Sanctuary

Since 1982, Wolf Haven has rescued and provided a lifetime home for over 300 displaced, captive-born wolves and wolfdogs. Most of our rescues come from private ownership, and have often faced destruction, neglect, or abuse. Wolf Haven is their last hope.

The Need for Sanctuary

Captive wolves and wolfdogs are purchased as pups from exotic animal breeders for a variety of reasons, but however well-intended the “owners” may be, they are often ill-equipped to care for a wild animal. Wolves have a natural tendency to be wary of people and it is one of the many traits that make them unsuitable as pets. In a captive setting, they may become destructive of property, unpredictable, or dangerous due to dominance issues. A change in life circumstances may affect an individual’s ability to care for their animal and some wolves spend their entire lives chained outside or restricted to small kennels. Many captive-born wolves and wolfdogs are euthanized by the age of 18 months.

Wolf Haven’s Role

Over the years, Wolf Haven has responded to distress calls in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Minnesota, and many other states. Our animal care team strategically plans each wolf rescue, assessing the least stressful method to safely capture the animal and transport them back to our facility. Once at Wolf Haven, our animals receive the best possible care in the best possible environment. Each of our circular enclosures is between 1/3 and 2½ acres, with an 8’ fence, 3’ tip-in, and additional barriers underground. This design considers the incredible digging instincts and jumping skills of wolves (which most private owners are unprepared for). In 2018, Wolf Haven also began managing a wolf sanctuary in Montana known as McCleery Ranch, which is home to 20 captive-born wolves.

Outcome

In the wild, a wolf has a lifetime expectancy of five years. At Wolf Haven, it is not uncommon for wolves to reach their teen years. Because of our animal care staff experience, and our longevity as a wolf sanctuary, Wolf Haven has come to be regarded as a leader in humane wolf management and wolf identification. Wolf Haven hosts an annual Wildlife Handling and Chemical Immobilization course for professionals and is one of only two wolf sanctuaries accredited by the American Sanctuary Association (ASA). Wolf Haven is also the only wolf sanctuary with Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) accreditation, confirming the highest standard of care is provided.