THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER VOLUME 19, NO. 4 WINTER 2009 Features Departments The Pros and Cons of 3 From the 4 Owning Wolf-dog Hybrids Chair of the Board of Directors Wolf-dog hybrids are increasingly popular, but they aren’t for everyone. Should crossing wolves and dogs be encouraged – or prohibited? 10 Tracking the Pack Tracy O’Connell 13 Wolves of the World ruzan C Building a Wolf Library ynn Book Review L 18 7 International Wolf offers some suggestions for making Danna informed choices among the huge selection of wolf books on 23 A Look Beyond the market. Cornelia Hutt On the Cover Living with Wolves in an Photo by Curt Tidwell A member of the Phantom Hill 20 Idaho Neighborhood pack roams a snowy hillside above a neighborhood in Idaho’s Wood Wolves in winter go where the elk are plentiful. In this case, River Valley. See story on page 20. a pack shares living space with people and domestic dogs in a residential neighborhood, causing both fear and excitement – and some changed minds. Did you know... urt Tidwell C Jason Kauffman one easy way for you to help us conserve natural resources is to make sure we have your email address. Simply email your address to: [email protected] enter C nternational Wolf nternational Wolf I Publications Director Mary Ortiz Red Wolf Magazine Coordinator Coalition Sharon Reed Director Graphics Coordinator Carissa L.Winter Awarded 2009 Consulting Editors enter Cornelia Hutt and Tracy O’Connell “Who Speaks C Technical Editor for Wolf ” L. David Mech im Wheeler, executive nternational Wolf nternational Wolf Graphic Designer director of the Red I Tricia Austin Wolf Coalition, is the Left to right: International Wolf Center Board K Member Nancy Gibson, Kim Wheeler International Wolf (1089-683X) is published recipient of the International quarterly and copyrighted, 2009, by the Wolf Center’s 2009 “Who Speaks for Wolf” award. This annual award is given International Wolf Center, 3410 Winnetka Ave. to someone outside the organization who has made exceptional contribu- N., Minneapolis, MN 55427, USA. tions to wolf education. Kim works as a volunteer for the Center, and her email: [email protected]. commitment to red wolf survival has enhanced the success and status of this All rights reserved. critically endangered species. n Publications agreement no. 1536338 Membership in the International Wolf Center includes a subscription to International Wolf magazine, free admission to the Center, and discounts on programs and merchandise. • Lone Wolf memberships are U.S. $35 • Wolf Pack $60 • Wolf Associate $125 • Wolf Sponsor $500 • Alpha Wolf $1000. Canada and other countries, add U.S. $15 per year for airmail postage, $7 for surface postage. Contact the International Wolf Center, 1396 Highway 169, Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA; email: [email protected]; phone: 1-800-ELY-WOLF International Wolf is a forum for airing facts, ideas and attitudes about wolf-related issues. Articles and materials printed in International Wolf do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the International Wolf Center or its board of directors. International Wolf welcomes submissions of personal adventures with wolves and wolf pho to graphs. Prior to submission of other types of manu scripts, address queries to Mary Ortiz, publications director. PHOTOS: Unless otherwise noted, or obvious from the caption or article text, photos are of captive wolves. International Wolf is printed entirely with soy ink on FSC certified paper. We encourage FSC logo here you to recycle this magazine. 2 Winter 2009 www.wolf.org INTERNATIONAL From the Chair of WOLF CENTER The Board of Directors BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nancy jo Tubbs Chair Dr. L. David Mech Reading Takes Children Vice Chair Where the Wild Things Are Cree Bradley Secretary by Nancy jo Tubbs, Board Chair, International Wolf Center Paul B. Anderson Treasurer ather tucked me into bed and opened our favorite book. I was about six Dr. Larry Anderson years old, and when I wasn’t climbing trees or catching frogs, I was learning Amy Bromberg Funk to read a bit myself. I proudly picked out a few of the words as he read Nancy Gibson “The Old Mother West Wind” tale. F Hélène Grimaud “The last little star was blinking sleepily as Old Mother West Wind turned her big bag upside down on the Green Meadows and all her children, the Merry Little Jim Hammill Breezes, tumbled out on the soft green grass.” Cornelia “Neil” Hutt Dad made Thornton W. Burgess’ stories of the Breezes, Dean Johnson Grandfather Frog and Sammy Jay, who was always planning mis- Linda Lemke chief, come alive with voices that squeaked and rumbled and one Dania Miwa that sounded suspiciously like my mother’s voice calling from bed Dr. Rolf O. Peterson for coffee. Mom objected in mock protest, and Dad and I giggled. Mike Phillips This issue of International Wolf is chock full of suggestions for Debbie Reynolds delightful books about the world of the wolf. Some speak to adults Jerry Sanders and others to the younger set. You’ll find fascinating, factual and Paul Schurke adventurous reading suggestions here about the wolf, its habitat, Paul Sletten its pack and its prey. Ted Spaulding Nancy jo Tubbs Of particular importance, I think, is the notion that sharing Teri Williams nature with very young children can start with reading that delights both parents and kids. When we are snuggled up with a good nature book, a bond grows EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR between child, parent and the great outdoors. Mary Ortiz Some stories for children are less factual but find a way to captivate young people with anthropomorphic characters who inhabit our imaginations, though MISSION not the real world. As we grow older, we make the transition from hearing about The International Wolf Grandfather Frog to learning about the world of amphibians, about wood frogs, Center advances the survival spring peepers and goliath frogs. We begin to care about the frogs in our pond and of wolf populations by those in other ecosystems, which may be in danger. teaching about wolves, their I hope you remember your favorite nature books from early childhood. Perhaps relationship to wildlands and the you are finding new favorites that you share with the children in your life. Whether human role in their future. they are fables or factual, I hope they are rich in words that squeak and rumble off Educational services and the tongue and snare one’s imagination. Reading books about wolves, frogs and informational resources the west wind plants the seeds of care for the natural world in those who listen. are available at: And delightfully, it may even refresh our care for our big, windy world in those of 1396 Highway 169 us doing the reading. Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA Wishing you wild reading. n 1-800-ELY-WOLF 1-218-365-4695 For a comprehensive list of books and videos for all ages, email address: [email protected] please visit the Learn section of www.wolf.org. Web site: http://www.wolf.org International Wolf Winter 2009 3 4 Winter 2009 Winter Amanda Stanoszek Amanda Stanoszek BY TRACy O’ Wolf-dog Wolf-dog Ken Collings Crosses– CO NNELL www.wolf.org Amanda Stanoszek Adam Oliver s a wolf-dog hybrid on your holiday books on its Web site for those inter- wish list? A check online will yield ested in owning a wolf-dog. Ia list of breeders, organizations People who envision keeping such and happy owners pictured with an animal in their homes soon their loving companions – as well as encounter problem behavior, such as more than a few cautionary tales, a site marking territory and destroying fur- listing a 30-year chronology of wolf- niture, says Beth Duman, a Wolf Park dog attacks on humans, and many volunteer and dog trainer. Further, rescues and sanctuaries where victims despite the imagined fierceness, they of unsuccessful ownership experi- aren’t good at guarding, a purpose ments end up. many have in mind for large dogs. Robert A. Willems, veterinary med- Most agree the nature of the wolf – to ical officer with the U.S. Department of avoid human interaction – does not Agriculture, wrote an article, “The bode well for people seeking a guardian Wolf-Dog Hybrid, Overview of a to give them protection. Additionally, Controversial Animal” in the Animal some veterinarians won’t treat a wolf- Welfare Information Center newsletter dog, and rabies vaccines manufactured in 1995. “Unfortunately, there is little for dogs have not been proven effective scientific literature. Most of what on wolves or wolf crosses. we now know about their behavior What’s in a name? Getting agree- comes from anecdotal accounts,” he ment on terms can be dicey. Wolf-dogs wrote. “One side describes them as are not hybrids, posits Leyton Cougar, highly aggressive, destructive, unpre- executive director of the Wild Spirit dictable, and untrustworthy. .The Wolf Sanctuary in New Mexico, a other sees them as gentle, loving ani- facility caring for more than 50 wolves mals. Many experienced hybrid and wolf-dogs that have been surren- owners claim their animals are less dered by owners unable to keep them dangerous than some breeds of dog. for a variety of reasons. He notes National statistics on canine attacks on “hybrid” refers to a cross between two humans have been used by both sides species, while wolves and dogs are of to support their differing positions.” the same species. Those same arguments are heard Lori Schmidt, wolf curator at the ruzan C today. But several sources work to Center, uses the term hybrid, saying ynn provide unbiased information, such the difference is between a domestic L as the Center’s Web site, and there are animal and a wild one, making the Danna several points on which everyone from term more in reference to “the nature across the spectrum seems to agree.