Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly Winter Issue '09

What’s Inside

Winter 2009

Face to Face with the Owyhee Pack (pg 4) Face to Face with the Sawtooth Pack (pg 12) News & Current Events (pg 14) Wolf Behavior 101 (pg 16) Adoption page (pg19) Education & Research (pg 20) Visitor Center (pg 22) Kids page (pg 23)

2 SLq Winter 2009

Executive Director’s Letter 3

Face 2 Face with Wolves 4

Owyhee Pack Introduced 7

Sawtooth Pack 12

News and Current Events 14

Wolf Behavior 101 16

Wolf Adoption Form and Information 19

Education & Research 20

Wolf Camp Journal Entry 21

Visitor Center 22

Kids Page - Pack Facts and Fun 23

Photo Courtesy: Owyhee Pack: donated by Mixie’s Photo Lab, Mikaela McConnell and Wolf Center Staff/Interns

Sawtooth Pack: donated by Aaron Frizzell Photography

4

19

23

16

Winter 2009Table of Contents

No organization can operate without a dedicated staff, board of directors, and team of volunteers and interns. The Wolf Center is blessed to have some of the finest and most committed in all those categories. With various backgrounds in business, engineering, wildlife management, and more, we blend personali-ties together with the hope of serving the mission of the Wolf Education & Research Center.

BOARd OF diRECtORSDouglas Christensen, IdahoChairman of the [email protected]

Roy Farrar, IdahoBoard of [email protected]

Sally Farrar, IdahoBoard of Directors, [email protected]

Sharon Lander, CaliforniaBoard of Directors, [email protected]

Dennis Olson, MontanaBoard of [email protected]

Dr. Ceidwen Terrill, Ph.D, OregonBoard of [email protected]

WERC StAFFChris AndersonExecutive [email protected]

Jeremy HeftWildlife [email protected]

Randy StewartOn-Site Education & [email protected]

(888) 422-1110info@wolfcenter orgwww wolfcenter org

Send us your photos for a future collage from visitors and members!

See page 19

ArticleAuthor name, info...

3Winter 2009 SLq

dear Friends of Wolf Recovery,

A close friend recently emailed me a timely article from The Economist titled “The Downturn Poses New Challenges for Philanthropy” with the best intentions of helping me remain informed and ahead of any possible challenges. If you are in our email loop, you received several emails at Year’s end stating some of these same challenges, all that are threatening not only the Wolf Cen-ter, but many organizations that advocate for those who have no voice.

As the Wolf Center braces for a tumultuous year, we are facing obstacles that cause us to shore up “Plan A” but always be mindful of “Plan B.” Strategically, this is both a highly accountable and adaptive place to be. One of the outcomes, however, is to evaluate how we communicate, the value we deliver, and how that message is funded.

This publication’s mission is to keep you connected to your wolves, our staff, and this important cause. When working well, the Quarterly directs you to our website or blog where you will find more information that helps you remain informed. We’re proud of this publication and as you can see, because of generous and skilled volunteers, we have minimized the cost of production and found a great method of providing a tool that you can share with others. Feedback from our readers have expressed affirming delight about the Quarterly and we hope to keep sending it for years to come. One important measurement in our effectiveness is the fact that the majority of donations that we have received in the past twelve months are from historical donors, those who hadn’t given to us in numerous years!

“Plan A,” however, has some adjustments. To date, the past six issues have gone out to anyone who has supported the Wolf Center in the past five years, whether they are current in their support by donations or memberships. As of this printing, to firm up our finances and stewardship, the Wolf Center will only be able to send the publication to current members and donors. Of course, you can always access the website to get the latest information and updates. You’ll notice that you can now subscribe to the Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly!

Thank you for understanding as we take additional steps to honor those who generously sup-port this effort by their time and resources. It certainly puts into perspective how important your membership, adoptions, and donations are! I know many of you care deeply about wolf recovery, the Wolf Center, and our ability to continue; thank you for your faithful support.

Kind Regards,Chris Anderson, Executive DirectorWolf Education & Research Center

P.S. An abbreviated preview will precede each Quarterly on our website that gives you some snap-shots of what’s coming by mail. If you would prefer to receive it by email, please notify me.

New Challengesfor Philanthropy

New Challengesfor Philanthropy

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Cost of SLq when mailing to 4,000 Supporters: $2 07 each

Design & Layout

Printing

Bulk Rate Mailing

Reminder: If you have not renewed your Membership, please do so in

order to continue to receive the Quarterly.

Help the Wolf Center save money by emailing us to receive

the Quarterly electronically.

Memberships help the Wolf Center promote education

all year long! Become a Member today!

Send us your photos for a future collage from visitors and members!

Face2FaceOwyhee Pack

Written by Chris Anderson

4 SLq Winter 2009

Owyhee PackUp Close and

Personal

Owyhee PackUp Close and

Personal

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5Winter 2009 SLq

Wolf AHimtuuqin’ (Bearded One)Weight: 90 lbs.Sex: MaleAge: 5-6 years

Wolf BKuckuc(Little Gray Girl)Weight: 65 lbs.Sex: FemaleAge: 4-5 years

Wolf CXayXayx (White Watcher)Weight: 70 lbs.Sex: FemaleAge: 4-5 years

Wolf DLeq’eyleq’ey(Gentle Water)Weight: 60 lbs.Sex: FemaleAge: 4-5 years

Wolf EMiyooXat (Wise Giant)Weight: 105 lbs.Sex: MaleAge: 5-6 years

In April 2008, the Wolf Center made the most of a bad situation in SW Idaho by helping remove 17 wolves from a sub-standard facility. Five wolves in different

degrees of bad to good health were transported to the Center’s 300 acre sanctuary and released into a two acre enclosure. The remaining wolves were transported to another facility in the SE United States.

Upon releasing the wolves, Wolf Center Biolo-gist, Jeremy Heft, began a vigilant effort to assess and restore the animals to good health. Visitors to Winchester could see the wolves right away if they were willing to watch from the parking lot and it became a common sight for the Owyhee Pack to be seen casting a curi-ous eye toward vehicles driving up the long drive to the Center. Early this summer, the Wolf Center was excited to announce that the upper classroom had been opened and non-staff could finally get up close to the enclosure and view the animals.

Naming the PackUpon making the decision to rescue the wolves, it was also decided to pay respect to the Nez Perce, whose land we occupy as we provide sanctuary to wolves and education to the public. The tribe demonstrated great interest and were excited to return our respect by taking qualities that Jeremy had observed over several months

$12,000

$3,100

$4,050

$35,800

6 SLq Winter 2009


and translating them into meaningful names that em-body the spirit of each animal. The Wolf Center is now releasing the individual names of each of the animals and over the next few pages, provide a visual and writ-ten description to help you meet the Pack.

Pictures and posters of members of each pack will be available in the Wolf Center Store and will be in-cluded when supporters of wolf recovery “adopt” the animals. Adoptions are an important method of fund-ing the $60,000 annual cost of caring and providing for captive wolves. Captive wolves are a critical part of continuing to educate the public about wilderness protections, the relevance and importance of holding the federal government accountable for our public lands, and preserving the future of these protections.

When you adopt a member of the Owyhee or Saw-tooth Pack, you receive the confidence that you are a valuable part of wolf rescue, recovery, conservation, and education. Please consider your role in these activi-ties by purchasing an adoption today. You can also help perpetuate our mission by challenging young people to get involved in these activities by classrooms adopting the pack members.

Wolf C and D take a stroll in their new digs.

Food

Health and Licensing

Maintenance

Wolf Camp Expenses

Vehicles & Repairs

One Year Cost of a 7-Wolf Sanctuary $58,375 Per Year

$3,100$725

Staff & Intern Wages

7Winter 2009 SLq


Himtuuqin’The Bearded One

Owyhee Pack See page 19

Himtuuqin, or “Bearded One”, has solid black colored fur, and a pro-nounced gray area under his chin resembling, a beard He has a white patch on the tip of his tail and striking yellow eyes He appears to be the alpha-male of the Owyhee Pack who rules silently He is curious and regularly approaches humans He moves to watch every human that approaches the enclosure His bright yellow eyes contrast against his dark fur creating a mystical appearance


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KuckucLittle Gray Girl

Kuckuc is the least social toward humans and the other members of the Owyhee Pack She is also the most petite, and seems to always be mov-ing quickly about her enclosure She is the only Owyhee Pack member that possesses the classic gray wolf coloration, complete with the “ban-dit mask” around her eyes Her timid nature and famous ghostlike gray coloration has earned her the name of the Little Gray Girl


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XayXayxThe White Watcher

XayXayx is known as “the White Watcher ” She is a solid white color with some tinges of diffused light red across the saddle of her back She has pronounced dark brown eyes, and a large build for a female She is the alpha-female of the Owyhee Pack, but rarely enforces her rank She is always watching humans from near and far, hence her name, and is extremely curious of all events around her territory

Author name, info...Face2FaceOwyhee Pack

10 SLq Winter 2009

Leq’eyleq’eyGentle Water

Leq’eyleq’ey, like her sister, XayXayx, is pure white, but without the red tinges on her back She appears quite gentle among the other wolves, and always maintains a very alert behavior when people are around Her curiosity of humans is high at first, and then she tends to relax once she evaluates the handlers or visitors One unique characteristic is that she frequently walks along the intermittent stream and puddles of her enclosure, often causing mud “boots” on her white paws



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MiyooXatWise Giant

MiyooXat has a diffused light gray coloration, with a mostly white face, without a classic “bandit mask” and a white belly He has very tall legs and a long body, hence is the largest of the Owyhee Pack He is quite in-dependent and often wanders about his territory alone He makes slow, deliberate and confident movements, and is often seen sleeping in the sun MiyooXat regularly follows or tracks handlers and visitors, which is why we call him the “Gray tracker” and his namesake, “Wise Giant ”


Author name, info...Face2FaceSawtooth Pack

12 SLq Winter 2009

MotokiShadowMotoki (Blackfoot meaning “Shadow”) is a medium build female with a black back and head, now spotted with gray due to her older age, and a dark gray belly Her white-tipped toes and mellow brown eyes are distin-guishing characteristics from her similarly colored late sister, Ayet She is quite social with humans, and can always been seen near her brother, Piyip the one time alpha-female of the Sawtooth Pack, Motoki has an authoritative side, however in her older age she has become quite gentle She maintains a distinct vibrato howl that can be heard most nights

Sawtooth Pack See page 19


13Winter 2009 SLq

Face2FaceSawtooth Pack

PiyipLittle BrotherPiyip (Nez Perce meaning “Little Brother”) is a large and muscular male, taking after his father, Kamots Piyip was jet black as a young wolf, but has increasingly grown gray through the years, a trait he obtained from his mother, Chemukh Now he is nearly all light gray, with just a black and dark gray grizzled rump and top of his head Piyip is very social to-ward humans and is usually within sight of his sister, Motoki the once energetic youngster of the Sawtooth Pack has since slowed down in his older age to be a deliberate meanderer of his 20-acre territory

Sawtooth Pack See page 19

News and Current Events

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Boise

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OOOOOrrrrreeeeggggooonnnn

WWWWWWaaaaaasssssshhhhhhiiiiiinnnnnnnggggggtttttoooooonnnnnnMMMMoooooonnnnnttttaaaannnnnaaaaa

Nampa

Baker City

Pendleton

Spokane

LewistonOrofino

Missoula

Hells Canyon

National

Recreational

Park

Winchester

North Central idaho invites you to visit the newest additions to the pack! Take the opportunity to meet the wolves at the Wolf Education and Research Center and enjoy the history and culture of North Central Idaho. While in the area, visit Hells Canyon, North America’s deepest river gorge for breathtaking scenery and wildlife viewing. Contact the Hells Canyon Visitor Bureau, 208-746-1146 and www.hellscanyonvisitor.com, for visitor information. From mild to wild – your adventure is waiting!

Defenders and the Wolf Recovery Foundation want to thank you for your past support and bring you up to date on our change of plans regarding the 2009 North American Wolf Conference. While it is very disappoint-ing to have to do so, with the challenges brought on by today’s economy and in order to secure long term success for this event, we have decided to cancel our 2009 North American Wolf Conference. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. As for the future of the conference, we plan on pick-ing up right where we left off at Chico Hot Springs, April 19-22, 2010. The 2010 North American Wolf Conference call for papers will be announced during September 2009.

The Wolf Education & Research Center is a participat-ing member of the Western Wolf Coalition, a group that has seen remarkable wildlife success. In 15 years, pack and breeding pair numbers have approached sustainability. Just as important, we’ve seen growing

acceptance of wolves—example after example of ranchers, farmers, hunters and conservation-

ists learning to live with and appreciate these animals in the same way they

would a bear, elk or mule deer. Living with wolves and other wildlife is part of life in the West, and we believe that the citizens of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming can manage wolves in our region by working together.

The Wolf Center, in collaboration with The Western Wolf Coalition (Western-

Wolves.org) is exploring the possibility of set-ting up an information table about wolves in Idaho’s beautiful Sawtooth Mountains for approximately six weeks this summer. If you are interested in volunteer-ing, please contact: Terri Klug, Idaho Outreach Rep-resentative, Western Wolf Coalition at (208) 890-7820 or [email protected]

15 Years of Remarkable Wildlife Successthe Economy

Strikes 2009 Wolf Conference

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Wolf Behavior 101 Written by Jeremy Heft

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BEHAVIOR101Lesson 10:

diRECt REGiStRY

As the snow piles up here in Winchester, discussing one of the adaptive behaviors that allow wolves to live rela-

tively easily in deep snow seems appropriate. Have you ever won-dered how wolves navigate through snow that is too deep for humans to walk through? When consider-ing the lowest level of the chest and abdomen for most wolves is just above knee-height of an aver-age adult person, moving through snow that can accumulate to four feet or more overnight can certainly be a challenge. Wolves have evolved several physical adaptations to as-sist in moving through snow. First, the legs of wolves are proportionally taller when compared to their body size than most dog breeds. These

Wolf Behavior 101

17Winter 2009 SLq

BEHAVIOR101Wolflong legs allow wolves to punch through deep snow while keeping their bodies from dragging through the snow. In addition, wolves have skin “webbing” that joins each toe together. When in snow, wolves lit-erally spread their toes when walk-ing, essentially creating a built-in snowshoe effect. Then, if the long legs and snowshoe paws are not enough to keep the wolf above the snow line, wolves have also evolved a pointed chest that diverts snow to the side of the body. This snow-plow feature allows wolves to plow through deep snow with much less effort than if with a broad chest like most dogs. Finally, wolves have learned to walk in a particular fash-ion to conserve energy when walk-ing through snow. This method, known as direct registry, occurs when the hind paw steps directly into the depression or track made by the front paw. Therefore, the energy used in placing the hind paws is greatly reduced, making snow trav-el less difficult. Direct registry not only occurs among each wolf, but

it is also a phenomenon that occurs among an entire pack. Wolves in-stinctively follow one another when moving through snow and liter-ally step in the tracks of the wolves moving ahead of them. This is why wolf packs are often seen walking in a line. Contrary to past beliefs, each member of the pack, not just the alphas, then takes a turn at lead-ing the pack and breaking a trail through the snow. Thus, the pack as a whole conserves energy and navi-gates the deep snow more effectively. This behavior also can deceive humans or wildlife that en-counter wolf tracks in the snow. Although there may appear to be a set of tracks made by one wolf, several or many members from the same pack may have used the trail together. The most amazing attri-bute of this behavior is a wolf does not look at the track, or even the ground, when stepping into a previ-

When in snow, wolves literally spread their toes when walking, creating a built-in snowshoe effect

ous paw print from the wolf ahead. Somehow, someway (we do not know why) wolves step exactly into the previous track, although each wolf has a different saddle (width) and stride (length) of their normal gait. For this reason, even expert trackers usually have difficulty in determining exactly how many wolves are traveling along the same trail. So, direct registry not only

conserves energy among each wolf and the pack as a whole, but it also masks the number of wolves in a pack. This numerical camouflage can as-sist in both hunting

prey and avoiding the gray wolf ’s only predator -- humans. In conclu-sion, direct registry is an individual and pack-oriented adaptation that is undoubtedly one of the contrib-uting traits that allow gray wolves to roam the snowy landscape of the North through the long and chal-lenging winters.

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Wolf Behavior 101cont.

J. Heft

Lesson 11: SHAKE-OFF

Another behavior commonly seen among wolves during the winter is the shake-off. This very basic, and likely instinctual, behavior is not social in nature, but rather is to promote care of the individual body. Shaking

snow, rain, and even dirt off the fur coat is regularly seen among all dogs, some cats, and most other mammals, but there is a simple, yet very important survival motivation behind such shaking. Wolves main-tain a dual-layer fur coat. The sel-dom seen inner layer of fur is known as the undercoat. It is comprised of densely compacted, solid-shafted, and always gray hairs (hence the name gray wolf) which comprise the main insulation layer of the coat. However, this layer of fur does not

insulate well when saturated with water. Conversely, the outer layer of fur, known as the guard hairs, is comprised of long, straight, hollow-shafted hairs that are quite oily. These hairs vary in color dramatically and thus create the in-dividual coloration to each wolf. The hair follicles of the guard hairs create oil that essentially

provides a waterproof barrier along this outer layer, therefore preventing the inner undercoat from becoming wet. Snow and rain collect on the guard hairs and would eventually seep downward to the undercoat if not removed. By shaking-off the precipitation, a wolf is ultimately keeping the undercoat dry, which in turn maintains thermoregula-tion for survival. The process of a shake-off is quite simple, and oc-

casionally comical. The animal typical-ly begins by shak-ing the head side to side and twist-ing the neck, then the shaking motion quickly proceeds through the body, ending with the

tail. Any person who has ever given a dog or cat a bath can surely attest to the velocity of water leaving the fur coat! Wolves also use this shake-off behavior when their fur coats become dusty after bedding down in the summer and I have also wit-nessed it being used to expel flies and other insects that land upon the guard hairs. Even though most dog and cat keepers have probably seen the shake-off behavior hun-dreds of times, now you know that this simple behavior does have an incredibly important motivation among wolves—thermoregulation and ultimately survival.

the inner layer of fur is known as the undercoat it is comprised of densely

compacted, always gray hairs (hence the

name gray wolf)

A wolves’ dual-layer fur is a wonderful insulator and key to its’ survival in winters’ unforgiving reality.

19Winter 2009 SLq

dear Wolf Center,

n I want to support care for the Owyhee and Sawtooth Packs by adopting the following wolves by pledging an annual gift of $25 per wolf or $150 for both Packs.

Owyhee Pack: Sawtooth Pack: Wolves of the Nez Percen Wolf A: Himtuuqin’ (Bearded One) n Motokin Wolf B: Kuckuc (Little Gray Girl) n Piyipn Wolf C: XayXayx (White Watcher) n Wolf D: Leq’eyleq’ey (Gentle Water) n Both Packs: $150 per year (save $25!)n Wolf E: MiyooXat (Wise Giant)

n Please mail the Adoption or Gift Adoption Packet to the following person, business, or school: Name School/Business City, State, Zip Email, Phonen I would like to renew my Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly subscription now for $25 and save $5. n I am adding a gift of $___________to help the Wolf Center reach more people for Wolf Recovery.

Please mail completed form with check or money order to: WERC, 3909 NE MLK Blvd, Suite 202, Portland, OR 97212or Visit: www.wolfcenter.org, click on the “Meet Our Wolves” menu, and choose “Adopt A Wolf”

Owyhee PackWolf AHimtuuqin’

Sex: MaleAge: 5-6 years

Owyhee Pack Wolf BKuckuc

Sex: FemaleAge: 4-5 years

Owyhee Pack Wolf CXayXayx


Owyhee Pack Wolf DLeq’eyleq’ey


Sawtooth PackMotoki

Sex: FemaleAge: 13

Sawtooth PackPiyip Sex: MaleAge: 13

Owyhee Pack Wolf EMiyooXat

Sex: MaleAge: 5-6 years

Wolf Center Adoption ProgramIt costs nearly $60,000 per year to care for 7 wolves, including their health and upkeep, food that is not donated, and the maintenance of the Wolf Camp. The Wolf Center’s ability to carry out this function depends on your continued support. If you haven’t considered it, please adopt. And maybe consider giving an adoption to someone else so they can learn about this valuable program.

Please help preserve the legacy of the Sawtooth Pack by helping us out today.

19Winter 2009 SLq 19Winter 2009 SLq

Meet Our interns

20 SLq Winter 2009

1) How did you learn about WERC? I learned about WERC through one of my professors at Delaware Valley College. I at-tended a meeting with her to discuss plans after college. When she described the organization, it immediately piqued my interest and I decided to apply.

2) What is your area of study?I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree of Sci-ence from Delaware Valley College in Ani-mal Biotechnology and Conservation, with emphasis on Conservation and Wildlife Management.

3) What do you hope to learn while you’re interning at WERC?

While interning here at WERC, I hope to gain as much experience as I can working with and caring for wolves, and to expand my knowledge on the inner workings of a wolf pack.

4) How long is your internship?My internship, as of now, will run 3-5 months.

5) What project will you work on while you’re at WERC?

While I have not reached a final decision yet, it will likely revolve around behavior dynamics within a wolf pack.

6) How will you use these new skills in your career?

In my career I hope to use these new skills to enhance my understanding of the need for conservation of wolves and wildlife in general, to strengthen myself as a person and to bring me closer to my career goals.

EdUCAtiON & RESEARCH

Kids4Wolves: Kids can make a difference by raising money, awareness, and working to save

wolves

1: How did you learn about WERC? I became aware of WERC through the Texas A&M Website. I was aware of the Sawtooth Pack: Wolves of the Nez Perce from when “Wolves at our Door” pre-miered on television in the early 1990’s. I did not make the connection between the pack and the documentary until after getting hired and coming here.

2: What is your area of study? My area of study is Wildlife. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Ecology and Management.

3: What do you hope to learn while you’re interning at WERC?

I hope to learn as much as possible about everything to do with wolves. By having background knowledge of wolves before coming here was a great jump off point to expand my knowledge about these ex-traordinary creatures. I also hope to learn about how to properly take care of cap-tive animals. I am also looking forward to learning and experiencing living in the mountains with out any modern ameni-ties.

4: How long is your internship?My internship will be about 8 months long.

5: What project will you work on while you’re at WERC?

I hope to work on a study looking at raven/ wolf interactions with and around the enclosures. I have always been fascinated with these interactions. I hope to see simi-lar interactions with wild ravens and our captive packs.

6: How will you use these new skills in your career?

I will use these new skills to expand my knowledge and become a more well rounded individual with in both my per-sonal and professional life.

Brittany MoeFall ‘08 – Winter ‘09 Intern

Lindsay RasmovichWinter ‘09 Intern

Wolf Camp Journal Entry

21Winter 2009 SLq

$4,000

$3,500

$2,200

$2,300

$24,000

Travel Related Expenses to Schools

Printed Educational Material

On Site Education

Internship Training

Salary & Wages

Cost of Education Outreach: $36,000 Per Year

ENTRY 6: As I am heading back to my tent for the night listening to the still night air, all around me are the calls of the local coyote packs, and the occasional bark of a town dog. As I reach my tent the night is filled with the beauti-ful sounds of Piyip and Motoki of the Saw-tooth Pack: Wolves of the Nez Perce howl-ing, when suddenly the night is filled with even more beautiful howls as the members of the Owyhee Pack responds. As I sit on my deck and listen to the beautifully comforting sounds of the packs howling I start to reflect on the gracious fortune I have had for the past few months being an intern here at the Wolf Edu-cation and Research Center (WERC).

My name is Brittany Moe, I am a Minnesota native and I have been an intern here at WERC since early August. When it will finally be time for me to go I will have been here for 3 seasons and I am thoroughly grateful for the opportunity to be here for so long. I am still in awe of how each season can be so differ-ent from each other here in the mountains; from the scorching heat of summer work-ing at the Visitor Center to the freezing cold of winter as I perform e-walks, to everything in between. I have learned so many wonderful things during my time here that I am amazed I have been able to retain it all. Being under the guidance of my fellow staff members has broadened and deepened my knowledge in ways that have exceeded my greatest expectations. And I will always be thoroughly grateful for the opportunities and knowledge that they have graciously passed on to me.

I have been fascinated by wolves from a very early age when I saw my first picture of a wolf. Ever since that time I have known that I would do everything in my power to work with these extraordinary animals. My life has been filled with absorbing any and all information I could attain about these wonderful creatures. I came into this internship thinking I had a pretty good idea about what makes a wolf a wolf and I’m here to tell you that almost

everything I knew went out the window. I have learned so much more than I ever could from reading books and watching videos of my childhood to being taught everyday through my interactions with the members of our two packs. You may have all the knowledge in the world about a particular animal but, being face to face interacting with them on a daily basis, creating a bond of friendship and trust, will teach you that you don’t know every-thing. This only goes to show that you never stop learning, there is always something new for you to learn. Never stop reaching for the stars, I know I never will.

To Piyip, Motoki, A, B, C, D, and E, thank you so much for teaching me to be a bet-ter person and helping me understand that it’s ok not to know everything and that you will always be my friends and trusted companions.

Again thank you everyone for the gracious opportunity to learn under your guidance.

-Brittany Moe Fall 2008-Winter 2009 Intern

Wolf Camp Journal EntryBy Brittany Moe

Written by Brittany Moe

22 SLq Winter 200922 SLq Winter 2009

ViSitOR CENtER

Providing information,

education and up-close

experiences with Wolves

Spanning 300 acres of re-mote and pristine wilder-ness, the Wolf Center sits on protected tribal land

near three national forest systems; the Nez Perce Reservation serves as home to two wolf packs. The Center boasts three enclosures, one twenty acre enclosure where the remaining Sawtooth Pack: Wolves of the Nez Perce live out their years, a half acre enclosure that is used for manag-ing the animals, and the two acre enclosure that is home to the recently rescued Owyhee Pack. Wolves at the Wolf Center are surrounded by rolling timberland with mead-ows and streams, as natural of an environment as possible for captive wolves.

Visitors to the Wolf Center get the rare opportunity to observe and learn about wolves in a natural hab-itat from two observation decks, or from the fenceline on a walk-ing tour. By educating people about their kind, these gray wolves serve as

ambassadors for their wild cousins. Committed to enhancing the public’s awareness of wolves as a distinctive and threatened species, the Wolf Cen-ter conducts extensive outreach and education related to the interaction between humans and wolves. Visi-tors also get the chance to see other species of animals like wild turkeys, hawks, owls, elk, and deer amidst the vast woodlands and streams.

The Wolf Center is also conveniently located near Winchester Lake State Park, where they sponsor programs at the park’s amphitheater, includ-ing videos, movies, and slide shows about wolf reintroduction and learn more about the biology of the wolf.

Make your summer plans now by mapping out your route to the Wolf Center and get face to face with wolves. For information about visiting the Wolf Education & Research Center, visit our website at www.wolfcenter.org or call 888-422-1110, ext. 3.

The two viewing decks provide excellent viewing opportunities for observing the wolves in their natural habitat without disturbing them.

Find all 8 of the small wolf prints hidden on the page.HINT: the page number paw does not count.

Little Paw reminds you that it is important

to read. Have you read a good book lately?

FACT:Wolves can live up to 13 years in the wild but the average is only 6 to 8 years.

FACT:

In the winter, the

wolf’s tail helps

keep their face

warm from cold

when they sleep.

1) Highest ranking individual wolf within the wolf pack.

2) Second ranking individual wolf within the wolf pack.

3) Lowest ranking individual wolf within the wolf pack.

A) Omega B) Alpha C) Beta

Who’s the leader and who’s not?

Help Dakota find his cubs at his den.

2Color These Wolf Buddies

2

1 2 3 4

Answers: 1) B, 2) C, 3) A ; Path to the Den is 2; Paw prints, Top center edge, Right upper corner, Center right edge surrounded by paths, Bottom right corner,

Left bottom edge under answers, Bottom left corner, Left edge over the word “Color”, Upper Left on Lil’ Paws neck.

23Winter 2009 SLq

WOLF EdU

CAtiON &

RESEARCH CEN

tER3909 N

E MLK

Blvd, Suite 202

Portland, O

R 97212

SLq WiN

tER 2009 iSSUE

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDW

EST PALM BEACH, FL.

PERMIT 593

Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly Winter Issue '09

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