Wolf Preserves

[Shadow Wolf]

Today I went to a wolf preserve, (Seacrest) and it was absolutely wonderful! You get to go inside the enclosures and get up close and personal with the wolves, pet them, take pictures, and see their habitat and pack life. We howled with them and learned a lot about wolves and their lifestyle. The preserve is dedicated to education to dispel "Big Bad Wolf" myths that stories such as "Little Red Riding Hood" put into existence. It's a non-profit organization made up entirely of volunteers. I plan to volunteer until I have to go back to college. The people are amazing and take good care of the wolves, separating the different packs and imprinting the wolves with human interaction. We got to cuddle with the wolf pups (who were about 8 weeks old) and also baby foxes. They have other small animals such as skunks, coyotes, geese, and more that you could also interact with, although I only did the wolf tour. Visit their site here.

Anyway, it was really fun, and I encourage everyone to visit a wolf preserve to see these majestic and misunderstood animals in their natural element. I really hope I can volunteer a bit and get to know more about these creatures, and also get to study them for my own personal research. Does anyone have any other wolf preserve stories?

[opferte]

Ten years on and off at a wolf sanctuary in the high desert. Challenges the misconceptions you have, especially the emotional ones. However, if you are blessed enough to bond with a wolf that empathizes with you (rare) or it bonds with you, you will see how eerily human they really are- the ones that care enough about people to show them their world. The only advice I could give you, is to always listen to the owner of the sanctuary and never ***EVER*** ignore your instincts.

If something is telling you to get out, don't think because the wolves acted all sweet five minutes ago does not mean they are circling you now for hugs and lovin. A very good wolf one day risked his life to save two people from his packmates, who before had been perfectly docile. One of those people was me. He died not too long ago of cancer. God rest the soul of that wolf, he is running in lush green fields in Heaven right now, I know we will meet again. He was one exceptional creature.

I digress... I'll say it again, never ever ignore your instincts. In my case the wolf chose me, and we bonded. I discovered a lot about him and his kind over the years, including just how hurt emotionally a wolf can get. They are super sensitive in that respect... the worst bite I ever received (tore muscle and skin open, scarred deep in my bone) was because I inadvertently offended his pride. Still. It's been a year since he passed and I only find myself missing him more.

If you bond with a wolf and promise it your life, that wolf will hold you to that. As strange as it sounds, be careful what you say around the wolves. They cannot understand what you are saying, but be assured they can feel what you are saying. Someone who dismisses that as mystical bs can find it out the hard way. I have nearly a decade if intimate interaction with the lupine species.

Anyway, never ignore that still small voice that is telling you not to approach that one formerly sweet wolf. Wolves can have bad days just like us. Remember that most wolves feel that they owe you nothing, even if you feed it. A dog owes you when you feed it, not a wolf. Intact males can be highly aggressive, be triple watchful of them. If you are in a pen with a wolf it is automatically smarter than you. Faster, too. Not to mention stronger, and orders if magnitude more cunning.

Never forget you have removed all barriers between you and an Apex predator when you are in a pen with a wolf. You can be grievously injured so fast you are not even aware of what us happening until it is too late... I am not trying to scare you, but keep you from making mistakes I made. When you see a handsome fluffy wolf in a calender, whatever you are thinking when you look at it is wrong. I'm sorry, it just is.

But it doesn't mean you cannot enjoy them. I was frought with misconceptions that took years to break, and still are being broken. Some broke more painfully than others. If you mind having a wolf that just rubbed in its own feces come running up to you and rubbing likewise in you, you might want to reconsider. If that warm feeling you feel is the urine from a wolf in an amdjacent pen as it trickles down the cement corridor pooling against you as you are cuddling with another wolf (it is an awesome thing to behold a 249 lb wolf asleep, his magnificent white face gently dreaming as it rests on your arm) if the thought of that urine (which is infinitely more musky than a dogs) makes you move, waking said wolf instead if laying there until it gets cold against your skin, you may want to reconsider.

If the thought of collecting painful welts from nips of playful wolves, welts that take a week to heal doesn't sound like fun, you should reconsider, IMO. But if you do, go in with the understanding that beautiful relationships with creatures that I feel will never be fully understood by us may be waiting for you. And don't be afraid around them. Believe it or not they are more afraid if you than you are of them.

They will sense your fear and wonder why you are afraid. If you are at peace, it is likely they will be at peace as well. Follow the directions they give you to a T. Don't be afraid to ask a thousand stupid questions, they would rather you ask then not ask if they miss something. They're only human after all. Did I say never ignore your instincts? Feel free to message me if you want. I have pictures and stories if your interested. Oh, and don't ignore your instincts.

[opferte]

Sorry posted from a smartphone. It wants to think it knows what I am saying.

[Shadow Wolf]

That's really good advice! I hope to gain the kind of experience you have with wolves. I've studied them form afar for my whole life, but that isn't enough to truly know an animal. As for your concerns, duly noted. I've always had dogs, from small to large, so I understand a lot of that. I also have a lot of scars and bruises from my animals, mostly accidental, so I'd expect it to be the same for wolves. My dog sleeps with me in my bed, and he rubs all in the grass and dirt and more. But I also expect things to be different with wolves, since they're wild animals and not domesticated like my dogs. I agree that they aren't always cute and cuddly, that they are highly dangerous and intelligent creatures that deserve your respect, and sometimes they just aren't nice. My dog is very antisocial and doesn't like people, so he only bonds to a few, and even out of all of them I'm the only one he allows certain things to be done. I expect wolves to be just as finicky.

When we were visiting in the enclosures, the staff would have the wolves come by for us to pet, but they were being lead by yummy raw meat. Sometimes they would jerk or run away if someone touched them the wrong way or unexpectedly, and the staff warned not to get in between them and the meat, and to move slowly and carefully. Some wolves wouldn't even approach, and had to be baited forward with the meat. When we went to take pictures, the staff explained that these particular wolves were called The Brat Pack because they were formerly non-friendly to humans, but have been imprinted and improved in their behavior so could now be able to interact with us. You could tell some people throughout the tour felt a bit fearful, and the wolves realized it. Still, it was an amazing experience and no one got hurt (at least that I know of).

Thanks for your advice, I really appreciate it! Now I just have to figure out times when I can go back, it's about two hours away from me and takes the whole day, so I'll only be able to do it once or twice before I have to go back to college. Hopefully I won't have to learn anything the hard way, based on my experience with my own dogs and knowledge of wolf behavior. Even if something does go wrong, I don't think I'll feel differently about them. I'll probably deserve a bite or two one way or the other XD.

[Sharona]

Not really comfortable with a place that would let random strangers enter a wolf enclosure. A wolf caretaker at the Stockholm zoo was recently attacked and killed by the wolves in her care.http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/wolves-kill-woman-swedish-zoo-reports-article-1.1097269

I guess people will do anything for the sake of money. My opinion, if you agree or not.

Nice to see some activity in this forum

Sharona

[Shadow Wolf]

Yeah, they definitely warned us of the danger, but like with the wolf pups they just had, they let people cuddle with them and hold them and pet them, which imprints them onto people at an early age. All of the wolves we interacted with have been imprinted, at least they said. There was actually a few pens we didn't go into because they said the wolves were completely wild and weren't people-friendly. But I can also understand the danger and was really surprised when I heard that we can actually go inside. I think it's up to the people who go in to visit, as long as they don't terrorize or harm the wolves they'll remain friendly. Then again, accidents happen, and they are wild animals, so we still have to be careful around them.

[opferte]

Speaking of that...

If you sense a wolf is becoming aggressive, turning and running away will get you into trouble. You back out, looking it in the eye the entire time. Eye contact is something submissive wolves avoid, and running away is what prey will do.

If a group of wolves surround you, at any distance, and they are all facing you, get the attention of a caretaker right away and back out, maintaining eye contact with each animal. I have seen wolves do this to me in a playful manner, but if I mistook it I'd be in trouble. It is best to leave. (instincts, instincts, instincts!!!)

I struggled with this one a great deal, not to be afraid if and when you are in a pen with a wolf and it shows aggression. You naturally want to be afraid, but it only makes you stink a stink that tells the wolf you are afraid. When you are afraid, the wolf asks itself "why is he afraid?" It came usually come to two conclusions: "He is going to attack me, and is worried about the consequences..." or "He is scared and it is OK to attack him."

What I have discovered is that a wolf doesn't ordinarily want to hurt you, but if you are near a chunk of meat they buried a week ago, and the scent is causing their muzzle to water, and suddenly you are standing on it (essentially laying claim to it), then you might find a wolf that is upset for no apparent reason. Do not panic, do not move suddenly. if you are sitting, slowly rise up, maintaining eye contact with it. Eye contact will NOT piss it off! Do not let anyone tell you this! It is not true. If you don't believe me, watch the omegas... The woman who owns the sanctuary I was at will tell you the same thing, and she has *never* had a visitor bitten, ever. (And she's been doing it for over 50 years...) It's only when people like me get too comfortable around the wolves and ignore out instincts that we get into heaps of trouble...

I don't get on the internets too often so I will try to impart as much knowledge as I can for you.

When I was bitten horribly in my arm, I had been teasing a wolf with food for 30 minutes while he was so sedated he could not react properly. Finally, I shoved my knee into his tail, where it had been freshly amputated as the poor wolf was drinking water. This wolf loved me, he would have given his life for me in a heartbeat.

Now, you are probably asking yourself why I would do those things to a 230LB wolf (what he weighed at the time) while being locked inside a small pen with him.

Let me tell you: That is what the wolf would have told you, if he was interviewed afterward. Certainly, he was justified for burying his 2" canine down to his gum into my arm, and as I jerked back, ripped open the muscle, and scarred the bone horribly, then he bit me again, this time using his near razor sharp back teeth to cut flesh on my wrist, as a warning only.

Want to hear my side of the story?

Ok here goes...

The wolf had been sedated for amputation of his tail. It would be like having your lips amputated, because the tail is used for communication in a great many ways.

Sedating a wolf is different than sedating a canine. Dogs' bodies have adapted over the years to our synthetic medicines. Wolves, who have not come into contact with them, have not. So the same amount of sedative for a 75Lb German Shepherd could actually kill a 200+ lb wolf. So, they are given a little at a time until the animal is completely under. A vet tech told me to get him stirring as SOON as he wakes up to work the sedative out of him, that could still hurt him.

I loved this wolf more than I loved just about anything else in this world. So when I saw him begin to stir, I immediately went to work trying to coax him to get up with a raw turkey leg. (like a delicious popsicle to a wolf) Thirty minutes later, he finally got to his feet, but acted like he was severely drunk. (He took the turkey leg, but dropped it on the ground as he was in no shape to eat it anyway. He might have been trying to please me. i do not know.) I sort of guided him as he swaggered over to his water trough where he began to drink. I saw his back legs suddenly struggle to keep his rear end straight up, and I moved into him, grabbing his hips to steady him, as my knee went into the 2" of tail he had left.

It is at this point that his head swung around, and he bit me twice with a vocal "ROO ROO!!" which is the wolf word for "Bro, what are you doing? Quit it!" I stood there for a few seconds. it happened faster than a cat mauls you with its claws as you pet it. I knew something bad had happened. I knew it had happened to me, and I knew it might concern my arm. i also knew that the wolf I was standing directly behind was the purpetraitor. Slowly, I grabbed my arm, still behind the wolf, and squeezed the wound, as the now rushing flow of blood from the ripped open muscle and skin began to flow out from the wound, I pressed the pocket of air within my arm which caused the air to escape through the now very wet hole, making a sort of a sucking sound.

A caretaker stood white faced at the airlock gate, blocking my escape. he was actually more afraid than I was. I nearly lost my temper as i told him to let me out, because i was in a pen with a wolf that I was pretty sure had bitten me.

I nearly passed out, and a warm rag administered to my forehead prevented that handily, and felt very good.

I was told many things. "He tasted your blood you can never go in there again!" "He is angry at you, now, you can never go back in." And the owner finally said: "Nothing will change between you. You can go back in." And you know what? She was right. His posture was unquestionably docile and submissive after I finally got the nerve to go back in. I even took a picture of him, after I said "Smile!"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/ ... 061329.jpg

He eventually approached me, slowly...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v237/ ... 777096.jpg

And stopped, his muzzle against the arm he bit. Slowly, he opened his muzzle, and put my arm in it (I was nearing needing a fresh pair of undies at that point!) bit down hard enough for it to hurt, opened his muzzle, then returned to his platform and sat back down.

I was like whiskey tango foxtrot, and was butt hurt because it felt like he bit me again. Up until that point I had struggled to move my arm at all, the searing, pulsing pain from the bone throbbed deep within my arm whenever I even thought about moving it. After he closed his muzzle on it it no longer hurt. I was tearing down drywall later that day. I am a Christian, and it is difficult for me to quantify how a wolf can heal pain (The wound remained, but the pain was gone) in a human being, but the truth is God can work through animals, too. (He has in the past)

So you can see that from our perspectives, two very different things happened that day. I felt I was trying to save the life of my best friend, and he thought I was teasing him, which hurt even more, because he felt I loved him very much.

It would help you to try and think about it from the wolfs perspective. "If I was the wolf, how would he or she take me doing such and such?" You can only begin to answer that question after years of interaction with them.

Another wolf i was petting one time, he was a good friend of mine as well. we were both laying, face to face, and I was just loving on him, because he had been my friend for some time, and I truly appreciated his company. Suddenly, he just started growling at me, then put my arm in hsi mouth and put pressure on it. Not enough to hurt me, but enough to let me know that he does not want to hurt me, but that if I didn't get out of his pen right now the pressure exerted by hsi jowls woudl likely be much greater.

So i got out.

Previously, a caretaker (250lbs) had been in his pen with a hoody. That particular wolf was housed with two other males in that pen. They each had a 3 foot tall platform that they would jump on. This particular wolf jumped on the platform while the caretaker was directly in front of it, his back turned, and grabbed hold of the hoody, and lifted the caretaker off of the ground, then set him back down. The caretaker will never forget that moment... Or when i watched him chew on a 1" diameter rock, then break it on his back teeth as if it was a snack.

It is so easy to forget that their soft coats, their love of giving kisses, their displays of affection are all done by an animal that is faster than your mind is capable of understanding, stronger than any canine, smarter than any canine, and can turn viciously cunning at a moments notice. For the most part, they respect people if raised or broken properly, and show people a healthy amount of fear, giving them enough distance to keep human and wolf comfortable, only approaching when the person feels at ease enough.

I remember a particular group of people that came to see the wolves. When they had gotten to the pen with the three male wolves, one of the wolves shoved his massive frame against the gate, preventing it from being opened. The owner calmly said, "I am sorry, they are not feeling well, we cannot go in." She later told me one of the guys gave her the creeps, and the wolves sensed it, preventing her from allowing them to enter. It is not too far fetched to say that when a wolf lays eyes on you it instinctively understands more about you than you are probably comfortably admitting.

One final thing...

When i say to ask about the origins of their names... one particular wolf had a name that meant "Naughty girl" because she was mischievous. One day I was laying on her platform (She was alone and segregated because of her aggressiveness to the other female) when she jumped up on it, plopped down in front of me, shoving her weight into my chest. I think i actually said "Awwwww how sweet!" and petted her there as we, well, technically spooned. After I got one or two pets in, she jumped up, faced me, and punched me in the face, giving me a fat lip. (With the tip of her muzzle, the front row of teeth) I was like umm... Okay...

She is also one of the wolves that loved me enough to prevent me from leaving with a growl as she slinked over to the exit gate when she saw me approach it, popping in between it and I, then setting her butt down and giving me the "You're not done petting me until I say you're done" look. I usually complied, and did not call attention to it, (By screaming) though I probably should have.

For all I have been through, I can say without hesitation, that there is nothing like having that same female wolf, as I am sitting indian legged in her pen, distracted by something, walk up to me, sit in my lap, and push her body against my chest, as she looked at me with eyes that betrayed a sorrow, as I wrapped my arms around her and held her there, feeling in my very soul the love that she had for me, and her appreciation of me for holding her. It is a regrettable thing for me, as I felt I should have loved on her a little longer, instead of remembering a trivial chore that could have waited, and going to do it, leaving her. As I said before, a wolf owes you nothing, so when it loves you like that, it is purely because of its own free will. My two dogs have a special place in my heart, but the love of a wolf takes up another area entirely, because they have choice, as a dog instinctively grows to love you if you feed it and treat it well.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. Being nipped terribly (Which my baby boy did whenever he had an opening to my soft, tender flesh just above my wastline, or on my shoulders, when eh felt I was too comfortable around him probably) some of them taking weeks to heal, having pee snake down from the hospital pens and pooling while soaking into my clothes, having feces spread everywhere by an excited wolf, who felt the joy of transfering it also to me, being bitten, growled at, stolen from (A lesson I learned early on, NEVER have food items of any kind in your pockets!), dominance mounted once in front of people, and the wonder of watching a wolf mark her food with her urine then eat it.

I learned not to have anything dangling from me, nothing with a strap, and that the presence of a guitar has different reactions from different wolves. I wrote a song once that I played for the wolves, and the reactions went from going into a peaceful sleep, to continually trying to eat the neck of the guitar even as I played, which eventually got the the point where the wolf was so curious I sensed that he was just going to take the guitar from me, and I got out after that.

You might not like hearing this, but going there part time will probably leave you with more misconceptions that you are sure are facts. If you really want to get to know the animals, to show them you are willing to spend the time and take the effort to get to know them (They can tell when you aren't/won't, as they are very used to it) and put up with them, then they will honor you by showing you sides of them that people rarely get to see. wolves are exceptionally proud creatures, and they indeed to hide things from people. I have seen it: "Oh yes, we are cuddly, sweet, fluffy wolves, and I just love licking people!" when first time visitors are there, and when I go in right after they are like "Dude, what do you want? Go get me some coffee or I'll pee on your leg." (No, they don't actually drink coffee, though anything other than water excites them to the point of rubbing in it, which is entertaining to the nth degree, as after they get done rubbing in it, they look up at you with excited child- like eyes and smile, as if to say "Thanks for the new scent broheem!" while the liquid has saturated their fur.)

Oh, something else, one particular wolf had a foot/ sock fetish, but not as in "its hot", but as in "I would very much like to eat it". Whenever one of the regulars would take his shoes off, the wolfs eyes would dilate and he became a different creature, doing everything he could just shy of hurting him to get his foot. In at least one of the terrifying instances with one of the wolves where he was actively threatening me, I did indeed notice that his pupils were dilated- no doubt a subconscious mechanism used to gather in as much light as he could to execute the plan of aggression he had in his mind. When the one foot fetish wolf did this, there was absolutely no reasoning with him. He was drawn to the foot like a magnet, and the only way to get him to stop, was sometimes putting the shoe back on, and usually having to leave the enclosure until he cooled off. It was as if his primal instincts kicked in and shoved everything he knew about humans out of the way. I will tell you it is not good to be in the pen with a wolf who is this way, as you are no longer a superior human to be feared, you are an equal, or prey, and only the tiniest of strands of reality penetrate the wolfs mind who is in this mode, which can be bad news for you. I saw this so that if you are ever unsure about a wolfs behavior, looking at the pupils may tell you for sure, maybe. As I said, this is only a casual observation that I found to occur in only a handful of experiences.

[Shadow Wolf]

Interesting stuff! I'll try to remember it all when I go back. I always thought that it was best to show submissiveness to wolves in a pack, just because if you show dominance the Alpha will challenge you, which would be the opposite of what you wanted, right? And eye contact is different for a lot of animals, like gorillas and lions as opposed to deer or rabbits. It might be a sign of respect if you look a wolf in the eye, or just a "hey, you don't wanna do what I know you think you wanna do" maybe. Usually when I get scared I'm also angry, which helps when another human is trying to attack you, because he/she isn't expecting you to glare and growl back, but I'm not sure how a wolf would take that kind of behavior. I know with some dogs you have to show your dominance by physically engaging them, even biting them, so that they know who's boss. Like with my dog, he knows I'm the Alpha of the house when he's at home, and over at my dad's he knows that Dad is the Big Man and acts submissive to us both. I'm not sure if wolves are the same in that area, although I assume domesticated dogs get that kind of behavior from their wolven ancestors.

I think the main thing would be containing my excitement. I love wolves and have loved them from a very young age. I've always seen them as misunderstood creatures. I know they're dangerous, and I never sugarcoat what they're capable of, but I also know that they are able to love, just like you said. I've defended them my whole life, and I'd really like to work with them myself, despite the risks involved. It comes with the territory, I guess. One day, if I am successful in my career, I'd like to set up my own land preserve to keep endangered (whether officially listed or not) animals such as wolves in a safe place, where hunters and poachers are not welcome (and will be hunted back ). To do that, I need to learn more about them (plus you need a license in order to keep wolves, which requires many hours of hands-on training to show you know how to care for them). So hopefully I can get something set up to go back to the preserve before I have to leave for school.

[opferte]

No, showing submissiveness is a bad idea. In their minds status is everything. If the wolves have been socialized properly, they will automatically show submissiveness to you. This submissiveness may just be lots of kisses. You will have to interact with them for some time before you see that even something like affection can indeed be a form of submissiveness. Dominance and status is so important to them, it is something that we as mankind have not been fully able to breed out of them int he domestic dog. i see it with my Basenji mix rescue and my GSd rescue. Even though the GSd is a F and the Basenji is a M they are *constantly* battling with each other for my attention. I can say for sure that if there ever was a dog that wanted to be your everything it is the Basenji, I am very impressed with him, he is my absolute best friend. I think that adds to the jealousy.

Anyway... If a wolf is showing dominance to you, every situation is different, but it is generally a good idea to leave if it does. You should *NEVER EVER* try and dominate a wolf. Start with petting them under the chin, not putting your hand over them, as it might be taken the wrong way by the wolf, but it would be a rare case if they did, if they were properly socialized with mankind. If there are more than one, and they are socialized, they will probably fight amongst themselves for your attention. There's nothing like having two 200+ lb wolves scent rubbing you, one on each side of your face as they both push their massive frames against your face, trying to transfer scents, then backign up to do it again, them both snarling at each other an inch from your face, then getting over it and pushing you down, again.

I wasn't afraid because I knew what the growling meant. I was honored, actually. But someone who is a layman would have thought the wolves may have been growling at *them*, which would cause them to panic, as they barred their vicious teeth an inch or two from my face.

If you ever feel scared, do yourself a huge favor and stow the anger. Logic and experience will serve you much better. I am a proficient marksman and have been trained in the use of a firearm to military standards, and to a more limited extent, the use of an edged weapon. I honestly feel that against a determined wolf, even armed I would probably still end up in the hospital or worse. Without weapons you are completely at their mercy. (That is to say do not bother carrying a weapon of any kind into an enclosure without notifying the staff at the sanctuary) If you are angry, it will impair your judgment- and you simply do not want that around a creature like the wolf. it is good to be calm. Plan your escape. Never engage an angry animal. Back out, maintaining eye contact. if there are multiple animals and it seems as if they are all surrounding you, maintain eye contact as sequentially with each animal the best you can, and suppress the fear you may feel the best you can. It si likely if you follow the instructions of the workers and owners there you will NEVER come into contact with such a scenario.

The reason I am drilling this into you is because it is so *easy* to forget the nature of the wolf while you are with them, especially if that nature has been hampered by interaction and familiarity with mankind. It dulls their instincts, but it never fully gets rids of them. Which is why you must be aware of it at all times and not allow yourself tt be lulled into a false belief that they are just ginormous dogs with awful manners. I apologize in advance, I am assuming you are as much of a dumbass as I am, which frankly just isn't possible.

If you forget every word I have written, and stay tuned with your instincts, you will be OK. Never EVER ignore them, no matter HOW much you want to pet the wolf. Please, watch me ignore my instincts here in this video and suffer some minor abrasions, none of which drew blood. This is the female I was telling you about who gave me a fat lip whilst we spooned.

Some things to see:

1. She was retreating from me. If a wolf is walking away, it is walking away for a reason. Petting time is over. It would be good if you walked away. Wolves need their space sometimes, as much and moreso than many people do. Respect that and you will do well for yourself.

2. She gave me a warning: She whined a little. When a wolf whines, it is for a reason- usually. Your instincts may give you some insight as to why, but it is best to err on the side of caution and give the animal its space.

3. Season. Seasons will have dramatic effects on their overall behavior. During mating season, they will act crazy, and you might not even be allowed in the pens with them, which is for your own good. I could go into more detail, but suffice it to say, they are NOT THEMSELVES. This particular time of the year was whelping time. Even though this particular female was not sterilized, she had not been bred, but was acting as if she had pups in her "den" (dogloo) and I was essentially invading her private den space, potentially getting too close to her non existent pups.

4. if you notice right before she struck, I reached out to pet her, then stopped. Why did I stop? Because my instincts were crying out for me NOT TO PET HER. She loves me, but right then she just wanted to be alone. But I *wanted* to, dammit. And so I overrode my instincts- and you can see the result. Things could have been much, much worse. It is not necessarily the initial bite, it is when you try their patience, and they continue to attack. That is when you find yourself bleeding out, your throat ripped from your neck, with mere moments of life left.

5. The lick: Granted, she DID show me affection by licking me. What she was saying was "I love you very much. But I want to be alone right now." I persisted in interacting with her and you will see the result.

6. The submissive pose when I pet her first. Her head low, her ears back at first. Try and find when she gave a little micro- yawn. That means "Okay, you are persisting, I will allow it this time, but my showing my teeth I am trying to tell you that my patience is wearing thin. Please, give me my space."

7. Her body language. You can see how she intentionally keeps her head away from me. Another sign she just wants to be left alone. And another yawn- her patience is being tested again and again, and all I want to do is pet her.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v237/ ... 081228.mp4

(It says it cannot determine the size of the image, why?)

The thing is, there is a delicate balance here that will take a conscious effort on your part. If you are too timid around them they will not be comfortable showing you their world. If you are too aggressive you will end up hurt. You must constantly adjust your technique around them, being constantly aware of your surroundings, their moods, the seasons, and especially your own instincts. My best advice is to tell you to go in listening carefully to what the caretakers tell you- they have been through it like me, and will keep you from having a negative experience. It is possible to spend a lot of time there and never have a bad experience.

I, too, have loved wolves ever since I can remember. I was abused terribly from when I was very young (3 years) for a period of about 11 years, and I remember seeing a picture of the mother wolf from the Jungle Book and wondering why I couldn't be loved like she loved her pups. The picture just resonated within me and I never got over it. I have found out that nearly everything I thought about the lupine species was wrong, before going to the wolf sanctuary. But... at the same time, as my belief foundation began to crumble, it was slowly replaced with an actual foundation based on reality, and in a way, while emotions I held dear died, new emotions began to grow that were based on their actual behavior, thoughts, and emotions, which were founded in reality, and while it might not have been as high in amplitude as my previous emotional state concerning wolves, because my new beliefs were founded in reality, it was indeed a worthwhile tradeoff.

The more I remember my time with the wolf I bonded to, the more I see his sacrificing of his pride and his ways to get closer to me. Though he had been separated from his pack because of his aggression as Alpha Male, he simply would not allow his head to be higher than mine, ever. If I tried to put my head lower than his (Bad idea), he would lower his until his muzzle was touching the ground. That is *big* with a wolf, because a submissive wolf can die of starvation by ousting. He was trusting me a great deal to do that. It only lends to the sorrow in my heart that he is no longer with me, though, as my experiences with him glow in my heart and mind as brightly as the experiences I have with my human friends.

One final word: Try not to bring your knowledge of dogs into the pens with the wolves. Keep it in mind, but do not allow it to influence your actions, go with the flow, and enjoy the wolves. When you return home, in your euphoria, go and interact with your dog. Watch as he or she sniffs you for about 20 minutes, wide- eyed. "Dude you were around a wolf!" You can relate the behavior of the wolves with your dog(s). But do yourself a favor and never relate the behavior of a dog, who has been conditioned with years of unending interaction with mankind, with a wolf, who has had none. It would be like going to Syria and trying to act around the Syrian people the same way you act around your pals in the States.

Chances are very good I have spent a lot of time warning you about things that will never happen. It is better to know, than not to know. And I want you to know.

[Shadow Wolf]

Makes sense, so you want to show you're on their level, otherwise they'll dominate you and things may turn up badly. I know that reading a book about something isn't nearly as good as actually witnessing it or interacting with it. It's like reading the manual for a cell phone and expecting to be able to build one yourself (I guess some people could do that if they had knowledge of that technology, but regular Joe Schmo's like me couldn't). So I know things will be different than what I've been told and read. I'm actually looking forward to it. I also know that they're a lot more dangerous, and that they were hunted and feared for a good reason--not that I agree, just that they're not exactly innocent bystanders. I think this will help me, because if you go in thinking "Oh, those stories are all false, they're just like my doggies at home!" you'll probably be proven wrong instantly. And with your advice I have a better understanding of what to expect and how to react.

Now, I doubt that I'll be able to go in with them instantly when I volunteer. They'll probably have me doing clean-up, shop work, and other things before letting me interact with the animals. Plus, they have other animals there besides wolves, like foxes, skunks, geese, and other "small animals" they said. And they don't know me, I could be some psycho, although I didn't sense any wariness of their part. They seemed pretty open to letting people come in, help, and gain more knowledge of the wolf. Hopefully I'll still be able to get to know what they're like, even by talking with the other volunteers or watching as they work with them. I know when I come home my dog will be all over me. He was sniffing me a lot and knew I had been around his ancestors. He has a bit of Irish Wolfhound in him, so that may have something to do with his reaction.

I've been watching my dog, taking note of his behavior, and seeing a lot of the wolf in him, in just the way he reacts sometimes. He'll show submissiveness and dominance, and he'll get my attention when he wants something. When he wants to be petted and I stop, he bumps my hand and tells me to keep going. When he's not in the mood, he'll shy away like your wolf did, move his head or back away. I know not to push him, although sometimes I can tell the difference between "Back off or I'll bite you" and "I'm scared". Like when people come over, or there are a lot of loud noises, he'll run into his kennel and hide. Usually when the people are gone or the noises stop he'll come out, but other times he stays in there. One time I reached in, grabbed him, and carried him out. He didn't bite me--I knew he wouldn't, because he didn't show any warnings signs like growling, baring his teeth, and the like which he would normally do in the "Back off or I'll bite you" scenario. I saw that in the video and could relate.

So we'll see what they say, and I'll let you know what happens! I'm in the process of scanning the pictures we took from the disposable camera onto the computer, so I should have them up here soon.

[opferte]

Go in excited, and happy to help. they will appreciate it. Be open to challenges to your beliefs, understanding that while reality might seem dry and direct opposition to the emotions you have, in the end reality always trumps ignorance. Plus, tedious dirty work is 90% of owning a sanctuary. I would spend all day every day in the summer cleaning thousands of gallons of water tubs (I didn't use bleach, I scrubbed every pool and tub by hand) so that they could have fresh, clean water to drink and play in. Shoveling poo, digging up putrid meat, and feeding pounds of flesh to them, the elderly wolves requiring it to be cut up into small, easy to chew pieces, regulating the intake of each individual wolf based on how they ate the day previous.

When you approach a wolf, if you are anything like me, the feeling of euphoria as it approaches you will be hard to extinguish, and I would say don't even try to. If the wolf feels you are happy to see it and be around it, it will react in kind. I think you are going to do just fine. If you can observe the wolves, try and ask yourself "Why is he doing that?" or, "What is that wolf feeling right now?" "What is it thinking?" I am unsure of how it happened, but I can tell you what most of the wolves are thinking, and their actions back me up. Not like reading their minds- more like reading their moods. Again with your instincts.

When you finally are allowed in, you will find it rewarding. No matter what, remember that even touching a wolf is something 99% of the population will never get to experience. You are amassing unique, special knowledge and honing your instincts to the point where it may also help you understand many wild creatures. Forging true, two sided relationships with the wolves is something beyond words. Each wolf is as different an animal as the next one. They can be polar opposites, two completely different animals, but are both "wolves".

You have a very exciting time coming up for you my friend. I can see how my words might make you afraid- please don't be afraid. Be wary when your instincts call for it, not deceiving yourself into believing you can "handle it". That comes later. Years later. You will discover that for the mostpart, the very friendly wolves that truly enjoy human interaction are generally harmless, unless provoked. The wolf in the video had her paw under the fence when she must have been spooked by something and jerked her paw in, catching a stiff, jagged wire that tore her upper leg open down to the bone, it was a hideous wound.

She walked around like that with the flesh just flopping around until someone noticed it. I walked into her pen with a tube of super glue, and after petting and comforting her (She didn't even seem to notice the wound) I held onto her leg while trying to administer the glue to close the wound. Yes, I was putting myself in danger trying that on an injured wolf who was not sedated. But, in the moment I was highly motivated to just help her. And in the end, I was so concerned with not hurting her that I botched it up, when she didn't even resist me at all. I took advantage of that and was able to fully close the wound. She made no effort to resist me.

One wolf had just had his esophagus and intestines operated on, (He was fed dog food from a pup by owners who didn't know any better, so his esophagus never fully developed) and we took him home, and put him into a special cage we built, walk-in size. All night that night we watched over him. We were given two large baggies of syringes, one was supposedly full of antibiotics, and the other supposedly full of painkillers. We administered antibiotics according to schedule, and the painkillers as we saw fit. Problem was, after we administered the painkillers, he still acted in pain. Turns out they gave us two baggies of ANTIBIOTICS. We were man- handling an unsedated wolf straight out of surgery, thinking he was sedated, relaxed, and in no pain. Our hands were all over his body trying to get him to lay down, to drink, to comfort him, over the freshly sewn flesh, etc. That wolf never so much as growled at us, and in fact was called a "Champion" by one of the caretakers there. Though he was in pain he never wanted to hurt us. Could one say that about a dog? In some cases, yes. But a wolf? Exceptional, in my opinion.

I should also tell you that if you find yourself connected with a wolf, and you spend lots of time with that animal, if you suddenly up and leave it can devastate the wolf. The wolf I bonded to nearly killed me when I returned from a two year absence. At first he was so glad to see me.. Then his joy turned to rage when he seemed to say "The only excuse you can have to leaving me here is that you're dead!" Our relationship was never the same after that, and I regret it painfully every time I think about it.

So if you find yourself falling in love with one of the wolves, remember that its interaction with you might be the only time it feels that way around someone. So if you leave it, it would be like leaving your child in daycare for however long you will be away. It will miss you, and may even stop eating. But... That kind of bond between a wolf and a man is somewhat rare. I am just saying... Consider the wolfs feelings, because it not only has emotions as strong as our own, but it also has a set of very hard teeth, and not just that, but a heart as well, that can be broken as badly as any human heart- and moreso- because the wolf cannot go see a movie to feel better, or call up her friends to talk about how much of a jerk you are for not seeing her in 3 months. When was the last time you heard about someone starving themselves to death because their friend hadn't come around in a while? It is a life long commitment to be with a wolf that loves you as their best friend. And if you care for that wolf, feeding it the 5-8+ lbs of fresh raw meat every day it requires, giving it a good, happy life, that commitment can last as long as 23 years! She has had a wolf to live that long.

Until you know you can spend time around them, it might be a good idea not to spend so much time with them that they get used to the idea of you being there, especially if you end up going to college. If and when you start your own wolf sanctuary, you need to realize that the more bonded you get to the animals, the less you will be able to take vacations, go out and "do" things, hang out with friends, etc. If you go in once a day with the wolves, they will hold you to that. If you spend hours every day with them then suddenly stop, it might not be a good thing. But... spending hours with them is the only way to get to know them, to see the personality traits and structures of the wolves. So... you must balance it out.

You will see as you go on. I hope and pray that you are allowed in with the wolves. They will see your interest in them and no doubt you will be allowed in with the more socialized ones shortly. Be diligent with your work- it will go a long way to them granting you access to the lupines. I volunteered hours, money, and expertise to the utmost, which earned me favor with the owner. It was more my love for the species than anything else that the owner appreciated.

A bit of advice: Find out what the sanctuary needs. Do they need hose? Start emailing hose companies asking for donations. I got a good gig with NevRKink for putting a small advert for them on the website, we got all the hose we wanted. Sometimes all you have to do is ask. If you can help them that way, it will go a long way for them to trust you. But if they want you to rebuild the 2,000lb 12 cylinder diesel engine on their earth mover, don't say you will do it if you have no idea how. It hurts everyone when people don't do what they say they will do. I have to say, that is the biggest disappointment when I was at the sanctuary. They would get well intentioned people all the time saying "I can do this and that..." But when it came down to crunch time they could do nothing more than move their jaws.

Often it was the people willing to go into the heat and dig trenches that were appreciated the most.

I am sorry I write so much. I have found a love of writing, and I love to help people, especially when it comes to wolves.

[Shadow Wolf]

Much appreciated! I know I won't be able to be there for long, since I leave at the end of August, but I know I'll be coming back. I probably won't become a permanent volunteer, unless I find a job in my career in the area, but I still want to help out as much as I can. Maybe I can take some time to really dig in somewhere later on in life. But I will take all your advice to heart when I go. Thanks! ^^

[opferte]

May God protect you whilst you go about your business, and may you find so much more than you ever expected, or hoped with the wolves.