one of the top markets for elephant ivory in the U.S., WABC News reported.
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HAPPENIN’ AROUND CWWC
I’m Orenda - who are you?
Staff/Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
Orenda ‘s first Full Moon Tour meet & greet
Kids Tour
Orenda submitting to Shyla
We toured your facility and did an Alpha tour yesterday and while there something wonderful happened. I was proposed to while in with Kekoa. Your staff was so kind and wonderful and incredibly accommodating in helping my fiancé plan this. I wanted to include a photo taken there and say thank you so much to your entire staff and Sierra who guided us on the tour and helped make the day so special. Megan
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Goodbyes
On July 12, 2017, Theresa Collins a licensed Colorado wildlife rehabilitator was contacted by Julie Stiver a wildlife biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and wildlife biologist Melissa Whittingslow from USFW/Air Force Academy. They requested help housing a family of swift fox they wanted to remove from a runway den and re-release to a more suitable area. Melissa worked closely with Darlene Kobobel a sub licensee under Theresa Collins’ wildlife rehabilitation license. We are so HAPPY to release our 4 swift fox family back to the wild. They were released in an area where there are plenty of rodents and open prairie. We wish them the best of success.
This morning (Aug 13th) we soft released the first of our seven rehab raccoons. Gus was released on the property. He is the largest of the raccoons and has an even larger personality. He is very, very excited to be outside and has starting making his new home already.
Goodbye our sweet little girl Lika
A goodbye kiss to Ellie
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Almost 1 year since Shunka passed and this poppy was found growing wild across from where he went to the spirit world.
Nature Movie Night ...working hard!
When: September 3rd, 2017 · 7:30-10pm Where: Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center amphitheater Cost: Free, however donations are appreciated 16 and older only please What to Bring: Blanket or warm clothing - You will be outside
What better way to spend the evening then to watch a movie and talk about our planet and wolves under the stars?
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Call 719-687-9742 to reserve. RESERVATIONS ONLY! COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER | 9 |
CONSERVATION CORNER
AFRICAN WILD DOGS
Written by Ellie Cookson, one of our wonderful summer interns.
African wild dogs are some of the most successful predators in Africa, with at least one in every three hunts ending in success. The African wild dog, scientific name Lycaon pictus, is one of the world’s most endangered canids. While their numbers used to range throughout sub-Saharan Africa in 39 countries, there is now only a small population estimated to be between 3000-6600 roaming in southern Africa and the southern part of East Africa. Their habitat can range from arid zones and open plains to dense bush, woodland, and mountainous areas depending on where their prey resides. Like wolves, the African wild dogs form packs, usually consisting of related females, related males, and pups from the reproductive pair. The reproductive pair are also usually the dominant male and female, similar to how our parents are in charge in our families! Although they may have similar pack
structures to wolves, African wild dogs are much more social than wolves and aggression within packs is usually muted. It is this increased degree of socialization and cooperation that is thought to be the cause of their successful hunts. Wolves are only successful in their hunts about 15-20% of the time whereas African wild dogs are some of the most successful predators in Africa, with at least one in every three hunts ending in success. Interestingly, you can observe their increased social behavior through looking at their resting patterns and amount of physical contact. Wild dogs like to maintain physical contact with each other, and while resting, tend to stay closer together. Because of these close social ties, it is believed that it makes the hunt easier and more successful!
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The reason for their endangerment is similar to most animals; humans. Habitat loss through human expansion is a large factor, but it is complimented by accidental and targeted killings by humans. This can be through snaring, shooting, and even vehicular accidents, but most targeted killings are caused by conflict with those who depend on livestock and agriculture for their livelihood. Current conservation efforts by organizations such as WWF and the African Wildlife Foundation are aiming to create protected areas of land such as game reserves, as well as creating wildlife corridors for animals to safely roam in between game reserves without conflict with humans. Other efforts done by organizations such as the Af-
rican Wild Dog Conservancy is working on a community based conservation effort which is investigating the conservation status and community opinion on wild dogs in new areas such as Kenya. These efforts will hopefully lead to increased knowledge and education about the wild dog within local communities, as well as increasing potential habitat connectivity and new refuge areas for wild dogs to reside. This project by the AWDC has actually been identified as a wild dog conservation priority by the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group and the AZA/Wild Dog Species Survival Program. We hope that this amazing animal that has been endangered for around 20 years now, will start to rebound!
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ADOPTION CORNER
ADOPTION CORNER
Available from TCRAS · Teller County Regional Animal Shelter
Available from San Luis Valley Animal Welfare Society
tcrascolorado.com · 719.686.7707 · NO-KILL shelter in Divide, Colorado
slvaws.org · 719.587.woof (9663) · Non-Profit NO-KILL Shelter
sampson
ADOPTION FAIR Saturdays 11am-5pm at the Petco in Colorado Springs at 5020 N. Nevada
AGE: 1 y 9 m 1 d SEX: Male/Neutered White/Blue Bulldog, American/Mix Hi. My name is Sampson and I am a great boy looking for a forever home. I know my house manners. I get along with other dogs. I do have to tell you that I can be a bit shy at first, but once we become friends, you will be my bestest friend. Please come and meet me so we can start our friendship.
nick
7 years old, very affectionate. Gets along with other dogs. Husky/shepherd, neutered. Surrendered because of owner’s health problems.
bobbi AGE: 8 y 3 m 1 d SEX: Female/Spayed Grey/White Domestic Shorthair/Mix Hi. My name is Bobbi. I am looking for a new forever home because my human passed away. I am a pretty petite girl. I know my house manners, but do best with a larger covered cat box...a girl must have her privacy. I would love a warm sunny spot to spend my days and a warm lap to snuggle in. I will be waiting for you so we can start our new life together. | 12 | COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER
Photo credit Shirley Huckle
lanny Lanny was rescued from a hoarding situation. Very loving, mellow. Age unknown. Lab mix, neutered. Very energetic but needs to lose a few pounds.
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IN THE GARDEN WITH KATIE
Indian Paintbrush One wildflower stands out in Colorado when you’re hiking in the high country or meandering across a meadow or field, the Indian Paintbrush. This wildflower’s bright red or scarlet color beckons you to get a closer look. There are about 200 varieties of Indian Paintbrush, also known as Prairie Fire, in western North America, South America and northern Asia. They grow in deserts, dry, sandy prairies, scrublands and woodlands (and at Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center). Some interesting facts about Indian Paintbrush: • Native Americans used it as a condiment, medicine, and dye. They also used it as a hair wash. • Wyoming made it the state flower in January 2017. • The flower top looks as if it’s been dipped in bright red paint, leading to its name Indian Paintbrush • Cultivation is difficult because Indian Paintbrush is a parasite and requires a “host” plant to grow. • Indian Paintbrush propagates via seeds or by division of their underground stem. • They don’t like to be transplanted. • Indian Paintbrush will bloom from May through September, attracting hummingbirds. • They are perennial plants, coming back year after year, though some varieties are annuals, living only one year. Since these wildflowers are not easy to add to your garden, enjoy them in their natural environment and take lots of photos.