A Wild Connection

Namaste' to all fellow earth aliens! leaving off from the last post I wanted to post here a few pics taken during easter long of Mandy and the wolves. Enjoy

Arctic wolf puppy Eco Soul Journey kisses Mandy, Eco will be a year old may 1st. This is the first time Eco had met Mandy as she had not been out for a year prior to this 4 day stay. Mandy with Eco and Legend
If wolves can look GOOFY, this takes the cake, Legend was trying to scent roll on HER HAND! and as you can see in ecstacy. One thing wolves LOVE to do is (play/test/challenge) Some wolf experts (Klinghammer, Wolf Park) believe that wolves do not play, that what "looks like" play is really testing, that is preparing them for adulthood, and all the hardships that will entail. I tend to concur, I have not witnessed wolves PLAY the way dogs do. There is a lot more seriousness to what they do, and there's typically always a REASON as to WHY they are doing it too. Oh the stories I can tell as to what leads me to concur with that belief.

Eco is consistently testing/putting up challenges towards Legend, and this pic below is one of them. She TRIES to set me up to take the bait too, but I know what the sneaky devil is doing, and don't fall for it. She will seem like she is actually playing fetch with you but when she brings it back she wants you to try and take it from her, (I'll trade her for it only) or she will drop it, and almost dare you to go and get it. She can move FAST so if I know there is no way I can get to that stick, to throw it for her before she does. I don't bother, it's a set up to lose her test, as she will immediately run for it before I can get it. Only if she is far enough away, and she THINKS I have no interest in that stick, (that's the key) can I then grab it up and continue our game.

Tests continuously occur between wolves, and just because your a human, and they know your not one of them, does not mean they won't test you as well. It is important to stay a step ahead of wolves in captive environments, as any little tests not perceived as such when the pups are young, (considered merely PLAY to caretakers, when it may not be) could eventually turn into more serious challenges, when that pup grows up. It is good to meet everything they do including the tests, with careful and respectful consideration, head on.

Throwing in a picture of the owner of a photography studio that came out here in March with his daughter

Legend getting dozy above Mandy tired him out!

Sweet dreams legend, you can barely see his tongue but he fell asleep while licking the ice and it is still sticking out

Special Friendship

Namaste' all I got some free time so I can finally get to another post here :0) for all those posts I have missed on some others great blogs, and not commented. I'll get to you! Walt ever the sweet heart of an angel, YES I'm alive and well THANK YOU! every few weeks due to a disease I have lived with in harmony ;0) since I was a teen, I am taken out of general mainstream life momentarily, and it takes all my life source and energy to make sure all the daily chores that go with operating a large ranch get done. (Work doesn't stop! sick or not, *enter here a huge chorus* The Show Must Go On!) Then when I come back to the land of living, I have to climb back up that mountain again ;0) the last thing I think of doing is writing a blog :0)

It is very costly Walt yes to operate a facility that does not for profit work, along with the time factor as it has to fit in alongside our actual paying jobs to keep operating the outreach and building it up.

BUT you really cant put a price on education, and teaching from your heart. I have had a lot of youth that come out here from very poor backgrounds, I certainly don't want anyone seriously interested in coming out not be able to just because they could not afford to.

It is more than teaching about wolves , it comes down to teaching compassion and empathy via *experiencing* the wild lands, and all wildlife, and it's very essence. Allow them to *touch* *smell* *embrace* LIFE. That they can give themselves permission to LAUGH and NOT WORRY who may be watching them or judging them. Empowering a young person with experiences will strengthen their confidence, and a confident child, will become a successful adult. :0)

SO for example if you teach a young girl how to change a tire, or how to survive off the land itself, through them learning what every plant is, and tree and their life giving properties, or making their own flute through a flute making workshop, or making their own boomerang and painting it up YUP we have done this out here, they are but a few little examples of how each accomplishment a young person succeeds at, will go towards building up a powerful energy within that youth, and THAT will teach in and of itself, something that cannot be via words alone.

A little bit ago I brought pookie the shih-poo down to visit northern lights legend the arctic wolf, so they could have a special visit together. Legend was co-raised by Pookie and remains steadfastly dedicated to her, extremely gentle and careful with her, for he knows he is much bigger than her.

I know the wolves here don't live a typical *wild* life, they get to see the doctor (vet) when they need to, they get good regular meals, are protected from various diseases, never have to worry about *surviving*, and their upbringing helps to *influence* their behaviors to a certain degree, but when I see animals whom don't pace, whom I swear are smiling, and show that happiness in their behaviors, I know I am doing something right by them, as best as any human possibly can for their well being, and contentment in a captive situation. After enough years of studying and most importantly *listening* to what *they NEED and want*, it helps to create an atmosphere of calm. It becomes all about doing everything by them in the very best, and most respectable of ways.

Here's a happy face to brighten your day I am laying on my side with him. The smaller pen he is in is called a separation pen (it is not occupied full time) I did not want two wolves together with pookie at the same time, it is ONLY used during breeding season to separate a bonded pair, so no unwanted pups are born. So I used it for special time between the two friends this day. It is built right off the main habitat and double gated entry area.



"Reach Out"


"nose to nose"

"revere"
"play time, your it!"
"eye 2 eye" "teacher" "follow the leader"
"leap dog"
"sweet kiss"
"king of the mountain" (actually once legend jumped up there, and saw pookie down below he started crying till I picked her up , so he could jump off again, he refused to jump down till I did in case he accidentally jumped on her!!!) "mirror"

I think I can! I think I can!

I think I can,

I think I can,

I KNOW... I AM!

If I could somehow break into the secret world of the little dog, I most likely would hear those words echoing within my own lil 2 cents short of a short stack here.

Intro the pookie.


Yes people laugh and say "POOKIE?... poor dog."

I mean I have names here of wolves called Eclipse Moon Song, Tibet Night Song, Northern Lights Legend , Eco Soul Journey, but POOKIE? pookie what... surely it is

pookie ebony of donney brook road

or pookie dancing creek,

but just POOKIE?

Well sometimes she's called sneak a poo, :0) cause it took a dang year to house train this stubborn brat, and she liked to sneak onto mine or Lou's office chairs and sneak a poo or two when she got po'ed at us.

Between humping her doggie dolly non stop, and going into this vegetative zoning state, where a bomb could go off and there be nobody home, sneaking poos, and thinking how great it is to challenge yourself in the mirror cause she thinks the dog staring opposite her is some demon from another planet, and hitting the mirrors around the cabin, it's a wonder I survived her raising.

(Pookie thinking the mug looking at her is not really her...I mean she just got a very short haircut from the curly locks she saw in the mirror the day before, surely it CAN'T be her! noooooo)

HA! Survive HER raising I say? compared to raising oh I don't know...WOLVES!

Yes, well I never said I was normal either. ;0)

I get asked a lot so why wolves? if it had not been wolves it probably would have been gorillas, no kidding...maybe still someday. I actually wanted to be Jane Goodall or Diane Fossey.

I like intelligence I guess, dolphins, raptors, gorillas, whales, wolves, all highly intelligent animals. Not to say however I am not an avid everything fan, so if I see a spider wondering along I get right down there to examine it to see exactly what kind of spider, if not recognized, pulling out my trusty field guide of everything bug book .

Wonder knows know boundaries in my world!

So where does pookie come in?

Pookie is a (3/4 shih tzu and 1/4 toy poodle) is all of an 8 pound mop. Give her the end of a wooden broom handle she'll grab it and hang on, all you need to do is swish swish, floor clean.
Pookie helps to play a role for any young wolf pups that may come here, she is a canine figure which is important for the pups to have as they grow, I do not want wolves to over bond to humans, and not bond sufficiently enough to other canines, it's important.

(Pookie keeping guard over the dark bundle of fur just over a week old ) If you keep wolf pups from their own kind for too long, and too much, by the time they are placed with their own kind, you run a very high risk of them not understanding how to relate as well with others, they may have some emotional issues, and difficulties getting along.

In essence much like any orphaned wild animals that become habituated to humans (become overly familiar, losing their natural wariness and fear) or one that imprints on humans, cat/dog, etc (bond as if to one of their own kind) such as raptors for example (One I worked with *a hawk* was like this) they really don't know how to fully relate and get along with their own kind as adults, they may act like their own kind are not one of them.

I would like to point out the difference however when you raise an orphaned coyote pup for example, and plan for future release, and an animal that becomes imprinted. You have to be careful not to *habituate* the coyote for example, this is different from *imprinting*. A coyote will not *imprint*, birds are the animals prone to do this. (It's like the little duckling that pops out of the egg and the first thing it sees are humans , or a dog there.) Birds imprint very quickly on that which they first set their sights upon after being born, and it's first moments in life. But no matter habituated, or imprinted, any inherent wild animal that this has occurred in, if released into the wild, face the issue of potentially causing some problems with humans once released, due to that habituation/imprinting.

(Thus why habituated wolf pups that are bottlefed and raised by humans cannot be released.)Any animal you plan to *rehabilitate* you NEED to keep fairly wild acting*, so to help *prevent* imprinted raptors and habituated deer you could raise them using puppets, for the raptors using puppets that sort of look like them, for the deer wearing a weird costume/suit for an example when interacting.

Wolf pups that come in too young however cannot simply be raised by humans, then at 6 months, released, as humans cannot teach a wolf all the ESSENTIALS in captivity to survive, (like hunting big game something TAUGHT.)

A wolf once hungry will go back to that which it relied on before release (humans) and seek them out. Not a good thing! Where as animals like foxes, even if you hand-raise them they revert back to being wild VERY quickly, they survive on smaller food sources easily caught through their natural instinct that comes out, you open a door to a fox and it will take off and will not typically seek out people for food.

In essence it is about understanding the individual animals *nature* in order for there to be success, in what you plan to do with that animal.

In my talks with a local Biologist who is the head of the CO department, I have asked if there have been any scientific studies on any wolf pups brought in and released, they told me no, but that they have released them in the past. This worries me, I think they simply *assume* the wolf will automatically know how to survive, or perhaps stumble upon a pack that will allow them into it.

A Wolf not taught how to hunt large game to survive in harsh climates, and does not have at LEAST another wolf or pack, to aid in the survival may be even more prone to seek out easier prey like lambs, and calves in a farm yard.

In captivity such as here at A Wolf Adventure when a wolf cannot be released it is a fine balancing act from the moment a pup starts the bottle-feeding process, till they are introduced back to the adult wolves on a permanent basis.

(Legend not quite three weeks old and a very big one at that!)

The bottle-feeding is necessary if one does have wolves in captivity, this is a part of their socialization, in captive facilities of old I recall seeing wolves pacing fence lines, stressed, apathetic, and VERY unhappy, these were wolves that were not only given inadequate space to run and play and be a wolf, (kept in small cages like many pet dogs are) but they were not bottle-fed (allowed to stay with mom) and not socialized enough to people, which made for a wild acting wolf in a domestic captive situation.

Bad combination.

(Pookie sleeping with a fast growing wolf pup northern lights legend)
Vet treatment required chasing down wolves and darting them, or using a rabies pull and tranquilizing just to give basic care, not only does this cause needless stress on such an animal, but it is inhumane handling.

Treat a wild animal in captivity roughly, and it will react, or over react in kind.
(Ever see a wolf puppy smile? well here you go!)

(Lou with legend)A pup that is held and touched all over from the moment they are brought in to start the bottle-feeding process at 10-12 days of age, will be more easily handleable as adults in the future. The key is to pay attention to even areas many might over look when bringing up any captive wild animal.
(legend discovers flowers)


(Legend and pookie sharing a doggie bed)
So...

Touching inside and outside their ears,

Opening their mouths,

Teeth touched,

Gums rubbed gently,

Their paws and in between the toes touched,

Nails touched and clipped

Tails touched from the base to the tip,

Entire length of legs touched,

Nose/muzzle touched

Eyes examined

Collar and lead can be placed on and taken off with ease

Their series of vaccines given, but continue to handle the set up to such in between, such as being able to take the neck fur of the animal gently and pull up a bit where a needle may be given, pretend poke

Placed in *bunny* sit poses (literally you place the wolf on it's butt like a child, and held facing forward in front of you while your sitting too, and they are situated between your legs, and you are ale to take their front legs in your hands, this pose is used successfully if you ever have to draw blood and need to find veins without the wolf struggling.

Loading them in an out of a crate/cage carrier device on a daily basis so when the time comes to bring them into a veterinarian or emergency vacate, they will not spook.

Socialization to every kind of equipment possible from tractors, to law mowers.

Socialized to all kinds of people.

Introduce them to every kind of walking surface possible from carpets to tile, from grass to cement.

Socialized to all different kinds of clothing (Yup that means wearing a winter parka in the middle of summertime as well as short sleeved t-shirts all in the same day, from wearing mittens made of various material from cotton to leather, to various kinds of shoe wear from winter boots to sandals. There is nothing worse than raising a wolf pup that only ever sees the same kind of clothing (summer wear) then winter hits, and they are grabbing onto winter jackets or mittens, which can very quickly escalate into challenging a human for that clothing. Anything new to a wolf they were not formerly introduced to when young, is then something to become a little TOO interested in, and if it happens to be on your body, that is NOT a good thing.


(Legend being held under 2 weeks of age)
it will all serve towards a purpose for when the time comes to be examined by a veterinarian, or heaven forbid they sustain some sort of injury and require treatment, a pup that does not go through such a process of socialization will react fearfully, and when a wild animal (even if raised in captivity) becomes fearful this can turn into fear *aggression*.

(Legend asleep on Lou's feet)

You want make such touching times , truly well touching, you want to create for them a fun, happy, and rewarding time. You use a higher pitch happy voice, and reward the pup with happy rubs on their bodies, and give them yummy treats. These touching sessions are made into special bonding moments between caretaker(s) and wild animal.

You want to lessen scenarios of getting into confrontations with a wolf because they need even basic care, and the socialization protocol when they were pups left something to be desired.

(Sky and legend in pup pen)
Boxing with a wolf because they refuse to go to the vets is NOT FUN!

Do I speak from experience? YUP even a well socialized wolf like Tibet if she doesn't want to do something like go to the vets, THAT day and THAT moment because she just Does NOT want to...she'll let you know. She'll plant her assets and not move em, or the most common move throwing herself onto her back and flailing, uhm yup I really want a left hook swipe from a veloca raptor claw (NO THANKS!) , and if I try and coax her with treats, she's smart enough to know what I am doing.

There's been a couple times where I say " Tibet this is it you have to go in today for a check up, and as I am bringing her over to the carrier, she may suddenly *decide* to pull back on her back legs and start using her front legs and paws and almost like a boxer, and start moving around to stop me from using the lead on her.

" I'm NOT GOING that's it,
you can't make me go!
you can't trick me to go
so take that!...and that...and some more of that!

Well, Uhm yes...some days I just don't feel like going there, and well she may win, I rebook for another day she may be feeling a bit more cooperative.

Now keep in mind if it were an emergency, she'd have no choice. But I let her be *her*, and respect how she feels too. I brought her into MY world, it is up to me to allow her as much of her own world still in her life still as is possible, and allowing her to be herSELF, not what I want her to be, not what I want to try and make her to be, she is she, just as I am me. Allowing a wolf to simply be who/what they are enables them the freedom, as much as freedom can be possible in a captive situation anyways, and aids in them being healthy psychologically.
(Northern Lights Legend)
Allow them to *explore* and *Investigate* and supply lots of enriching things (toys, bones etc) to work their minds (keep them stimulated in a fun way)

(Legend exploring my jeep)

(Legend with his special made to order gotch bunny, see the ears and head etc)

(legend and a tree branch)Pookie is a funny little dog, I have never been a little dog person the only reason she wound up here is because the breeder said she had a hernia, and asked did I want her, she was of no good to them. HUH? no good?...well I have been involved in rescuing all kinds of animals all my life, so no problem cute little non shedding puppy, bring her home and find a new home for her.

Uhm mistake number 1, bringing her home to Lou

Mistake number 2 bringing her home to Lou whom though he loves the wolves, he would prefer to never see ANY *wild* animals in captivity PERIOD for any reason other than rehab for back into the wild. He did not even have so much as a pet dog growing up although he did raise an orphaned baby raccoon. But still NOT an animal *owning* type of person, (does not believe in OWNING wild animals) and that any captive wild animal that cannot be released should be used to eduate the public, avid nature fan of everything wild,... IN THE WILD.

Mistake number 3 allowing him to hold her leading to "awwww I like her, I want to keep her"..thus a number of years later she's alas still here..uhm, but let me check to make sure...

YUP, still here, no wolves have eaten her.

(Lou and his sidekick demon spawn Pookie)

Actually her head is so dang big, that would be an impossibility anyways in her own legendary mind. She knows she's a wolf. She even competes when they all start howling, she lifts up her head and lets out the most pitiful yew yew yew sound what the heck is a yew yew yew????

I'll have to tape it and maybe post it on here and you can let me know what that is.

I get asked don't the big wolves want to eat her? Well for a couple of them who were not raised by her YUP! for the ones raised by her NOPE, she gives wicked cheek bites that will bring the biggest of the wolves to their knees. That's her secret mini me ninja move, leap up 50 times your height through the air and grab onto a cheek ruff and pull whoever is on the receiving end DOWN. Works every time, you might want to try this yourself.

(Legend who will follow pookie to the ends of the earth, just so happens it was into a laundry basket look closely can you see the little black blob in there?)

Tibet loves ALL puppies, small dogs, she sees pookie as a puppy still far from it, but she's little and Tibet is maternal, she would be in the wild the puppy nanny, the babysitter in a pack she just takes all puppies she sees under her wing so to speak. When ever I have to bring her into the vets and she sees little dogs and puppies she starts whining as if they are hers. Poor Tibet, she will never have her own, so it is quite endearing to see this.

(Pookie and Tibet) Pookie rules her home roost with an iron grip, one the wolves simply choose to not argue with, well at least the ones whom from the moment they are taking their first little steps in life, she is held in high regard as a co-surrogate mom. She helps serve as a temporary, but important familiar canine comfort till they can rejoin their own kind, she helps to teach them in the very beginning some things humans simply cannot no matter how well you understand their language. Humans are NOT wolves, no amount of posturing , face grimacing, or getting down to growl with the best of them can change this. Nor would I want them to view me as another wolf, this would be utterly ridiculous, they respect me because I respect them, and I do not try to manipulate who or what they are.

(Pookie though dwarfed by legend still in this pic even though legend is still a pup here himself is top dog legend stands just to the side not daring to take the stuffed hamburger pookie has in her possession) You cannot take a wolf puppy and TEACH them how to howl, they start howling automatically by a couple weeks of age. They will even start howling if for example a beeping sound goes off, or a fire truck sound from a t.v occurs.

You cannot take a wolf puppy and teach them how to hunt to survive in the wild, and then release them. There is NO way on earth any human being on this planet is capable of teaching wolves how to hunt elk, moose, deer etc. This can only be taught by other *wild* born and raised adults. Prey drive is inherent, a wolf puppy will automatically start to stalk all on it's own things that move, they will give chase and try to capture moving insects, and as they grow older mice, birds and the like. They need to be taught how to work as a pack unit to bring down larger game ESSENTIAL for survival, especially in harsher climates. A typical Gray wolf cannot subsist on eating lemmings, and birds alone.

You cannot take a wolf puppy and teach them even the basics of being a wolf as this is inherent already to their nature.

You cannot take a wolf puppy and make them believe you are one of them, they figure out quite quickly you are NOT, this does not mean if you insist on trying to be one of them, they may not apply some harsh wolf rules to your physical person, this is setting yourself up though to become potentially seriously injured, if not fatally so.

The goal at all times is to ensure you do not set up this captive wild animal to fail, if you think you can take a wolf puppy and just because you have bossed around your dogs for years, and they have done what you told them to do because you said so, you expect a wolf pup will follow along accordingly to such a plan, think again.

You think you can throw them into a dog pen and expect them to be content and happy, and not become a pacing, stressed out potentially aggressive wild animal think again. Wolves grow up and as different as a 2 year old human toddler is, from a 6 year old child, the toddler is content to allow adults to tell them what they can do, and how to do it withot too much resistance, but by 5, 6 you truly start to see a LOT more independance, and that child will now push their limits, not to mention their parents away so they can tie their own dang shoe laces!.

If you expect to throw them into a crate and expect them to like travelling around in your car like your dog think again.

If you expect them to be trained like your dog, because you have trained dogs all your life and are GOOD at it, think again.

People who bring wild animals into their world as PETS will set such an animal up to fail, in the end it will be only the wild animal to suffer the most, with potentially that ignorant human learning a dangerous lesson.

At least pookie has some advantage being a canine, she has some better grip on such. Regardless of her size, as she has proven to me time and time again, it is more attitude.

Her motto

I think I can...
I think I can...

I KNOW I AM.

Well from this lil human gal, I pretty much think the same way.

So some people may say, "Okay so he respected her , and got along with her when he was a pup himself what about now as a fully grown adult wolf?"

Take a look at the following pic taken this week of Pookie and Legend, I brought him into a separation pen and brought her down for a special visit together, apart from the other wolves. If legend had HIS way yes I can honestly say he would enjoy living with her still, but he is still a wolf, and she is very much a little dog. So of course it could not realistically work full time. I take much enjoyment whenever I allow such meetings however.

(Legend rolling over submissively to pookie, the next blog will be called (Special Friendship) You will surely enjoy the photos that will in that blog of legend and pookie together.)

red riding hood go to school?

Today as I went in to play with Tibet, she came running over to me with her typical and usual greeting, (that is when she's having a good day and not ill, luckily the good still outweigh the bad.) She was belly crawling, peeing, crying (speaking), showing me affection, tongue darting, ears back, eyes averted submissively I cannot help but wonder about the stories I grew up with such as *Peter And The Wolf* *Little Red Riding Hood* and other similar stories. I laugh and picture Tibet as the big bad wolf in such a novel, but of course cannot. I teach children that wolves are neither what they hear in the bed time stories and around the campfires, nor are they the typical family dog and pet companion. Wolves are their own type of animal as unique and individual as so many of us humans are, they have different personalities, and temperaments, they show their displeasure and happiness, they show their sadness and let you know when they are ill and down. Wolves are a predatorial animal but they are not the blood thirsty night stalkers just waiting to grab a child or adult out of their beds.
They are highly misunderstood, made into something they are not, nor ever were. They are neither devils nor saints, they just are. I do not view Tibet as something I *own* the way I own my truck, or my clothes, I see her as a free thinking and even doing for the most part individual spirit that has to be respected at all times, whose needs and wants need to be heard and understood in order for there to be a bond and friendship. Due to licensing restrictions she is not allowed to run freely on the land, even though this would be the best scenario, (and oh I would ;0) if COMPLETELY isolated on an island somewhere hahaha) for she would not run way from home like a husky might, due to her bond with me, and the other wolves, but in her journeys she could get shot out here. To keep everyone happy and safe, including keeping the respect by respecting other neighbours in the county side, when not in her habitat she is on lead on the dense forest trails with me exploring life. She is not my dog, my dog is content to always just do for me just because she wants to please me, listen to me, do as I say, crawl into my lap and watch late night movies contentedly with me without fretting. She (my dog) does not seem as complex to try and understand.

Tibet will crawl into my lap alright, but she most certainly would not stay there for the duration of a movie, while relaxing on the couch, in fact the couch would be fair game to rip apart! She would have much better things to do like searching for dish rags to eat, garbage to get into, kitchen tables to leap onto and use as a spring board to surf onto the kitchen counters, and then onto the fridge in search of the next new thing to find , and take apart to see it's inner workings. I sometimes think how most people I know must think surely I must be crazy for enduring some of the crazy antics I have over the years. Crazy? who knows, maybe... I must admit I am *in love* though. It is a love story that has taken me from peaks of highs to the very depth of lows. My heart has cried, and it has sang on this amazing journey, for I know not many have the privelage of living with wolves. For anyone who says it's no big deal, anyone could do it. Yes anyone could take a wild animal and do this, does not mean they *understand* how to do it *right*

I know one day I will no longer hear that song that envelopes my entire being when I hear it, when I will be old and grey in a rocking chair and looking back going ahhhh What a ride that was!! while reminiscing over old photographs, and watching old videos of myself with creatures so feared, hated and loved. I will always treasure these times, these journeys still unfolding daily, close to my heart for that will never disappear. I am sure in my last breath on this beautiful miracle planet, there will be scenes played out of these experiences and faces of these beautiful animals to see me into my next journey. I can only pray the wild wolfs song will continue to be sung underneath the heavens and silver moon, that their spirits will continue to dance with the northern lights that watch over them, tenderly a dance that is older than time.

Kenton Carnegie Inquest

Namaste' fellow earth aliens! That time of year Again, wow!...where does it go. ? Recently my wolf article was placed in the WRSOS's newsletter, however it was shortened due to length restrictions and the sensitivity of the subject is understandable. SO I am going to place the article in it's entirty on my blog for you all to read if yee like. I hope this finds everyone full of life, humbleness, with a touch of wild! Hey you gotta spark and stand apart from the lemmings once in awhile

Eco Soul Journey is growing like the lil bad weed she is, she is currently living with dharma and legend and having a ball romping around in the very deep snow we have up here. Legend and Dharma treat Eco like their puppy, it is quite hilarious to see whenever the adults get into a disagreement/spat how Eco goes into clown puppy mode, to break up the tension between the adults. You can see updated pics taken of her right up till first snow fall here on her page http://www.wolfechovalley.com/eco.html

but here is a few to tease you with. She was born the beginning of May o7' and is an arctic wolf


. The following as a disclaimer is MY opinion (you know what they say about those right? ) based on my own expertise having lived with and studied both wild and captive wolves for many years. I do not sugarcoat this type of animal, but neither do I subscribe to the antichrist theories. I do offer my sincere sympathies to Kentons family and friends, as well as prayers for any wild animals adversely affected by this tragedy.

Little Red Riding Hoods Posse' Misunderstood

With the recent findings at the Kenton Carnegie inquest the young man killed in Points North Landing, I thought to write an article on this highly misunderstood wild canid. For I honestly feel the TRUE lessons to this sad story have become lost in the push and pull dance of various sides. I am not here to judge those sides.

Somewhere in the entire muddle, the real reasons as to why this occurred have become lost.

I also think dear Kenton is looking down on all of this turmoil and shaking his head sadly. I highly doubt a young man working in such a beautiful country and province, as Northern Saskatchewan did not have an amazing awe and respect of that which he found himself surrounded by.

I have worked intimately with captive wild wolves for years now. (Licensed at 19) I operate an educational licensed wolf outreach and eco conservation center, and over the years their friendship has taught me a lot, they have shown me the only experts are the animals themselves. Their lessons have been invaluable and I have truly come to learn that to understand the wolf in depth, in all it’s many complexities, we also need to understand ourselves a bit better. This may also mean seeing things we may not like about ourselves.

If one is not 100% honest with who they are in working with captive wildlife, the animals themselves will FORCE you to GET honest VERY quickly.

When the word wolf is mentioned, many images and comments may be evoked, and spoken depending on the person asked. Some may say a ruthless predator, built only to kill without feeling, or thought. Tales have been told round the campfire of night stalkers just waiting for their opportunity to grab a loved one away, generation after generation of child going to bed having been told tales of Peter and the Wolf, and little Red Riding Hood, two of the best known wolf stories. This instills fear in the young’s mind before they are even given an opportunity to understand, and learn what this amazing creature is truly all about, and what they are not.

It seems some may either demonize this creature, or sugar coat what they are. Neither mentality helps the REAL wolf

Although my captive wolves have never known the wild, a wolf is still a wolf, captivity does not change that. They are not dogs. I feel I can offer some insight and professional opinion on the Points Landing incident. I am sure I will say some thing that some will disagree with, but then again should I expect anything different from people that have never actually lived with wolves, AND worked on behalf of the wild wolf in a completely unbias was.

Misunderstanding and fear of anything unknown can create mythological perceptions and misconceptions of just what a wolf is, for what people misunderstand they fear, what they fear they may hate, what they may hate, they may wish to exterminate and unfortunately extinction is forever.

This case occurred in Mother Natures court, and tried in a humans courtroom. Humans are often prone to err in judgement.

I have observed not only captive wolf behavior for years, but also wild wolf behavior through my own intimate encounters with them on my many outdoor excursions into the wild. (All good encounters.) I have witnessed wolves fondness with each other as family members, how strongly bonded they are to each other, I have watched them play and test each other, I have watched how they work together to survive. I have also seen when another member of their family dies how they also mourn.

Since the beginning of time people have killed other people for nothing other than greed, anger, passion and a host of other reasons. Is the entire human race to be anhilated due to the conscious and unfathomable act of some other human? There have been quite a few maulings/killings of humans by bears over the years, astronomically so compared to ANY wolf attack, so are all the bears to pay the price and be exterminated?

Wolves are what they are, they are surviving or trying to, like any other sentient being. The difference between them, and *us* as a species of animal, is that they do not commit vicious acts based on any ego emotions. When a wild animal deviates from it's known natural behaviors there are always reasons as to *why*

I do not have a child as yet but I can say this with 100% unbias honesty if I did, and they were attacked and killed by *any wild* animal while outdoors, I would NOT and I cannot even stress that word enough, want the species as a whole to be persecuted, period. How I view life is from a perspective of COMPLETE utter respect and honor to *life*. These are MY beliefs. I would be THE first person to stand up publically to urge the public to not be fearful, to not go after such an animal either, for they be what they simply be.

I often have people contact me about wild animals they may find that are injured or they appear weak (lack of food sources, especially true during our long cold winters) and they proceed to tell me they have been feeding the local wildlife, that even foxes and coyotes have been coming right into their yard sites, and practically eating out of their hands. Although I understand another’s need to feel connected to wildlife, and assist it if it appears in distress, (I even have people tell me how proud they are, they were able to save a life, ) what they don’t realize is that often times that need and that pull we feel to help, without the proper knowledge on how to do so, can make a bad situation worse. I wish to encourage people getting involved and becoming wildlife and eco warriors, but there are right and wrong ways to accomplish this. Not to mention safer for both human and wild animal.

If you come upon injured wildlife please call the local fish and wildlife branch, or wrsos http://www.wrsos.org/ or contact me and I will put you in contact with the right people to help. My main site is www.wolfechovalley.com

The Points North Landing incident bought home to the forefront the very real reality of garbage disposal, and dumpsites where wild animals have easy access and even begin to rely on such resources, and what makes such plentiful bounty to these anticipating wild animals? …HUMANS DO.

This creates new generations (offspring) of wild animals being taught the same thing, after awhile the wild animal(s) begin to lose their fear, coupled with the association of us with food, and this can become potentially dangerous. Typically and sadly the wild animals will be the true ones to suffer in the end as they are shot for causing conflict. Wild animals even those whom appear to be friendly, and docile as they come to eat out of your hands, are still*wild, * and intact with all that makes them what they are… wild, not tame animals or pets. There are many places throughout the province where dumpsites are not protected from wild animal infiltration. I had a family one day while up on one of my own wild excursions, stop and ask me where the dumpsite was that bears could be seen feeding out in the open (in OUR Province.) This is appalling!

It is not good enough to simply put up a fence around areas where wildlife is unwanted, wolves are MASTER diggers and jumpers (wolves can leap straight up into the air 8 feet high from a complete stand still! picture tigger from winnie the pooh) So the fencing that goes up around a dumpsite requires dig proofing (fencing) of at least four feet into the ground (can use concrete,) and if possible using hotwire.

The inquest should not have been about who done it, and the mass hysteria that followed, Instead the focus should be about education, that when we are in wild country to always be alert and aware of every single sight, smell and thing we hear, many lose their guard when out in nature. What happened to Kenton should not be about wolf or bear but about how to stay safe period, from ALL the wild potential dangers including wolves, and not be lulled into any false sense of security when out in such a beautiful country. For within the beauty lies reality at it's perfection, and at it's darkness and potential dangers.

I don’t want what happened to Kenton to leave a legacy of fear, or terror of being out in the woods, I feel there are lessons to all stories, including the tragic ones, but we must remain completely open and honest in order to see them accurately, and without any self-created tunnel vision.

Wolves are in general very shy, yet curious animals. Like most wild animals wolves typically try to avoid coming in contact with humans. Whenever a wild animal starts to lose its fear of people however through habituation they may be more prone to approach humans, human homes, and camping spots. Wolves that are fed by humans either directly, or indirectly through tossing garbage around areas humans frequent, they are habituating the animals, and the wolves will then associate food with people. This may precipitate an attack on humans, by an otherwise naturally shy creature.

I live in the country, literally in the middle of a very large forest where bear, wild wolves, and other large predators cross through on natural routes. Whenever I am out in the bush I am always aware of everything around me at all times, I use my ears, eyes, and even smell.

The following are a few tips to help avoid such situations from happening.
1) PLEASE do NOT litter! Throw all garbage into cans with secure lids. Growing up one of my favorite characters on T.V was an Owl and his slogan of "Give A Hoot Don't Pollute!"
2) Do NOT feed wild wolves or any other wild animals, even feeding deer can attract wild wolves to your home, as the wolves will follow their prey (food). Many people are not aware that even wild fox can become extremely aggressive if fed people food, quite a few fox in our National Park get relocated due to getting TOO familiar with human food.
3) Leave no pet food outside!!! I hear MANY stories by other ranching neighbors how they had to shoot a raccoon due to it getting into the cat and dog food that was left out, that the animal had become aggressive. This is unfair; it is almost like setting animals up and taunting them to take the pet food.
4) Do not allow pets (cats or dogs) to be unattended while outdoors, they are easy prey for wild wolves. If you are not with your dog keep them in a secure pen where they cannot escape to harass wildlife, or draw wildlife like wild wolves and bears to your doorstep. There are many acreage dogs and cats that go missing around here, due to them being allowed to roam freely.
5) Install motion sensor lights, it may act as a deterrent to scare any wild animals away.
I have done a ton of camping over the years; these were all tips we used as a mantra when in the great outdoors. I learned the following rules from the time I was a young child.

(view taken from my kayak on anglin lake)


When Camping Or Simply Out For An Outdoor Wild Adventure:

• Place any garbage in bear sealed containers, do not have food lying around your campsite and NEVER in your tent. MANY campsites up north here provide not only bear sealed containers, but also platforms built up in the trees, a ladder is provided for campers to use to climb up onto the platform to place sealed containers. Then one simply moves the ladder away when not needed on site, or when walking away from camp for a while.
• Cook, wash dishes and store any food items away from your sleeping quarters
  Suspend any food items, toiletries like toothpaste, and shampoos,and any garbage in camping bags with attached ropes to hang out high from tree branches. Wolves can leap 8 feet straight up into the air so I recommend the bags suspended quite high.
• If bringing your dog(s) along camping, but be sure to keep pets close at all times, do NOT allow pets to roam around free unleashed. Wolves are territorial creatures and will kill any dogs they come across, especially if harassed. The dog may also lead any angry wolves straight back to you and your tent.
• When out on a trek, we have always clapped our hands saying something along the lines of "hear bear bear bear" *for noise* we also will bang sticks, or just chat to alert any animals we are in the area. There are also bear bells one can ring when out walking, or place on bikes when riding to help alert any wildlife.
• Always be aware of your surroundings when out in nature, look for signs of bears *scat, clawed up (marked) trees and logs, animal prints, various animal sounds. The photo I took below while on an excursion shows various prints including bear recently being there.. Listen, Look, and BE AWARE at all times, have fun but keep in mind you are in someone else' backyard, and it is a wild one. AWA recommends buying some track/signs of wild animal books, to accompany you on any outdoor excursion.
• Photographers, If you are out to try and capture the beauty of wild animals through the lenses, please keep in mind to follow *wild wisdom* rules, keep your distance from ANY wild animal, do not chase after, or try and get a CLOSER shot. Wild animals whom feel threatened, may suddenly decide you are infringing on their territory and react out of fear, which can readily turn to fear aggression, resulting in an attack. Depending on the time of year (breeding season) wild animals go through a natural form of seasonal aggression, this can make already a potentially dangerous wild animal even MORE so. What we may view as an appreciation of nature and wildlife through trying to photograph them, and or view them in their natural habitat, could easily result in unintentioned harassment to the animals. Please respect all wildlife by observing such, on THEIR terms.
• Avoid wearing and washing/conditiong your hair with sweet smelling scents, women especially love to smell *fruity* but bears have amazing sniffers and may sniff YOU out!
• Be Aware when you eat something not to leave behind remnants of that meal, or any packaging from that food. Smells of food (even from a wrapper) can draw in a variety of wild animals, which is another good reason to not eat on the go. Some people like to hike and munch granola bars at the same time, you are leaving behind crumbs as you eat and walk much like hansel and gretel, which could entice an animal to follow your tracks!
  
  
  (Pic taken by Sky on an outdoor adventure. Note there are recent bear tracks)
  
  How Can I Help The Wild Wolf?
  
  There are various ways human beings can help protect the future well-being and survival of wild wolves. Play YOUR part in the wild wisdom!
  
  1) Educational Talk: Talk about wolves at your school, and encourage others to learn more. Better yet if there is a wolf facility in your Province tell you teacher and friends about them. Maybe a professional wolf educator can come to your school to give a talk. There are even some places that bring in a socialized live wolf! Talk about a real interactive report! What about choosing the wolf as your wild animal of choice when it comes to writing your next book report.
  2) Organize a Fundraiser: Donate the proceeds made to a wolf facility that teaches the public about wolves. This could be as simple as selling lemonade, bake sale, bingo night or camp out at your school. Get inventive. Get involved.
  3) Listen To And Be Aware Of: news reports concerning wildlife and environmental issues. Be pro-active and contact the locals new stations and news papers yourself to request what you would like to see talked about.
  4) Become a member/supporter of an environmental organization: That helps to promote and foster wild wolf education/protection/conserving habitat the following are excellent.
  
  Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
  The Sierra Club
  The Rain Coast Conservation Foundation
  David Suzuki Foundation
  Defenders Of Wildlife
  Canadian Wildlife Federation
  World Wildlife Fund
  
  5) The 3 R’s: Reduce, Re-use and Recycle. The more humans put into practice these three very important R ‘s, the less we use up the earths dwindling resources. This is good for all on the planet, including wildlife and their homes (habitats.)
  
  6) Preserve Wild Lands: That wolves require to survive, or support organization that do such as WWF. As more trees are cut down, for various reasons, more wolves and other wild things get chased out and lose their homes (displaced) If you are the owner of some wild land or know someone who is, and wish to always keep it safe, perhaps consider contacting a preservation trust to have a conservation easement placed on the land, so that even long after the land is no longer in your stewardship, no one can log or destroy it. Some suggestions are:
  
  http://www.nature.org/aboutus/howwework/conservationmethods/pivatelands/conservationeasements
  http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/pfw/r6pfw8b.htm
  
  The following In Saskatchewan:
  Ducks Unlimited Canada 1-306-569-0424
  Home Place Conservancy of Saskatchewan Inc. 1–306- 586-9268
  Meewasin Valley Authority 1-306-665-6887
  Nature Conservancy of Canada 1-866-622-7275
  Nature Saskatchewan 1-306-780-9273
  Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation 1-306-691-2854
  Saskatchewan Archeological Society 1-306-664-4124
  Sask. Environment 1-306-787-2314
  Sask. Parks and Recreation Association 1-306-780-9262
  Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation 1-306-787-0726
  Sask. Wildlife Federation 1-306-692-8812
  Wakamow Valley Authority 1-306-692-2717
  
  7) Write letters and articles: There are various places one can write letters and send in articles to, such as nature magazines, local newspapers, and even online! Get inventive and creative.
  
  8) Learn more about wolves and talk to others you know about wolves, and all you have learned. There are even wolf conferences held around the world to help keep anyone who is interested informed on the plight of the wild wolf. If there are any local wolf centers, support them and visit them, to learn up close and in person about these highly misunderstood animals.
  9) Become a volunteer! Maybe there are some environmental or wildlife org’s you can volunteer for. Good place to start is with the local zoo, and with WRSOS.
  10) Vote: When you are old enough to vote, vote for those who care about the environment / habitat and wildlife protection.
  11) Ecological Footprint: Be aware and responsible for your choices on a daily basis, and how these choices may impact the environment for either the better or worse. Buy more raw foods in bulk to cut back on heavily and overly packaged smaller items. When shopping bring a collection of your own cloth shopping bags, to reduce the unnecessary wastage in the landfills plastic bags create. Ride your bike as much as possible. If living in the cit try using your bike to bike to work, or partnering up with a co-worker. Turn off lights, radios, and TV’s when not in use, take showers more often, and stop using the dishwasher. When out in nature please don’t litter, you are in someone else’s back yard please treat it with respect and leave only your own prints to tell a tale.

( Northern Lights Legend has a Message)