Wolf Haven International Teams up with California Wolf Center
California Wolf Center & Wolf Haven International talk about wolves
by Skie Bender – Education Outreach Specialist, Wolf Haven
On a warm winter night in San Diego, California, Wolf Haven International teamed up with California Wolf Center at the Adventure 16 outdoor recreation store to present an evening about wolves.
Adventure 16 was started by a few young Explorer Scouts whose leaders were involved in river running in the early ’60s. The Scouts made 16mm adventure films. By the late 60’s their love of outdoor adventure evolved into a business – Adventure 16 – which now specializes in outdoor gear for backpacking, hiking, camping, climbing, mountaineering and adventure travel.
Adventure 16 currently hosts educational programs at all four of its Southern California store locations, which include San Diego, Solana beach, Tarzana and West L.A.
The California Wolf Center (CWC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to wolf recovery in the wild. Founded in 1977 to educate the public about wildlife and ecology, the physical center near Julian, CA is home to several packs of gray wolves. Through the years, CWC has grown into a state-wide organization striving to pave the way for the return of wolves in California.
Adventure 16
An Evening About Wolves – Adventure 16
Among backpacks, tents, hiking shoes and freeze-dried food, the full room of attendees sitting in fold-out chairs were eager to learn about wolves. Though it was promoted as ‘Family Friendly,’ it was primarily an adult crowd.
Skie and skulls
Wolf Haven presented facts about wolf behavior, biology, negative perceptions, predator control programs, ranchers and nonlethal control measures and much more.
California Wolf Center told the exciting story of the infamous OR7, aka Journey, (a wild wolf that trekked all the way down to CA from his natal pack in northeast Oregon.) He was the first documented wild wolf in CA since 1924. CWC showed the importance of wolves as a keystone species in an ecosystem, and presented in-depth information about the Mexican gray wolf Species Survival Plan (SSP) recovery program (they currently house 19 Mexican gray wolves.)
Table with wolf literature
Both California Wolf Center and Wolf Haven are involved in the endangered Mexican wolf recovery program; in fact, in years past, our organizations have exchanged highly valuable genetic animals for breeding. The result was pups.
The evening at Adventure 16 was full of facts and fun.The room broke into laughter as we watched video footage of wolves proudly urinating (scent marking) on their food, and wolves frolicking playfully and pawing one another. It was certainly not the usual perception that the general population has about wolves.
Teaming up with California Wolf Center at the Adventure 16 store made for a well-rounded evening because it was analogous to an informal panel discussion between the two facilities. It was great for the conservation-minded, outdoor-recreation attendees to be able to ask questions about wolves in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere, and have both Wolf Haven International and California Wolf Center answer from our own experiential and philosophical expertise.
The program truly was a success for all involved.
A Win for Adventure 16 ~ A Win for the audience ~ A Win for wolf education ~ A Win for the wolves
For more information about these groups, visit websites listed below:
- Adventure 16, San Diego, California – adventure16.com
- California Wolf Center (CWC) – californiawolfcenter.org
- Wolf Haven International – wolfhaven.org
To contact Skie Bender about scheduling a Wolf Haven presentation in California: Call 714.336.5798 or email skiebend@gmail.com
Why do Wolves (and Dogs) Roll on Stinky Stuff?
Ladyhawk rolling in scent
The following blog was written for the Environmental Nature Center in Newport Beach, CA by guest blogger Skie Bender of Wolf Haven International. Skie is Wolf Haven’s Education Outreach staff person and she has a series of presentations about wolves scheduled throughout Southern California in 2015. CA SCHEDULE.
Riley's spirit continues in our hearts
Our friend Riley
photo by Julie Lawrence/Wolf Haven International
It is with a heavy heart that Wolf Haven writes that our friend Riley passed away earlier this month. Riley was only seven years old and was healthy and happy. His passing was very sudden and unexpected and left us all in a state of great sadness.
During a routine morning walk through the sanctuary by animal care staff on Friday December 12, Riley was found lying on his side not moving. It was apparent that he had passed away during the night. The day before he died, Riley was his usual happy, playful self. Two weeks earlier he had been introduced to a new companion, a female wolf named Ukiah, whose brother had died. The two of them were forming a fast friendship and could be seen nose to nose wagging their tails, playing a little and lying quietly next to each other in the middle of their enclosure.
The day he passed he had been given a special treat, a small sheep carcass donated to Wolf Haven by a local farmer. Riley did not want to share the carcass with Ukiah at first. He kept chasing her off until he ate his fill and then he moved away to allow Ukiah to enjoy as well.
When Riley was found the following morning, his abdomen was acutely distended; an indication of gastric dilation volvulus (GDV), where the stomach fills with gas and twists on itself. We consulted our veterinarian about performing a necropsy in order to determine the cause of his death. The veterinarian felt that given all of the symptoms and the large amount of food Riley had quickly ingested the day before, a necropsy was not necessary. She explained that GDV, also known as torsion, evolves extremely quickly, making it nearly impossible to prevent and very difficult to treat successfully, especially in wild canids. Riley (as well as our other wolves) received carcasses on a regular basis without any ill-effects, so we are not sure why on this particular day it turned out to have fatal consequences.
Riley at rest
It has been an honor to care for Riley and watch him blossom with his first companion Siri and his burgeoning new friendship with Ukiah. He was a little shy and was also playful and mischievous. He will be greatly missed.
Thank you for your generosity, care and support of Riley while he was with us at Wolf Haven. His spirit will continue on in our hearts.
Young Mazama pocket gophers struggle to find their place in a new world
Mazama pocket gopher
By Kim Flotlin, USFWS wildlife biologist
Mazama pocket gophers are another fascinating animal found at Wolf Haven (although rarely actually seen, since they primarily reside underground). The Mazama pocket gopher is both state and federally listed as threatened.
USFWS wildlife biologist Kim Flotin has written an entertaining, informative blog about the challenges faced by both dispersing pocket gophers and college students.
Young Mazama pocket gophers struggle to find their place in a new world
Wolves in Vegas
By Skie Bender, Education Outreach Specialist, Wolf Haven International
Wolf Haven arrives in Sin City
I recently had the opportunity to present Wolf and Wildlife Education programs at two REI (Recreational Equipment Incorporated) outdoor stores in Las Vegas, Nevada.
REI is a national retail co-op dedicated to “Inspiring, educating and outfitting its members and the community for a lifetime of outdoor adventure and stewardship.”
REI sells “Gear.” Lots and lots of gear. Gear for backpacking, hiking, camping, climbing, biking, paddling, and winter snow sports.
Are there wild wolves in Nevada?
Wolf-themed slot machine
Wolves historically have been a scarcity in Nevada. Though there never was an abundance of wolves, research shows that wolves did exist throughout the state, even in the very arid Southern Nevada. The last confirmed sighting of a wild gray wolf was in 1941 in Elko County (northeastern part of the state.) Currently, there are many wild wolf reported sightings – though none can be absolutely confirmed, due to the fact there is no definitive proof such as wild wolf scat, hair, carcasses or even field footage.
Desert cactus
There were never and probably never will be a lot of wolves due to the fact there is not a lot of suitable wolf habitat in Nevada. Western Nevada lacks elk and moose (wolf food) and is in short supply of water.
Currently, the nearest population of wolves to Nevada is in Idaho’s Boise and Sawtooth National Forests, about 100 miles north.
The gray wolf in Nevada remains protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. It is presently classified as a “game” animal.
REI Wolf & Wildlife Programs
Boca Park REI
Not too far from the bright lights and loud sounds of the Las Vegas Strip, I presented at the Boca Park REI store. Just before ‘show time’, I found sanctuary inside the REI store, perusing the aisles, flipping through hiking books, spinning mountain bike tires, squishing the warm thickness of down sleeping bags. I felt so much more ‘at home’ in the nature inspired presence of outdoor gear, than in the superficial bright flashing marquee lights of Las Vegas casino consumerism.
7pm: time to share my passion and experience with wolves to an intimate crowd of about fifteen folks. The attendees were all adults, except for one very inquisitive elementary-aged schoolgirl that sat in the front row and asked a lot of very smart and eager questions. During the program, we had an in-depth dialogue about wolf families, pup development, the importance of wolf packs for socialization and working cooperatively to hunt ungulates (hoofed animals.) I showed video clips of Wolf Haven’s wolves’ scent-rolling on salmon and plucking feathers off of geese. At the end of the evening the schoolgirl said to me with shining wide eyes, “I hope to visit Wolf Haven one day.”
Henderson REI attendees
The next evening I drove 30-miles south of the Strip to present at the Henderson REI store. There was an overflow capacity crowd of more than 60 attendees. I was thrilled with the deep thought-provoking questions, comments and discussions that we had about wolf biology, behaviors, social structure, livestock conflict resolutions, and wolfdog differences and similarities.
The audience had such a thirst for knowledge about the too often misunderstood wolf, which led to a wonderful interactive dialogue flow that was maintained throughout the evening. The program lasted nearly two hours. Even after the program was officially over, a small group of people continued to ask more questions about wolves.
The very last touching comment was made by an intense college student that fervently shook my hand as he stated, “That was really great, I learned so much. I learned more tonight than I have during a whole semester in school! Thank you!”
Thank you to all who attended the REI Wolf & Wildlife Education programs in Las Vegas. A very special Thank You to Ashley Lee, the Market Outreach Coordinator for REI Las Vegas.
If you live in Washington State – Skie Bender will be presenting at REI in Olympia on Tues November 11th @ 7pm
FREE!
REI, Olympia, WA
625 Black Lake Blvd SW #410, Olympia, WA 98502
360.786-1938
The Huckleberry Pack
2012 photo of The Huckleberry Pack pups c/o WDFW
In the upcoming issue Wolf Tracks magazine, Wolf Haven executive director Diane Gallegos writes about the family of wolves known as the The Huckleberry Pack and the conflict that ensued following depredation of sheep placed in their territory. What can we learn from this scenario?
“Sheep dropped on top of a wolf pack in difficult terrain without proactive and diligent use of nonlethal deterrents resulted in a conflict that cost taxpayers and the livestock producer thousands
of dollars, and cost the endangered female wolf and dozens of sheep their lives.”