Wolf Visions 2020
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Wolf Volume 29 THE PERIODIC NEWSLETTERVisions FROM MISSION: WOLF Westcliffe, CO 81252 Westcliffe, PO Box 1211 Mission: Wolf Nonprofit Org US Postage Paid Permit #63 FEATURED WOLF Hailey (pictured left) overcomes health issues and charms with grace and grit. Lil’ Hailey Star surveys the refuge from her snowy home (L. McGehee) THANK Mission: Wolf YOU Mission: Wolf is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that connects people with nature using hands-on experiential education. Through volunteer internships and education programs, we inspire individuals to become Howls of gratitude stewards of the earth. While providing a home for rescued wolves and horses, we create opportunities for your continued for growth through community service and personal interactions with animals. We value education, sustainability, and improving relationships between people, animals, and the world around them. support! In This Issue Table of Contents pg. 2 A New Decade of M:W, New Arrivals pg. 3 Featured Wolf, Ydun Joins the Pack Senior Spotlights pg. 4 Remembering Abraham pg. 5 Memorials, Wolf-Horse Sanctuary Page 2 pg. 6 Ambassador Update, Winter vs. Summer pg. 7 Greenhorn Wolf Profile, Jane’s Studio Wild Wolf Recovery pg. 8-9 Wild Wolf Recovery in In Colorado Colorado pg. 10 Inside the Growing Education Page 8-9 Domes pg 11 Flora of M:W, Land Conservation pg. 12 Wish List, Financial Report Inside the Growing Domes pg. 13 Coloring Contest pg. 14 Acknowledgements pg. 15 Wolves of Mission: Wolf Sustainability Page 10 pg. 16 Visit & Contact Info Page 2 Mission: Wolf Sanctuary Mission: Wolf is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that has provided a sanctuary home to wolves and wolf-dog crosses for over 30 years. Our mission is to inspire respect for the wild and connect people with nature. As people learn compassion for the wolf, they also learn to respect all forms of life, which leads to further protection and enhancement of wild habitat. M:W is run by a group of dedicated and hard-working individuals, who live and work sustainably in the remote Wet Mountains of Southern Colorado. Read on to learn more about the people and wolves of our sanctuary. A New Decade of Mission: Wolf Who knew that what I started to write provided they did not place a burden on potential for world cooperation, or do we in early spring would be changed by a the wolves or facility. If wolves have continue on a path of financially dictated rapidly spreading virus? Who knew to to live in a cage, we provide them with chaos? care for a wolf would create a sustainable a large, natural space and enriching This time out has allowed the M:W staff life of purpose and cooperation? Who interactions with their human caretakers to review, define, and focus on what knew that wild wolves create cascading if they so desire. I have allowed over a really matters. We will work to grow environmental changes that would our land conservation project, allow humans to flourish? improve our sustainability and After 30 years of caring for food production, expand the captive-born wolf and wolf-dog wolves’ enclosures, and provide rescues, all I know for certain is as many one-on-one educational that life will change, and to accept experiences that develop change requires knowledge and compassion and empathy. Our action. I have watched the world goal is to promote a greater shift from a cooperative society of understanding of behavior working together for a common between people and animals that future, to a competitive society of nurtures respect for all life. hoarding wealth and resources. The shining gazes of Zephir (left) and Arrow (L. McGehee) The historic outcome of wolves Change is what we need; experience is million folks the chance to meet a wolf and humans demonstrates the tragedy the only solution. To deal with change eye-to-eye, and it is this greeting that when fear overwhelms due to a lack requires we learn new ways. changes people. Every visitor has to of knowledge. A fearful human will It is the eye-to-eye experience that makes step away from their challenges and be justify killing; compassion, empathy and a difference. In 1988, we put the land present to get a true greeting. remorse do not exist in this world view. in the wolves’ names, set up a list of COVID-19 has opened a new chapter full Change is the one and only constant that caretaking duties for people, and opened of change. These obstacles are prime fuel I know, and it has become daily life here the place to anyone who could find us, to create a new norm: do we expand the at Mission: Wolf. -K. Weber New Arrivals Ydun Merlin In June 2019, we took in Ydun Merlin is a 12-year-old female who (pronounced E-den), a young wolf came to us when the Rocky Mountain named after the Norse goddess of Doeschka Wildlife Foundation unfortunately spring, rejuvenation, and youth. Her had to close. She is a very shy and behavior perfectly fits her name, as Doeschka has come to us all the way beautiful wolf-dog who has never she is eternally joyous and playful. from Alberta, Canada! She is turning been handled by people and so was All the staff took part in raising three this year and we are excited to unsuitable for life in any place and socializing her, and she quickly start saddle training and gently riding became a highlight for visitors. She her this summer. Horse bones and besides a sanctuary. It took several now lives with Zeab and Nashira in joints do not fully develop until they attempts and many days to even get the Ambassador Pack. The trio’s antics are six to eight years old, when they her comfortable enough with our staff make an entertaining and educational are considered adults. Riding Doeschka to come out of her den for transport! experience for any visitor wishing to sooner could cause her back or legs On the night of March 12th, 2020, our witness wolf pack dynamics. She is permanent damage, as is the case in staff was able to successfully crate known for her exuberant greetings most baby horses. In the meantime, we and transfer her peacefully to her new and boundless energy and is quickly are sharpening our groundwork skills, learning from her elders how to behave and sharing what we learn along the home. We are so thrilled to have this like a wolf. She shows great potential way! Welcome Doeschka, we are over newest addition to our pack with us for being a long-term ambassador the MOON to have you and love you and look forward to getting to know and living a life of purpose through dearly already! -TAB this magnificent older wolf. education. -M. Gaarde Photo by TAB -L. McGehee Photo by E. Alvarado Photo by K. Wilson 2020 Mission: Wolf Page 3 Featured Wolf: Lil’ Hailey Star Hailey is quiet, intense, that she bonded intensely with the gentle Arctic wolf who and commands attention would become her lifelong mate: Aria, who had contracted whenever she agrees parvovirus and nearly lost his life. The two healed together to be seen. Her brindle and formed a companionship that still shines strongly today, coloration perfectly eleven years later. masks her as a rock; it At the end of summer 2019, staff began to notice decreased is only with the errant mobility as Hailey tried to move around her enclosure. Her twitching tail while caretakers decided she needed medical attention. Through she dreams that her body posture and mirroring techniques, staff were able to camouflage is revealed. move her safely into an accessible part of her enclosure to Her life has been marked be put on a stretcher and taken to a van, completely avoiding by miraculous medical Yearling Hailey (TAB) the danger of tranquilizing. At Powers Pet Emergency, an recoveries, a lifelong examination yielded that she likely had a tumor growing partnership with Aria, and a charming grace that captures the in her spine that was affecting her coordination, muscle hearts of everyone who gets the chance to spot her. Hailey movements, and sensory feedback. came to M:W in 2009 from Bear Country, South Dakota along Hailey was prescribed steroids to help reduce the tumor size with seven other littermates. As the runt of the litter, she and has since been able to reclaim her mobility and quality of was picked on by her siblings and sustained serious injuries. life. She can once again be seen running across her enclosure Nobody could get her to come out of her den for the medical with sure-footing and stealing bones from Aria when he is attention she needed, so one brave staff member named Hailey not looking. It has been astounding to see the rich and vibrant volunteered to crawl life Hailey has been able to lead through timely medical care 15 feet into the den and a safe home. Her tenacity and joy each day remind us all with a rope tied around to cherish the beautiful and unexpected adventures we are her ankles to rescue able to experience. -L. McGehee the injured pup. Lil’ Hailey Star became the first and only wolf to be named in honor of a staff member. It was when wolf pup Hailey was in the vet Hailey glistens in the snow (TAB) building recovering Hailey (left) sleeps next to her partner Aria (A. White) Senior Spotlights Talon Soleil Talon wears a bandana on walks (E. Matsuda) Soleil rests during the afternoon (E.