AUGUST 2013

Colorado Wolf And Wildlife Center | PO Box 713 | Divide, CO 80814 | 719.687.9742 | www. wolfeducation.org

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2013

COLORADO WOLF AND WILDLIFE CENTER

CONSERVATION · EDUCATION · PRESERVATION

Little Keyni is growing so fast


IN MEMORY OF CASHThere are no words to say how I feel with this tragic loss. Any-one who has lost a animal that was your friend, your baby, your joy knows the deepest feelings of loss in your heart. Cash was a rescue and he became part of the CWWC family immediately. This little guy had so much personality and pure love that filled our hearts and the loss of his wonderful bright spirit is so painful now that he is gone. He loved to herd the ponies and anything


Spreading ashes from our beloved Cash

Each flower is from the

CWWC family

that needed to be in a group. He was a natural and he was awesome to watch as he would crouch behind a tree waiting to surprise a passing goat or pony who strayed from the herd. The thing I will miss the most is how he would slither slowly up to you and get as close as possible almost as if he wanted to be inside of you. He would wrap his arms around you and give you eyes of love and contentment. He was so special and will forever be in my heart. I think of him daily and every activity is an empty space of this little light that shone so brightly in all of our hearts. Until we meet on the other side my little boy. I love you deeply.


When I went to visit my parents a few weeks ago, one of the first things my mother said was, “Bob, show her how Han-nah howls.” My father grabbed the smallest of our family’s pack, the cocker spaniel dancing at our feet, and held her in his arms while she licked his face, tail stub wagging un-controllably. I waited. My father tilted his head back, made an “O” with his lips and began to vocalize a series of long, high howls. Within seconds, Hannah – torn by having to stop licking his face – tilted her own head back to mirror my father’s and, muzzle to the sky howled with all her little might. They continued like this in unison until, amazed and crying from laughing, we made them stop.Of course, part of our amazement at Hannah’s impassioned cry was that it was so unexpected. It is rare these days to come across a dog (especially a cocker spaniel) – let alone a human – that remembers how to howl. While the instinct may remain, it has been subverted, hidden deep in the re-cesses of the gene pool by decades of domesticity.If you listen hard enough, though, this howl can still be heard in special places around our country – thanks to a fervent campaign to save wolves (now being threatened by the Fish and Wildlife Service’s premature delisting propos-al) the calls of the modern dog’s wild relatives, gray wolves, echo through the Northwest forests, in the crags of the Rockies, along the shores of the Great Lakes and in the canyons of the great American West. It is here, however, in this last landscape, where the lonesome cries of the few re-maining Mexican gray wolves, one of the most endangered animals in the world, is barely being heard over the howls of protest and mis-information by the anti-wolf crowd.Last month, FWS released a final proposal to delist gray wolves throughout almost all of the country. While the Mexican gray wolf subspecies would remain protected, the Service released a related proposal that would severely ham-per real chances for their recovery – especially when need-less killings like the one we recently learned of continue.The Service is proposing a series of changes to the rules that govern the Mexican wolf recovery program, but most of these changes seem to have been written in a vacuum – they ignore and in some cases contradict the best avail-able science – even that of the Service’s own Mexican wolf

recovery team (which hasn’t met since 2011).A significant obstacle that the wolves must overcome to recover is their limited genetic diversity. To overcome this obstacle, published scientific studies and the work of the present and previous recovery teams indicate that new core populations, created by the release of more captive wolves into the wild, are essential. At least three distinct popula-tions, established in different areas of suitable habitat with dispersal allowed between them, are necessary.Instead of arranging for the vital immediate releases, FWS is wasting critical time rewriting rules that do not further recovery, and in truth, stall it. If action is not taken, this proposal may destroy the chances that the few remain-ing wild Mexican gray wolves have for long-term survival. What the lobos need, and need NOW, is the following:• A comprehensive recovery plan… Mexican gray wolves

haven’t had an up-to-date recovery plan in 31 years (1982). The current recovery team has done extensive, rigorous work to determine what needs to be done to save the Mexican gray wolf. A new plan, based on this best science, must be completed and implemented.

• Release of new breeding pairs into the wild… Numbers are important, but new genes are crucial. In order to over-come the challenges of a severely limited genetic heritage, many more of the wolves currently in the captive breed-ing program need to be released into the wild.

• New core populations… Wolves are currently barred from a significant amount of suitable habitat (the FWS proposal makes it harder for the wolves to disperse into suitable habitat in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah – if any are found outside of the arbitrary lines on a map they will be immediately trapped and moved back within the set boundaries). The wolves need help getting to the suitable habitat areas in order to establish the new populations that are key to their recovery.

Best science tells the FWS all of these things and yet still our government is stalling on its commitment to Mexican gray wolves – when did it, when did we stop howling with them? Let’s start again; the Mexican gray wolf, one of the rarest animals in the world, desperately needs us to.

WHEN DID WE STOP HOWLING?Posted: 30 Jul 2013 by Courtney Sexton, Communications Associate · TAKE ACTION at defenders.org


Micah and Heather having a moment!Keara gives Emily her vote of approval!

Veterinarians from South Africa that came to visit us

George Myburgh

Dr Dirk Verwoerd

Dr Rick Mapham

Dr Neil Fourie

Dr Andy Hentzen

Dr Cilliers Louw


THANK YOU Colorado College for

your continuos energy and work at the Center.

You were awesome.

Katherine hanging out with Keyni

Phil, our new volunteerLeah and Kwahadi having

a rub fest


It is happening. This is your personal invitation to attend:

The National Rally to Protect America’s Wolves! to be held in Washington DC on Saturday, September 7, 2013 from 9AM to 4PM. We will come together in an area adjacent to the Washington Monument on the National Mall, to meet and network with each other, to hear from an impressive and inspirational line-up of speakers and to march peacefully between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol building.

You can register for the Rally at www.rallyforwolves.org. We will post details of the day’s itinerary, including the excellent speaker line-up, as it evolves. Frequently Asked Questions, regarding getting there, lodging, etc will be posted on the site as well. Please be patient as we fill in the details and answer your questions through the website.

This Rally is for America’s vital and beautiful wolves and other native wildlife under siege. This is our rally, your rally.

We are going to Washington to demand that the unethical, cruel and unjust persecution and slaughter of America’s wolves in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Alaska and elsewhere, be brought to an end, now and permanently.

Our message is a public appeal for a better America that respects honest science and ecology, that truly reflects the humane and ethical values of the majority, a country where decency, respect and co-existence with America’s wolves and all native wildlife prevails, in every state.

Please come to The National Rally to Protect America’s Wolves! and help spread the word.


NEW FULL MOON FEEDING TOURSEVERY MONTH

Our Feeding Tour AND Our Full Moon Tours have become so popular, we decided to combine them every month on the evening before and evening after

our regular FULL MOON TOUR.We will start with a meet and greet with Keyni - our ambassador wolf pup.

Then meet our resident animals and observe them when they are most active... feeding time! Learn about hunting, howling and hierarchy and communicate

with the pack in a group howl at the full moon!

Calling USDA Wildlife Services to the TableInside the Den ~ Notes From the Field · Project Coyote

Veiled in secrecy and notoriously unaccountable, USDA’s Wildlife Services, an agency responsible for killing more than 100,000 native carnivores every year (largely at the behest of ranchers and agribusiness), is challenged by scien-tists and citizens for its inhumane and ineffective practices. Twelve non-governmental organizations led and organized by Project Coyote, recently met with USDA officials in Washington D.C. to open discourse and bring about much needed reform to federal predator management. Discus-sions centered on the need for transparency and account-ability, beginning with a thorough investigation of Wild-life Services, particularly its lethal, indiscriminate predator control activities. Camilla Fox, Project Coyote’s Executive Director, and Dr. Robert Crabtree, PC Science Advisory Board member, outlined practical reforms supported by the best science and wildlife coexistence practices. The co-alition recommended new predator stewardship models, including the Marin County Livestock & Wildlife Protec-tion Program, which emphasizes successful non-lethal solu-tions for livestock protection. Supported by the public, PC hand-delivered our change.org petition with approximately 90,000 signatures calling for the termination of federal trapper, Jamie Olson, for ani-mal cruelty and an investigation into this and other reports of animal cruelty. Under increasing scrutiny, WS cannot

remain unaccountable and ignore effective and humane non-lethal alternatives. Taxpayers are demanding account-ability, and rightfully so, given that Wildlife Services’ lethal animal damage program comes at a significant cost. The archaic and misguided culture of killing that defines Wild-life Services must be replaced with a new, ethical paradigm; one centered on predator conservation that is both humane and ecologically sound. Referencing a new study in the journal Conservation Let-ters co-authored by PC’s Science Advisory Board member, Bradley Bergstrom, the New York Times’ editorial board recently referred to Wildlife Services’ predator control pro-gram as “wasteful, destructive to the balance of ecosystems and, ultimately, ineffective.” Building further consensus, The Register-Guard expanded on the ineffectiveness of WS, noting the absence of demonstrable benefits to all stakeholders. Again citing Dr. Bergstrom’s research, the editorial highlights the agency’s ineffectiveness by noting the consistency in the number of animals killed by WS year after year. California Republican John Campbell and Oregon Democrat Peter DeFazio have pressed for congres-sional hearings and a formal investigation into Wildlife Services. With NGO’s, scientists, Congress, the media, and members of the public all calling for reform, isn’t it time for the Department of Agriculture to respond?


Project Wolf is not a group, it’s a movement. A groundswell of outrage and emotion which ties thousands of individuals, hundreds of groups, and sanctuaries, together with a unified message. Protect our wolves!

Our Mission is to educate, communicate and overcome the influence of the special interests. We will not shy away from showing the real face of the war on wolves, no matter how hard the images are to look at. We will wok tiredly to stop trapping.

Every wolf that dies represents a failure of our responsibility to protect our public land and our wildlife. Our ultimate goal is not to fail anymore.

BE A VOICEVISIT PROJECTWOLF.ORG TODAY!

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED FOR ALL TOURS AND SPECIAL EVENTS 719-687-9742

STANDARD TOURS One-hour educational tour of the sanctuary. 10 am, noon and 2 pm Tuesday-Sunday

$10 per adult · $7 per child

FEEDING TOURS Enjoy this one-hour educational tour while your guide feeds the wolves! Learn about hunting, howling and hierarchy and communicate with the pack in a group howl!

$20 per adult · $10 per child TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY

PHOTO TOURS Interact with 2 of our wolves for up to 15 minutes while a CWWC photographer captures your interaction!

$100 for up to 4 people · $50 per additional person MUST BE 18 OR OLDER

YOUTH FOX PHOTOS Your child will have their picture taken with our red fox!

$100 for up to 4 children (must be 8 or older)

VIP TOURS Interact with 4 of our wolves for up to 30 minutes! $150 for up to 2 people · $50 per additional person ADD ON a Photo Tour for an additional $75

MUST BE 18 OR OLDER

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE What could be better than a guided nature walk in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with a wolf?

$75 per person RESERVE FOR THURSDAY & SUNDAY

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED FOR ALL TOURS AND SPECIAL EVENTS 719-687-9742

FULL MOON TOURSATURDAY · SEPT 21 6:00 PM CHECK-IN Meet and greet Keyni - our ambassador wolf before the tour. Tour starts immediately after and lasts approx 1 hour

FULL MOON FEEDING FEST TOUR SEPT 20 AND 22 3:30 PM CHECK-IN Combines our FEEDING TOUR with our FULL MOON TOUR...

Wear warm clothes and good boots. Bring a camera and flashlight. $25 per adult (13 YEARS+) $15 per child 8-12 years. No kids under the age of 8

All CWWC tours have limited space and we have a no-cancellation policy Reschedules are allowed May-October only


WE ARE IN NEED OF MEAT (AND MONETARY DONATIONS!)We can take your freezer burned or old meat. We can’t take meat that is spoiled, seasoned, or spiced or fish with bones. 719-687-9742

GOT MEAT?

NEEDS OUT OF SHELTER ASAP!

BELLAThis lovely Nordic mix girl has been waiting

for too long at the shelter! Bella is 3-4 years old, spayed, up to date on shots and healthy.

A family adopted her as a puppy but she was left behind when they had to move.

Bella is a very friendly girl and a bit excited, so she will need a strong leader and some

consistent love! Bella has been good around other dogs and did not have much reaction

to a cat she encountered. Bella would love an active person or family with older children. She does walk on leash but will benefit from

more training and consistency.This lovely girl deserves a second chance!

Some transport help may be available. For more information or adoption application,

please contact at [email protected]

COMING SOONThe launch of our re-designed website

stop by and check it outwolfeducation.org


VIEQUES HUMANE SOCIETY - Vieques, Puerto Rico, a small island located off the mainland’s east coast, for many years offered no veterinary or animal rescue services. During the early 1980’s, a handful of concerned immigrants from the states and a few local residents took a serious interest in improving the welfare of the animals. They began by feeding the island’s multitudinous strays and soliciting the help of veterinarians from Puerto Rico to sterilize them. By 1987, the Vieques Humane Society and Animal Rescue, Inc. was officially established as a non-profit organization. Today they still offer the only veterinary services on the island and have developed strong community based programs.

See available dogs at www.viequeshumanesociety.org · CWWC will help you cover adoption fees - 719.687.9742

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself

looking for a forever home

Call TCRAS, the no-kill shelter in Divide, CO at 719-686-7707 for more information or checkout our website to see all the available animals!

www.tcrascolorado.com

Sawyer’s the name AKA Casanova- I have a great personality and beautiful blue eyes to mesmerize you into doing whatever I feel necessary. I am a big lover boy who will do anything for attention. I love to talk and will carry on conversation as long as you will listen. I am an easy going guy who gets along great with everyone I’ve met so far. Who doesn’t love a big ol’ Siamese boy?

Hi, I’m Yogi- I have a great personality and am very well behaved. I am a total love bug and LOVE attention! I’m not one of those needy guys though I can be a little aloof sometimes too. I am good with other dogs and cats. I walk good on a leash. I am a care free kind of guy just looking for someone to take me home so I can love on them.

MANDYMandy was transferred from another rescue because they had had her for one year. We have had her almost as long. She is a sweet dog, loves humans, gets along with male dogs. She loves to go on hikes to the creek with a pack of dogs and runs around nonstop. She is 6 years old. Beautiful and needs a forever home.

SLV Animal Welfare Society 719-587-woof (9663) · www.slvaws.org

PRIVATE SHELTER - MONETARY DONATIONS NEEDED BADLY

SAWYER YOGI


THE WORLD OF WOLVES iPad app featuring The Colorado Wolf and

Wildlife Center is NOW AVAILABLE on iTunes. Also on iTunes, download the free CWWC

app for your iPhone or iPad

To get Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center

on your phone!SCAN THIS CODE

FREE fact-filled app about wolves

Information presented on this newsletter is considered public information (unless otherwise noted) and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credit is requested. Some of the documents in this newsletter may contain live feed references (or pointers) to information created and maintained by other organizations. Please note that CWWC does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of these outside materials.

working together to make

a difference

Newsletter Designed By Melissa Macis

Freelance Graphic [email protected]

“We can judge the heart

of a man by his treatment of animals.”

~ Immanual KantNatural Resources Defense Council

www.nrdc.org

Mexican Grey Wolveswww.mexicanwolves.org

www.defendersofwildlife.org

For current wolf articles and to be a voice

through knowledge

WILD EARTH GUARDIANSwww.wildearthguardians.org

www.projectcoyote.org

www.aza.org

“An animal’s eyes have the

power to speak a great language.”

~ Martin Buberwww.bornfreeusa.org

AUGUST 2013

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