Susan Kelly, Nederland. What’s up with wolves these days? On January 2, 2020, Nederland’s Wild Bear Nature Center sponsored an extraordinary event, highlighting the work of the W.O.L.F. (Wolves Offered Life and Friendship) sanctuary, a non-profit organization located northwest of Fort Collins in LaPorte, Colorado. 

Over the years, the wolf has been a symbol of power, danger, and ferocity. Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs had reasons to be worried, or so they believed. The truth be known, wolves play a key role in keeping ecosystems healthy, yet have sacrificed their lives for “crimes” they may not have committed.   By the 1930’s, the wolf population in the continental United States was next to none. It wasn’t until 1973 when the Endangered Species Act was signed into law, and wolves, the gray wolf in particular, were listed as “endangered,” allowing them to receive federal protection. As the wolf population slowly increases, education will be key to their survival.  

Wild Bear Nature Center was filled to capacity on the day of the event - children in front, adults in the back.  Wild Bear’s executive director, Jill Dreves, greeted the crowd with a howl, and many howled back in curious anticipation. A quick-paced presentation of wolf facts had everyone on the edge of their seats. 1,782 wolves populate the Northern Rocky Mountains. The average wolf pack size is 3-11 individuals. Wolves communicate through vocalizations, scent, posture, and play. Wolves can smell 100 times better than humans, can hear up to 10 miles away, and have excellent night vision. Wolves never have blue eyes, except when they are babies.  

After almost an hour of wolf fun-facts, the best was yet to come - meeting, petting, and perhaps taking a photo with an authentic wolf-dog ambassador. To prepare, the audience received special instructions on how to behave around the guest wolf-dog, plus a no-nonsense lesson on the difference between wolves, wolf dogs, and dogs. Caution: wolves and wolf-dogs are wild animals and cannot be tamed like domesticated dogs. Keeping them as a pet may turn disastrous. Since 1995, W.O.L.F has been rescuing captive-born wolves and wolf dogs whose original owners were unable to care for them.  

The biggest take-away from the afternoon was that there are two sides to every story. Yes, wolves may be powerful, dangerous, and ferocious, but so are humans. Wolves have been and still are threatened by humans, specifically the loss of their habitats and as well as protections under recent state and federal endangered species laws. Wolves, like all species, play an important role in the ecosystems in which they live. We need to appreciate all wildlife for its value in our universe, respect its right to exist, and genuinely care for the survival of all species. 

(Originally published in the January 9, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)