My wife Cathy and I spent a wonderful weekend in Ely, Minnesota. We volunteered at the International Wolf Center, spending an educational and satisfying two days cleaning out the wolf enclosures, hauling out last winter's straw and doing other chores. The retired pack enclosure got cedar chips and grass seed, some new fencing in the holding area, plus we got to hide bonedust meatballs in the Ambassador pack's enclosure. When the animals--the two gray wolves and two arctic wolves--were let back in, they trotted excitedly around the enclosure in search of treats. Fun to watch them sniff out the meatballs.
We got to observe the wolf curator, Lori Schimidt, give the animals their daily check and meds, plus got to see the animals closer than visitors to the center usually do.
The wolves were much more active than I'd seen on previous visits, moving around, quite visible. Shadow, the pack leader, started getting agitated with the intruders---us. He started to bark, then bark-howl. Lori said if you hear this in the woods you know you've really upset a wolf. The other animals rallied around their leader and chimed in. Shadow hopped onto the large rock in the enclosure and led the other three animals in howls and bark-howls. Position is important. The pack leader has to be up front or above the other animals to demonstrate his authority. When Shadow stopped the others ceased.
Minnesota has a population of over 3,300 wolves. We were the only state in the continental United States that didn't exterminate all it's wolves back in the early to mid twentieth century. They're fascinating animals. Great trip. Our second book deals with the wolves of northern Minnesota. ---Michael
We got to observe the wolf curator, Lori Schimidt, give the animals their daily check and meds, plus got to see the animals closer than visitors to the center usually do.
The wolves were much more active than I'd seen on previous visits, moving around, quite visible. Shadow, the pack leader, started getting agitated with the intruders---us. He started to bark, then bark-howl. Lori said if you hear this in the woods you know you've really upset a wolf. The other animals rallied around their leader and chimed in. Shadow hopped onto the large rock in the enclosure and led the other three animals in howls and bark-howls. Position is important. The pack leader has to be up front or above the other animals to demonstrate his authority. When Shadow stopped the others ceased.
Minnesota has a population of over 3,300 wolves. We were the only state in the continental United States that didn't exterminate all it's wolves back in the early to mid twentieth century. They're fascinating animals. Great trip. Our second book deals with the wolves of northern Minnesota. ---Michael
