spring into summer slq

Spring/Summer 2016 Featuring:

• The Owyhee Pack History - Part 2 • Ask the Biologist

• Pups to Packs • RadioWild with Wilson Wewa

• Wolf Centers Around the West • And so much more...

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3 President’s Letter5 Ask the Biologist 8 From Pups to Packs16 Hibernation to Huckleberries22 Meet WERC Volunteer Aliza24 RadioWild Meets Wilson Wewa 29 Wolf Centers Around the West32 2016 Summer Celebration Recap 35 Adoptions 36 The History of the Owyhee Pack - Part 244 Canid Communication50 Up in the Air with Raptors 53 Meet our 2016 Summer Staff55 Places to Stay and Play

SPRING/SUMMER 2016Table of Contents

32

Board of DirectorsSharon Lander, TreasurerDanielle Hawthorne, SecretaryDennis Olson, Board Member

WERC StaffChris Anderson, Staff & Board PresidentJeremy Heft, Sanctuary Manager/BiologistLori Prichard, Gift Services /ReservationsAlan Lacy, Production Consultant Dawn Cadwell, Production Consultant Steven Urke, Production ConsultantDave Winfield, Graphic Design

The Sawtooth Legacy is a publication of the Wolf Education & Research Center (WERC). The purpose of the magazine is to provide

interesting and engaging information to children and adults about the gray wolf species that promotes a broader understanding of

wolves, wolf recovery, their place in healthy ecosystems, and the state and federal policies that impact their survival.

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2SL - SPRING/SUMMER 2016


Dear Friends, It’s busy at Wolf Camp. Preparing to open for our annual tourism season is no picnic, as you can imagine. Managing 300 acres of wilderness and enclosure for the Owyhee Pack requires vigilant care by our team. Narrowing the competitive search for our summer staff while preparing for our annual family reunion --known as Summer Celebration-- all serve to remind our team of the reasons we each do the work we do. And that had me thinking this week, as I write to you and introduce our current Sawtooth Legacy Quarterly.

Why do we do the work we do?

The answer is unique and personal to each of us and as varied as the people who visit us between Memorial and Labor Day weekends annually.

My answer is threefold. Those of you who know me know I am not the typical animal welfare leader. In fact, I don’t consider myself an environmentalist in the traditional sense. But there are a few things I am and they run central to the programs and leadership WERC seeks to develop and uphold.

I believe in keeping promises. Ten years ago, I made a commitment to the staff and supporters of this modest organization that I would give my absolute and undeniable best. I made a commitment to the Sawtooth Pack: Wolves of the Nez Perce (and subsequently to the Owyhee Pack) that they would receive the very best care and that I would find resources to deliver that promise.

I believe in stewardship of this beautiful garden we call Earth. As humans, we are tasked to take care of the planet and its inhabitants, be they people or animals. Both humans and animals rely on us to live our lives with clarity of purpose in this area and each choice we make ripples outward toward living that out, or not living that out.

I believe in the goodness of people. I learned long ago that all people have good gifts to give. Each of us possesses something that is valuable to the process of keeping promises

Facebook.com/WolfCenter Facebook.com/SawtoothLegacy

Facebook.com/OwyheePackor personally at LinkedIn.com/in/ccanderson

Connect


3SL - SPRING/SUMMER 2016SL - SPRING/SUMMER 2016

President’s Letter SL

and being stewards of the Earth. Because I believe this, it’s easy to keep going. We serve the body of supporters with the hope that individuals will rise up and make a deep and impactful difference.

When we get these inner mechanisms of our hearts and minds sorted out, we can accomplish great outcomes. Our best days are ahead as we delve into outreaches that take our “WERC” on the road with the Mobile Species Lab and reach the indifferent and under-informed --- those who will tip the scale of stewardship in the direction of a better informed public and toward protections for the iconic and essential species we care most about.

As you read this Quarterly, will you imagine your role? If it’s financial, then thank you. If it’s volunteering, we welcome you.

But one thing is certain...you are essential to our success.

Howls,Chris Chris Anderson, PresidentWolf Education & Research Center

Our mission is to provide the highest quality captive animal care and education possible and inspire greater public tolerance toward apex predators. We engage the public to support sustainable relationships with nature to become a social norm. Our vision is a growing community of individuals who work toward a more sustainable relationship with nature. This is achieved through captive animal care, regional interpretive programs, and ongoing development of contemporary media. We partner with diverse cultures and traditions to build a united and stronger future for all species. Introduce your favorite science teachers and schools to the facts about wolves and other iconic species with a Classroom Adoption. When you choose this option of helping WERC help wolves, we’ll send an annual subscription to the SLQ, our popular DVDs and more to that teacher!

Help us out today! Visit wolfcenter.org/site/give/sponsoraclass.html today!


SL President’s Letter

Ask the biologist is an outreach of the Wolf Education & Research Center. ATB is excited to announce the addition of biologists who will join Jeremy by offering valuable insights about wolves, bears, mountain lions, and birds of prey. Look for these exciting topics in our upcoming issues! Find these insights in the SLQ, on our website, and on our social media.

1. How does a wolf pack receive their name?

Wolf pack names have a long history in wolf conservation lore, with the

Druid Peak Pack, Bass Creek Pack, and Sawtooth Pack all coming to mind as

prominent stories throughout wolf restoration. Even though the main purpose

of naming packs is to simply keep them separated on the data spreadsheets,

the given name of any pack often provides some suggestion of the character of

the group. Some packs even become notorious for their aggressive territorial

activities and their name becomes popular not only among biologists, but the

general public as well. By providing such stigma to a wolf pack, wolf conservation

awareness has undoubtedly been raised; hence the naming of packs has become

an important aspect of wolf monitoring.

So, what do the names mean? Traditionally, a wolf pack is given the name

of a geographic feature near the location where the pack was discovered. For

example, even though the Druid Peak Pack was notorious for their hunting in the

Lamar Valley of Yellowstone, their name reflects the adjacent mountain where

the group was first observed. The honor of choosing a name is usually given to

the biologist, or team, who confirms the presence of the pack. A similar process

occurs in the naming of wildfires.

WERC followed suit during the naming of our captive wolves. The

Sawtooth Pack was originally raised in captivity among the Sawtooth Mountains

prior to being transferred to Winchester in 1996. Similarly, the Owyhee Pack was

given their name in honor of the Owyhee Canyonlands, where they first resided.

Although a relatively simple process, the naming of wolf packs has become

a profound way for the public to follow wolf conservation, and therefore has

assisted in recovering the species.


Ask the Biologist SL

2. Do you ever clear the bones out of the enclosure?

Yes, at least twice a year handlers perform the arduous task of cleaning

the bones from the enclosure. In the wild, wolves tend to eat nearly the entire

prey animal, only leaving the hardened ends of bones, such as joints, behind.

However, in captivity, wolves seem to eat less of the skeleton, probably because

they learn the next feeding with fresh meat will arrive in a few days. Therefore,

large bones, such as skulls, vertebrae, ribcages, and femurs slowly accumulate

within the enclosure. In addition, ravens and other avian scavengers often

scatter smaller bones throughout the area, creating more of a mess. So, a

small team of handlers is charged with the tedious job of picking up every

visible bone, which includes crawling under thorny shrubs and through ankle-

deep mud to gather the lot. To make the project even more “exciting”, the

wolves often view the bones as active food items, therefore have a potential to

aggressively defend them against the handlers. This particular job is not to be

taken lightly. Thankfully, bones are the only items needing removal from the

enclosure. Due to the large expanse of the habitat, feces never accumulates

sufficiently enough to mandate removal. It simply decomposes quickly and

enriches the vegetation of the area. Although the cleaning out of bones is a

necessary handler job, it certainly is one of the less-glamorous activities….

unless one enjoys odd, alien-like scavenger insects crawling up your arm!



SL Ask the Biologist

3. Does a person need a college degree or specialized training to be a wolf handler? The care and handling of captive wolves is known to be difficult due to the complex social behaviors maintained by an animal that is both intelligent, and potentially dangerous. Although wild wolves are never a threat to humans, captive wolves can and have attacked handlers in many different situations. Even though it is rare, there have even been lethal encounters between handlers and wolves, with both species being on the losing end. Therefore, the handling of captive wolves should be taken seriously and adequate handler training is necessary. However, due to the unique situations that each captive pack is subjected to within their respective facility, there is no manual or guidelines of wolf handling that will apply to every captive enclosure. This is probably why a national school of wolf handling has not been created. Each facility must tailor their training to the specific care necessary for their wolves. So, although special training is necessary, it typically is performed in-house at each facility. Some captive organizations require their handlers to have a Bachelor Degree, and some do not require any academic background. However, the type of four-year degree does not usually matter. I have known experienced wolf handlers who originated from many different disciplines and backgrounds. In my opinion, the main component in making a good wolf handler is not their academic knowledge, but rather their ability to understand wolf behavior and be confident enough in their training and instincts to put their life on the line.

If you have any questions pertaining to wolves, etc., please let me know so I can include them in future segments. Please email me with questions/topics at: [email protected] ~Jeremy Heft Biologist/Sanctuary Manager


SL

Like other canids, wolves are predators. This means they need to hunt to make a living and survive.

Wolves are known as apex predators, meaning they are at the top of the food chain in their environment, much like cougars and bears are. But aside from the fact that wolves are top dog in their family, they also share a lot of similar characteristics to their smaller cousins. Let’s find out what makes a wolf a wolf!

Wolves, like all canids, have four legs, a tail, and can be described as dog-like in

by Marilyn McGee and Alan Lacy

FROM PUPS TO PACKS

appearance. However, they are much, much wilder than man’s best friend --the domesticated dog. Wolves share these similar features because dogs are directly part of the wolf family, having been domesticated many thousands of years ago. The scientific name for the wolf is Canis Lupus whereas the dog is known as Canis Lupus familiaris, technically a subspecies of the wolf. Now if you recall from science class about the taxonomy of a species, the gray wolf would classify as such:


The gray wolf is the largest member of the canidae family, typically weighing between 75-120 lbs. Females tend to weigh an average of 5-10 lbs less than males. Gray wolves usually are four to five feet in length, and stand roughly three feet tall. Every physical aspect is designed for their environment and ability to hunt their prey. Gray wolves range in color from mixed grays, blacks, browns, and some reds, to all black, and even all white. Their fur is specifically designed to handle the vast extremes of temperatures that wolves encounter through the winters and summers. When winter approaches, wolves grow a thick coat that protects them from temperatures that can plummet to -40 degrees fahrenheit. But as summer approaches, they shed this thick coat and trade it for lighter under layers that keep them comfortable as the weather warms up. Wolves tend to have longer legs than the other members of the canid family, enabling them to move faster across the landscape, even in deep snow. These long legs, combined with strong leg muscles, give them incredible endurance. Wolves are great travelers. Some dispersing

wolves have been known to travel upwards of 50 miles in a single day; a remarkable feat. Another great feature about their long legs is that they can use them to run down their prey, utilizing that endurance to tire out their potential meals. Wolves have large paws, which during the winter make traveling over thick snow much easier. Their toes spread out, acting like snowshoes and keeping them above the snow. This makes hunting elk, moose, and caribou much easier as these animals have a much harder time moving through deep snow. Wolves, much lighter, can run above the deep snow and use it to their advantage to tire out their prey. Wolves have one of the strongest bites in the animal kingdom. Their bite is 2x the strength of a German shepherd. This is because they need to be able to chew through the bones of their prey to get to the marrow inside each bone. The jaw of a wolf is specifically designed to crush bones in a single bite, its teeth providing the grip and strength to pierce through the tough bone. Wolves have sharp incisors, canines, and molars that enable them to shred the meat they eat into bite-sized morsels they can swallow.

Kingdom: anamalia

Phylum: chordata

Class: mammalia

Order: carnivora

Family: canidae

Genus: canis

Species: lupus


From Pups to Packs SL

The bite of a wolf can be twice that of a German Shepherd.

These same teeth allow wolves to pin down their prey when they are on the hunt. Often, the whole pack will join in on the hunt, but it only takes a few wolves to bring down an intended target. Wolves use their sharp teeth to sever the back leg tendons of their prey. This immobilizes the prey, making it easier for them to bring down the animal to eat. Dogs, wolves and other wild canids have similar facial features. However, there are a few distinguishing characteristics that help the wolf stand out. For instance, they tend to have smaller ears proportionally to that of coyotes, jackals, or foxes. Their ears are shorter and more rounded, yet they still provide excellent hearing abilities. They can hear other wolves howling up to five miles away, sometimes further on a cold clear night. They have broader snouts, housing their powerful jaws and teeth, with a nose that is highly sensitive to smells that we as humans could never detect. Wolves have longer tails than coyotes, often with a black tuft of fur at the very tip of it. One of the best ways to distinguish a wolf from a coyote is by the length of the tail coupled

with the facial features of the wolf and it’s rounded ears, but don’t forget that wolves are much, much bigger!

Pups To Packs: What You Should Know Wolves are highly intelligent and social animals. Rudyard Kipling wrote that the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack. He couldn’t be more right. Wolves have a very

intricate social dynamic among members of the pack. This makes each pack a force to be reckoned with if you are an elk, deer, moose, or caribou!

Let’s learn a little bit more about family dynamics within a wolf pack!

Family Order Many of us are familiar with the terms “alpha male” and “alpha female.” For years scientists have used these terms to distinguish the dominant wolves in a pack. Recently however, they have tended to call these wolves the “breeding pair,” as often the pair that breeds is, in fact, the Alpha pair, or dominant pair by default. Think about it, your parents are the ones in charge while you are in the house growing up! A wolf pack can range in size from just two wolves (a breeding pair), to as many as 37 wolves, as documented in Yellowstone National Park with the Druid Peak Pack in 2001. Each member in the pack has a role to play. The alpha pair’s (breeding pair) responsibility is to keep order amongst the pack and produce new pups each year. Next in line you have the beta wolf/wolves.


SL From Pups to Packs

The wolf den keeps the newborn pups safe, as well as provides a rendevous point for the rest of the pack.

These are typically wolves that help keep the pack functioning along with the alpha pair and are dominant over the other wolves in the pack but still submit to the alpha pair. The rest are lower ranking pack members who are tasked with helping to raise pups and help defend territories when the need arises. In captivity, all of these roles are more defined, as their territories are much more confined. Often amongst captive wolves, one wolf in particular will become an omega wolf, meaning they are the lowest ranking wolf in the pack. They are last to eat, if at all, and must submit to every other wolf in the pack.

Breeding Behavior Wolves breed once a year and tend to mate for life. Sometime around late January and early February, the breeding pair in a pack will come together and begin a courtship. The female by this point has begun her estrus cycle, meaning she has gone into heat and is receptive to

breeding with her mate. The pair appears much more affectionate towards each other during this time, often seeming to dance together; they are more playful --you could even call it flirting. Once they have paired and mated, the breeding female will begin preparing for her litter of pups. The gestation period in wolves typically runs about 63 days. Just before giving birth, the alpha female will dig a den, or use a previous one and remodel it for her purposes. Wolves typically give birth to three to six pups each year. It takes several weeks before the pups are ready to stumble out into the world beyond their den and the safety of mom. During this entire time, the rest of the pack will have been providing the female with food from their hunts so she can keep her attention on her motherly duties.



Remote camera photo of OR7 captured on 5/3/2014 in eastern

Jackson County on USFS land. Photo courtesy of USFWS.

Rendezvous Sites As the pups grow older and explore more around their den, they begin developing the skills they need to become adult wolves. All the play and testing out things in their new world helps give them the experiences and knowledge they need to be a wolf. Once they are more mobile, typically by the end of June and into July, the pack will move from the den site and begin expanding their hunting territory. This means that the pups will need a safe place to stay while the pack is out hunting. This safe place is known as a rendezvous site. Rendezvous sites are a great place to observe wolf behavior, as it is a rallying point for the pack after a hunt. Typically by a water source, with a small clearing for visibility as well a shelter, rendezvous sites become the new point of operation for wolves. The pack will leave behind one of the lower ranking members to be with the pups while the rest go out in search of a meal. If the pack is lucky enough to catch

a snack, the alpha female will return and regurgitate her food for her pups to eat. Eventually the pack will bring the pups to the carcass to feed.

Dispersals Once wolf pups have become full grown adult wolves, they will set out on their own in search of a mate. This is called dispersal. Wolves typically disperse at around two years of age, leaving the safety of the pack to create one of their own. During dispersal, wolves can travel great distances. Recently, a wolf from north eastern Oregon known as OR-7 dispersed as far south as Northern California, nearly 600 miles! This is one of the most vulnerable times for a wolf. Traveling across country has its challenges, as wolves often have to face man-made obstacles like roads, farms, cars, hunters. They even have to face other wolves, as wolves are extremely territorial.

Territories When a dispersing wolf finally finds a mate, they will establish a territory in an area where there are no other packs. Wolves are highly territorial, and will even fight to the death to protect their territory, so it’s important for any dispersing wolves to establish territories outside the range of other wolf packs. Wolves mark their territories through a specific scent gland that help them uniquely define their own space. They will spray this scent on bushes, rocks, trees, basically anywhere along the perimeter of their territory. This essentially acts like a fence, or more like a warning to other wolves that this is occupied territory. In the event that another pack invades the territory, the whole pack will jump to its defenses and try to push the invading wolves out of it.



MESSAGE HEAD TAIL OTHER

“I want to play.”

“You are my leader; You are my superior.”

“I am the leader.”

“Don’t hurt me; I don’t want to fight.”

Illus

trat

ion

by A

lan

Lacy

Communicating Wolves communicate in multiple ways. Body language is one of the prominent ways in which wolves communicate with one another. Various postures, body positions, and behaviors help determine what a wolf’s mood is, or what it’s trying to say. This chart will help explain:

One of the most recognizable features of wolf communication is their howl. We have all heard wolves howl, although most likely it was in a film or on TV. Wolves have powerful voices and a surprising arsenal of vocalizations that mean different things. A wolf howl can be heard as far away as five miles. Wolf vocalizations come in four main styles: howls, barks, growls, and whimpering.

Howls: Wolves howl to communicate location to pack members. A howl can also be a rally call to defend territory, or to warn other wolves they mean business, or to mourn the loss of a mate.

Barks: Barks are typically warnings. Wolves use barks to alert pups or pack members of potential danger in an area. They also use them in a defensive mode in the event they need to protect their pack or pups from impending danger.

Growls: Growls are also warnings. Growling is a dominant trait intended to show force to other wolves or predators in the area that they should not mess with them, and instead leave.

Whimpering: Whimpering is used as a subordinate communication to signal that they do not want to fight. Also, the mother

Ears forwardPlay grin

Up and wagging

“Play Bow”

Head loweredEars backTense grinEyes averted

Down—often tucked between hind legs

Fur flat, to make itself look smaller

Head highEars forwardMouth relaxedDirect stare

Held high Fur fluffed, animal is relaxed

Head downEars backMouth closedEyes averted

Low—often tucked

Animal rolls on back and shows its belly



Eating quickly can be the difference between a full stomach, or having to expend precious energy on the often dangerous

enterprise of hunting, to replace a stolen reward.

wolf will use this form of communication to signal to her pups she is willing to nurse, or that she has returned with food for them: basically meal time for the pups.

Lastly, wolves use scent as a form of communication. They use what is known as pheromones to communicate with scent-specific messages. These pheromones are responsible for letting males know when females are in estrus, or which wolf passed by which area. They also use scent markings to communicate their territories and to protect food caches from other wolves and predators.

Wolfin’ Down Food……….. If you are in a pie eating contest, “wolfing down your food” would be considered appropriate for the occasion. Typically though, this type of feeding frenzy for homo sapiens is considered rude or a poor use of manners. This is not the case however, for the Canis Lupus. It is

either a feast or famine world for this social carnivore. So, why do wolves “wolf down” their food? Many scientists believe that rapidly consuming prey may be due to the need for wolves to protect the carcass from being stolen from other predators. In one feeding period, a wolf may eat up to 20 pounds of food. The next meal may not be for a few weeks because wolves are not successful hunters on each and every attempt! According to a study conducted in Yellowstone National Park, wolves primarily feed on elk. When a wolf first begins to eat the elk, it will consume the internal organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, intestines, spleen and kidneys. The large leg muscles are eaten next while the remaining tissue of the ribs, leg bones, tendon, cartilage and hide are consumed last. Elk are ruminants which are mammals with a four compartment stomach. They acquire nutrients from food by fermenting it in the first compartment



WERC is excited to announce the introduction of “Kidwings Explores: What is a Wolf” to our online audience.

Working with regional educational facilities and wolf sanctuaries, Kidwings aims to teach a broad range of characteristics of wolves and what experts are doing to conserve the species. The first episode includes Wolf Haven International where Chris talks with Erik Wilber about Mexican wolves, red wolves, and gray wolves. Look to WERC to help produce these exciting and informative episodes monthly.

You can be a major part of this endeavor. Become a Kidwings Explores Partner and fund one or more episodes for $500. Partners who help part or all of this monthly production cost will receive recognition on Kidwings.com, WolfCenter.org, and each sanctuary which shares these short films.

called the rumen. Wolves do not feed on the contents of the rumen. (If you have ever had the experience of finding or smelling rumen, one can see why the wolf would not want to eat the fermented grass.)The frequency in which wolves kill prey varies from season to season. In all seasons, when prey is in good health, wolf predation is typically lower. So, what do gray wolves eat? The answer to that question depends on habitat and season. In the long, lean months of winter, the wolf mainly preys on large, hoofed mammals such as elk, deer, moose or caribou. This top carnivore precisely selects its prey, based on the animal’s health, age, and sex. Random killing is too risky for the wolf due to possible injury or even death. Prey animals include calves, old cows, and

weakened bulls. During the long, hot days of summer, scat analysis confirms that a wolf’s diet is more diverse. It may include other ungulates such as mule deer, rodents, birds and vegetation. It is often asked how the wolf hunts its prey. During the hunt, the pack may select a group or individual and seek out the animal that is most vulnerable. Once the animal is selected, if it runs it is more likely to be killed by the wolves than the prey that do not run. The neck is the most common attack point on calves and cow elk with bull elk being attacked from behind.

References: http://www.wolf.org/wolf-info/basic-wolf-info/biology-and-behavior/communication/



HIBERNATION TOHUCKLEBERRIES

Come Memorial Day weekend tents and sleeping bags are dusted off from the long winter storage. Camp stoves are spruced up and ice chests are

refreshed with warm sudsy water to prepare for a long three-day drive or trek into wild places, oftentimes places where we intersect with varying examples of wildlife. It’s our predictable tradition and, in many ways, it’s inspiring to see how many of us prepare for settling into campsites and outdoor experiences. Similarly, bears in the lower 48 states have predictable patterns. Right now is an exciting time of year to watch bears—from a distance and ideally through binoculars. Because of the massive migration of humans into their territory, it’s a good idea to

Someday in the future,

when anthropologists study today’s humans

they will likely comment on our fascinating

life cycles. For many families across

the United States, Memorial Day Weekend

marks the beginning of summer.

by Chris Anderson



understand what bears are doing this time of year. If you recall from previous Hibernation to Huckleberries articles, bears typically sleep through the winter months. Although popular belief is that bears hibernate, they actually use a similar form of dormancy known as “sleeping”. The difference between hibernating and sleeping is that bears are able to wake up during warm days in winter, and become active for a short period before returning to sleep, where hibernators remain in complete dormancy through the entire winter. During this sleep, the bear’s heart beats slower so it can save the energy it needs to survive for weeks. Bear instinct helps them know to eat extra in the months before hibernation in order to fatten up their bodies so they can live off of the fat until they wake up in the Spring. Bears are mammals, which means they give birth to baby bears that quickly grow into cubs when there are available food sources. Cubs born in the winter grow very quickly and survive their first few months on the mother’s fatty milk. The mother bear introduces the cubs to other foods when

they are about six months old. Most bears are omnivores, largely consuming plants, such as leaves, roots, nuts, berries, fruit, and twigs. However, they also eat insects, fish, and other small animals. During the cubs’ first year, the mother bear’s most important role is teaching her cubs how to survive, with a central task being learning how and where to find food. This season for bears is very active as mother bears and the cubs prowl between rivers and forests in search of food to help the cubs grow quickly. There are many perils along the way for young cubs; sadly some of the greatest threats are the humans who intersect with them in wild places. When a black bear

enters civilization to seek food, it becomes vulnerable to death or harm by automobiles. Defenders of Wildlife, an organization that works to defend wildlife and its habitats, says that the black bear population needs “a minimum of 500,000 to 1 million acres of area to find food, shelter, and mates. So habitat loss due to development is a major threat to their survival. The leading cause of bear deaths is car accidents—over the last five years, between 125 - 175 bears have been killed each year by vehicles.” While nature herself presents a variety of obstacles for bears, we don’t perceive nature as a threat to bears but instead a part of the natural order. While various species have gone extinct without



Hibernation to Huckleberries SL

human impact, humans pose the most profound threat to bears. As we pursue our desire to go back to nature, bears cross humans in their search for something to eat because they are attracted to the smells of human food and garbage. The National Park Service identified “several bear feeding areas in Yosemite where bears were fed for entertainment reasons and ‘bear pits’ of trash dumped in a small area to entice bears from park campgrounds and lodging areas.”

Many bears had to be killed in the name of public safety because bears exposed to human food change their behavior and sometimes become aggressive. The outcome can be serious property damage or dangerous confrontations. Bears that become habituated to human food lose their instinct to search for natural foods, become more nocturnal, and may travel to higher elevations due to potential human food availability. All of mama bear’s training is for

nothing! If the animal happens to be successful in acquiring food left by humans, danger arises for both bear and the people. People are in danger because if the bear feels threatened by them, it may become aggressive. Bears in this situation have been reported to become aggressive and potentially harm people, leading to many euthanizations annually. Bears may become dependent on the leftover food and have a harder time surviving in

Many bears require as many as 15,000 to 20,000 calories a day to sustain their massive bodies.


SL Hibernation to Huckleberries

the wild when the seasonal food source disappears. Another way humans harm black bears is through deforestation. Tearing down forests involves the destruction of their homes. Hunting and trapping is another

way humans jeopardize bears. Hunters sometimes target the American black bear, Black bears have been hunted for their trophy value, for meat and fat, and for their coat, which has been used for clothes or rugs. There are now more regulations which limit the hunting of black bears and the selling of their hides, but the bears are still subject to regulated hunting. Besides humans, there are no predators for an adult black bear, but black bear cubs are sometimes hunted by wolves and bobcats. Our friends at Western Wildlife Outreach, who specialize in teaching about bears,have terrific advice on their website to help humans learn behaviors that can greatly increase wild bears’ chances of survival. Visit the outreach online at www.westernwildlifeoutreach.org to learn about living, camping, and recreational exploring in bear country.

Before trekking into bear country,

hikers and recreationalists should

be aware of signs and clues to avoid

confrontation.



19

Here are camping tips from WWO’s informative website:

The following tips are equally important whether camping off-trail, or in multi-site campgrounds close to the road: both should be considered part of bear country and should be afforded the same safety precautions. Bear in mind that neighboring campers and campers that have left prior to your arrival may not be taking the same precautions, so be especially vigilant when utilizing campgrounds.

Camp setup

• If camping in National Parks, camp in established campsites and follow park guidelines.

• Be aware of your surroundings – look at them from a bear’s perspective. Investigate your site for bear sign before setting up camp and then establish a clean camp free of odors

• Avoid camping near bear food sources such as berries. Never camp near an animal carcass, garbage or bear sign such as tracks, scat or tree scratchings.

• Avoid camping next to trails or streams, as bears and other wildlife use these as travel routes.

• Remember the 100 yard rule: locate your cook area and food cache at least 100 yards downwind from your tent when not in established campgrounds.

• Pitch tents in a line or a semicircle facing your cooking areas. You will be more likely to spot a bear that wanders into your camp and the bear will have a clear escape route.

Food storage

• Do not forget: when hanging your food and garbage you’ll need 100 feet of strong nylon accessory cord (1/8 inch minimum) and a carabiner to attach bags to cord.

• Never leave food items unattended unless it is properly stored. Food items include all edibles (even in sealed packaging), drinks, coolers (even when empty), and pet food (even fishing bait).

• DO NOT bring food, drinks, or odorous non-food items into your tent. This includes toothpaste, perfume, deodorant, chocolate, candy and wrappers.

• Avoid canned foods with strong odors such as tuna. Wash cans after eating.

• All food items should be placed in bear-resistant food storage containers (where available) or stored in your vehicle’s trunk or your truck cab. Bear-resistant containers are constructed of a securable, solid non-pliable material capable of withstanding force from a bear. Visit www.igbconline.org to


SL Hibernation to Huckleberries

20

Read these and other informative articles about nature at :

www.wolfcenter.org and www.kidwings.com

learn about certified bear-resistant containers.

• When you are not able to keep food stored in bear-resistant containers, hang your food. Place food inside several layers of sealed plastic bags and a stuff-sac (‘bear bags’ or waterproof ‘dry-bags’ can be purchased for this use) and hang the bags at least 15 off the ground between two trees that are 20 feet apart. Some campgrounds provide communal bear wires for this purpose.

• If two trees are not available, sling your bags at least 15 feet from the ground over the branch of one tree so that the bags hang at least 5 feet out from the tree trunk and hang 5 feet below the branch.

• Remember to hang pots, utensils, cosmetics, toiletries and any other odorous items with your food and garbage.

• Bear-resistant food containers (BRFCs) can be borrowed from some National Park and Forest Service offices.

Cooking

• NEVER cook or eat in your tent – the tent will smell of food and may attract bears. Avoid cooking greasy, odorous foods.

• Locate your cook area and hang your food at least 100 yards downwind from your tent.

• Remove the clothing you wore while cooking before going to sleep. Store these clothes in your vehicle or with your food and garbage.

• Wash all dishes immediately after eating. Dump water at least 100 yards from your campsite.

Garbage disposal/storage

• Never leave garbage unattended, unless it is properly stored.

• Do not bury your garbage. Garbage should be deposited in bear-resistant garbage cans or stored in your vehicle until it can be dumped.

• If you are unable to store garbage in a bear-resistant container, hang garbage in the same way as your food.

• Remember: “pack it in, pack it out”. This includes ALL garbage (including biodegradable items such as fruit peels).

In our next Hibernation to Huckleberries article, we’ll continue our exciting look into the life cycle of bears across North America. You can also find previous articles at the Wolf Education & Research Center and Kidwings websites.




I first heard about Aliza when we received an email from her mom, Colleen. When talking with her about our volunteer opportunities, I quickly learned that Aliza was no ordinary 14-year-old girl. Aliza has been selflessly volunteering for wolf organizations for many years. In fact, every year around the time of her birthday in March, Colleen and Aliza have traveled around the country exploring wolf sanctuaries in need of her help. I could hear the pride in her mom’s voice, “Every year I ask Aliza what she wants for her birthday; the answer is always the same: I want to help save wolves!” Meet Aliza. She had a howling 14th birthday at WERC!

What was your favorite part of your volunteer day? My absolute favorite part of the day was preparing the food for the wolves and learning more about the real day-to-day work that has to be done to keep the wolves safe and healthy.

I also loved getting advice from Jeremy on my future education. For the past five years,

Meet WERC Volunteer Aliza

I’ve been researching careers working with wolves. It was amazing to have Jeremy really listen to my questions and talk to me like I am a peer. After spending the day at WERC, I know more than ever that I want to spend my life working with wolves.

We know you have spent time volunteering at other wolf facilities, was there anything unique or special about WERC?

One thing that was different about volunteering at WERC is it realistically showed the good, the bad, and the ugly. Working in this field takes hard work, living in primitive quarters, and can be lonely at times. However, the hardships of the work are worth it to see wolves, such as Matsi, every day. I could tell that Jeremy and Matsi have an amazing relationship. I had never seen a complete wolf skeleton before coming to WERC. Although I know it must be hard for Jeremy to see Matsi’s skeleton every day, it really helped my education and I’m sure it will help others.

It was also obvious how much WERC cares about the wolves. I could see the dedication in how food was prepared ensuring it weighed

by Lori Prichard


“It was a pleasure having Aliza and her mom at Camp for the day,” says Jeremy Heft, Biologist and Sanctuary Manager. “Aliza is very well educated on wolves, and is driven to learn everything about her favorite species. In addition, she is not afraid to perform the less-glamorous tasks necessary to care for captive wolves, such as cutting a sheep in half. We wish her well as she continues her career preparation, and hope she returns to WERC one day…maybe as an intern? Aliza is well on course to be a great biologist, where one day she may teach a young volunteer how to slaughter wolf food.”

Thank you, Aliza. With your help and inspiration the future for wolves is much brighter!

the correct amount and was high-quality, in the consistent routines to put the wolves at ease, and the security measures such as making sure all gates were locked and fences were not damaged.

This is also the first wolf facility I’ve visited where I was actually doing all the work instead of observing others do the work. For example, at other centers I watched the food being prepared and then I put it out. At WERC, I prepared the food hand-in-hand with Jeremy. This really gave me a better understanding of the shape I need to be in to work with wolves. This was very satisfying.

Another difference between other wolf facilities and WERC is that the wolves at this center are non-social. This gave me the opportunity to observe wolf behavior in a more natural environment.

Please tell us why it’s important for you to volunteer.

Centers like WERC do not have a lot of money and need all the help they can get. The staff is incredible and hard working, but they cannot do the work alone!

As I continue to learn about wolves and what they are really like, the more I can reach out to other people to educate them. This helps dispel myths and rumors and makes it safer for wolves and humans.

Finally, it’s important to serve and to give back to our communities. This makes the world a better place. Plus, it’s amazing to get close to the wolves without disrupting them. I feel like I’m helping ensure wolves will be in our future.

To learn more about becoming a WERC volunteer, visit www.wolfcenter.org


Meet WERC Volunteer Aliza SL

RadioWild introduces Wilson Wewa, guest of the program and an important contributor to “The Great Predator Debate, a Predator’s Dilemma,” part two of three films undertaken by Sawtooth Legacy Films. RadioWild and Sawtooth Legacy Films are outreaches of the Wolf Education & Research Center media team which endeavor to bring informative topics to the public in order to inspire us all toward involvement. Wilson is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. His decendency is from the Northern Paiute people of the Great Basin and also from his mother’s side, the Palouse and Nez Perce people from the Plateau. On his mother’s side he is a descendent of Chief Wolf Nicholas of the Palouse people and on the Paiute side his decendency comes from Chief Weah Wewa, one of the head chiefs of the Northern Paiute tribe.

Chris: Good morning, Wilson. Thanks for participating in the film and RadioWild. Can you introduce our listeners and viewers to the history of the Warm Springs Tribe in the region?

Wilson: The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have been in the plateau and Great Basin area and other surrounding areas for probably over 20,000 years. And the legends that our people tell, and the genealogies that many families hold, attest to the fact that we’ve been here for a very long time and that some of the languages that our people speak make references to animals that are no longer alive in Oregon or Washington, or the Northwest for that fact. And so our people have been here for a very long time. There are even legends that refer to the time when the mountains were battling against one another and many times the scientific community doesn’t use that as scientific fact that people were here. But when they look at the evidence of lava flows and the ash that has come from volcanoes, they can count back how many thousands of years some of

Wilson Wewa’s Tribal Reflection on Humans & Our Relationship With the Wilderness

RadioWild:

Hosted by Alan Lacy and Chris Anderson

SL - SPRING/SUMMER 201624

these eruptions happened. So if you use that kind of a fact, then our people were probably here for hundreds of thousands of years. Because we have legends that talk about when the mountains were at war and legends can only come if there was somebody to witness that event. So our people have been here forever. I’m one of the very staunch believers that many of the Indian tribes that are in North America and South America were created here and that there isn’t enough evidence to say that all the tribes came over on the land bridge between Siberia and Alaska. In fact, I think that if there were migrations ,that there was possibly migration from tribes in North America that went across to Siberia. So, I’m one that has always believed our people were created here.

Alan: How have the Native American Indians interacted with predators on the land over the generations?

Wilson: Among the Indian people, the tribes that I’m familiar with {are} tribes on the plateau and the Great Basin, because my ancestry goes to the Nez Perce and the Palouse people from my mother’s side and Northern Paiute from my dad’s side. And the Northern Paiute were from the Great Basin. So I’ve had the opportunity to listen to many elders from both sides of my family discuss what I’m talking about today. When you talk about predators, I think “predator” is an introduced term that has come along with expansion from the east. Because our lives in the past were based on survival and a part of that survival was to be in harmony with all the life around us, we didn’t look at things as a dominant species over another species. But we worked together with those other forms of life to coexist in the environment that we shared. And so our people knew about hunting from watching the other animals, like cougars, wolves, bobcats, the other animals that were out there that had to stalk their prey. So many times through the thousands of years our people adapted those same skills to a human form of how to track animals, how to hunt groups of animals and how to use your family resources--your brothers, your uncles, your grandpas, friends of the family-- to get the most out of hunting when the time came for survival. Our people never hunted for sport. That was something that came more recently. My dad’s answer to us was, “My grandpa told us we don’t eat the antlers and it’s better to take the spikes and the younger elk than to go after the old ones that have tough meat.” And so, the way we learned to hunt from our uncles and our dad, was not to go after the big game for trophies but that it was still a matter of survival for putting food on the table. And so we use that today. A lot of families still have that teaching in their family, to only hunt for survival and for the continued life that we enjoy.

Alan: Is there a difference in world views that contributes to this apparent conflict in ideas?

Wilson: In our belief system we were not the first ones put on this earth. The fish, the birds, all the other forms of life were here before man. And so they enjoyed what The Creator made for them and the time came when The Creator decided that he was going to use His power to create, to make, man. But all the gifts that He has were bestowed upon the animal world. And so when man was created, we were put here as helpless beings.


RadioWild Meets Wilson Wewa SL

And so we came to rely on the animals because they were created first from One Creator. We look at those animals

and all of life as our brothers and sisters because we’re all together on this one world like a family.

What impacts one of creation’s children, impacts the other children. Just like death within a family impacts brothers, sisters, cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents. So those impacts happen to us when something is impacted in nature.

Alan: Wilson, do you have an opinion on learning from animal behavior?

Wilson: If we have grandparents that are still alive, we look to our grandparents for their wisdom because they lived through a

lot of things and they’ve seen a lot of things in their time on earth. In the human aspect, mothers and fathers rely on the maternal and paternal side of the family to go back and ask for the wisdom. And then the children look to the parents, for the parent’s guidance on whatever issue it is, whether it’s hunting or gathering or academics or traveling or whatever aspect that we look at in today’s life, and we hope that our parents have the answers for us. Even beyond that, people that are associated on the outside, teachers, academians, we look to them because they have that education. Well, you look at the structure of the wolf family, they too rely on the most skilled in order to survive and so they look to whoever is the leader of that family and that leader gives the direction until the time that he’s replaced by somebody more qualified. Because as we age, sometimes we lose those qualities for being an effective leader and so we back up and we give that knowledge to somebody more qualified physically to take our place and that has, as the saying goes, ‘boil to the pot’. So they’re the ones that take over for the other leader and that’s the way our people looked at the animals too, in that aspect. So, when you ask if the wolves were the highest of the pecking order in nature, I don’t know if you’d say that, because grizzly bear or the black bears or the buffalo or any of the other species of animal, they have their order too that is patterned pretty much the same way. Each species of animal has their own order that they follow and that order harmonizes with the life around it. And I think there’s enough documentation in this world to prove that when one species gets out of hand, another species grows to put it back into check and that way it doesn’t get to be too big of a problem for the land. In the past, in the Great Basin there used to be large rabbit drives for jack rabbits for food. When they would overpopulate into the thousands, that’s the time when the wolves and the coyotes, bobcats, cougars, they would probably bloom in population and they would put the jackrabbit population back into check. They didn’t wipe them out, because as they seen the decline of the rabbit population they knew they had to move to find another food resource within traveling distance in order to not starve and not to deplete the supply. I think in nature our animals knew how to do that. They’re not as dumb as some


SL RadioWild Meets Wilson Wewa

people think they are. They’ve lived on this land longer than those people that just came here 200 years ago, so they know how to survive and they’ll continue to survive if we allow them to have the same habitat that they had when they were here --before the changes took place with fences and houses and communities and farms, where they’ve dug up resources. Because you look at the land throughout the United States and we can’t say that farming is wrong because we all rely on the farms to produce the food to sell in the grocery stores. In farming, {in using} the hundreds or even millions of acres of land to feed the people, they’ve destroyed habitat for animals. Migrations of animals take place in order for them to survive. So they move from maybe one state, two states away to where there aren’t so many farms and where the habitat is conducive to their survival. And so that happens and now out in the Northwest, where we have a lot of diminishing pristine land, some of the animal populations find this attractive for resettling and there’s enough resource in nature to feed them. But they’re not unlike us. We all look to our health for helping us to get into old age. So maybe in our younger days as teenagers we love to eat at McDonalds. We love to eat at some of those fast food places because the food tastes good. But as we start to get older we find out that salt and the oils that are used in cooking aren’t so good for our body. And so then we put those foods away and we start adopting a change in diet in order to help us to survive longer. And that’s the same way it is for the animals. If their resources get knocked out of balance, they have to move or they have to adapt and sometimes that adaptation conflicts with ranchers because they have horses and cattle and sheep and goats and llamas or whatever else, and then they start to say, no, we don’t want that animal. We don’t want monetary resources put out to help re-establish that animal because we know they’re going to impact our livelihood. But we have to look at it in another way too, that what happens in nature is probably inevitably going to affect us as human beings.

Chris: Are there steps to take to resolve these conflicts with predators? What might the future hold?


RadioWild Meets Wilson Wewa SL


Do you care about endangered species?

Hear more of this fascinating interview in “The Great Predator Debate: A Predator’s Dilemma” where Wilson Wewa and a broad range of biologists, ecologists, and wildlife officials discuss the brewing conflict between humans and carnivores in the Western United States.

View the film online at www.reelhouse.org/sawtoothlegacyfilms or purchase it today at www.wolfcenter.org/store.

Tune into RadioWild on the first Monday of each month to listen at the intersection of science and enterprise on www.Blogtalkradio.com/RadioWild.

Just one more way WERC is striving to inspire the public toward greater outcomes.

Wilson: Maybe subsidies paid to farmers or ranchers. If there’s irrefutable evidence that those animals that are called predators are impacting rancher’s livestock, create a fund to pay for their losses. But I think that today, with people on almost every foot of the earth, it’s going to be hard to separate nature from man. So, it’s hard to say that there can be a compromise in there, but I think certainly ranchers aren’t dumb. Maybe they can say: I’m going to raise 500 cattle for sale, but this year I’m going to raise 550 and those 50 cattle are there to offset the cost if the wolves choose to take one or two or three of them for food, if it offsets the costs of the 500 that are already earmarked for sale. What keeps a rancher from doing that? Nothing. What keeps a sheep herder from doing that? Nothing. Any good businessman knows how to make crops pay for itself, or any resource that you’re putting up for sale. You have to know how to keep enough on hand in order to keep your business going. And so, I think that’s the same way it is in nature too. And nature knows how to do that and it’s done an effective job for millions of years of overpopulation. If you looked in the newspaper last year, they had the flu vaccine that they did last fall in 2014 that they gave everybody. Well, by the end of 2014 they said that that strain of the flu had mutated and that the vaccine they gave us was only 32% effective. The ravages of that flu has hit our area pretty bad here and so even those organisms know how to adapt. And they’re adapting against vaccines to kill them and that’s the way life is, it adapts. And we, as human people, need to adapt our ways to include the animals.


SL RadioWild Meets Wilson Wewa

When the Wolf Education & Research Center began 20 years ago, we were a novelty along with a handful of wolf sanctuaries around the United States. Today, many centers exist and we want to encourage you to visit those close to your beaten path.

This map shows just a few that we’re proud to introduce to you. Visit them and post your picture on Facebook with the #wolfcenter. Each month, we’ll choose our favorite picture to award a t-shirt from WERC!

Mention WERC when visiting these recommended groups.

MAP ON NEXT PAGE >>>

Wolf Centers Around the West Coast

Above : Wolf Centers around the West give

the public valuable opportunities to learn

about these beautiful and vital animals.

(Left to Right): Wolf Haven International,

Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, California

Wolf Center, White Wolf Santuary.

by Chris Anderson

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Salt Lake City

Denver

ColoradoSprings

Phoenix

Las Vegas

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Sacramento

San Francisco

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Eugene

SalemPortland

Spokane

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Butte

Bozeman

Missoula

Billings

Olympia

Seattle

West Yellowstone

PA

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Wolf HavenInternational

White WolfSanctuary

CaliforniaWolf Center

Grizzly & WolfDiscovery Center

Wolf Education &Research Center

Colorado Wolf &Wildlife Center

OREGON

WASHINGTON

MONTANA

NEVADA

UTAH

COLORADO

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

CALIFORNIA

IDAHO

WYOMING

Montana GrizzlyEncounter

Wolf Centers Around the West1) California Wolf Center Julian, CA www.californiawolfcenter.org

2) Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center Divide, CO www.wolfeducation.org

3) Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center West Yellowstone, MT www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.org

4) Montana Grizzly Encounter Bozeman, MT www.grizzlyencounter.org

5) White Wolf Sanctuary Tidewater, OR www.whitewolfsanctuary.com

6) Wolf Education & Research Center Winchester, ID www.wolfcenter.org

7) Wolf Haven International Tenino, WA www.wolfhaven.org

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Salt Lake City

Denver

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Phoenix

Las Vegas

Reno

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Butte

Bozeman

Missoula

Billings

Olympia

Seattle

West Yellowstone

PA

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Wolf HavenInternational

White WolfSanctuary

CaliforniaWolf Center

Grizzly & WolfDiscovery Center

Wolf Education &Research Center

Colorado Wolf &Wildlife Center

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Wolf Centers Around the West SL

It’s not often we can be part of the rejuvenation of a celebrity. However, that’s how WERC’s Wolf Camp Summer Celebration was described and going forward it’s certain we made a terrific friend in Chris Morgan.

Chris rejuvenated our team as well, as he spoke over two days and joined along in almost every activity. One of the highlights of this weekend was watching the young people from the Tierra Vida community seek out Chris Morgan and want photos with him and watching how Chris not only accommodated them but asked every one of them their story. This reliability is essential to our ability to move forward as an organization and impact this world for good, whether related to humans or wolves. We have to slow down and build the bridges of relationship to those who hold the future.

There are perhaps no more important photos taken this weekend than the ones on this page by Alan Lacy.

A weekend to remember!


SL 2016 Summer Celebration Recap


2016 Summer Celebration Recap SL

This is WERC’s objective.

Capture the imagination of the next generation and we

can possibly overcome these challenging obstacles facing our wilderness and her inhabitants.

Thank you to each who made this event possible by your donations and volunteer

activities.

34

SL 2016 Summer Celebration Recap

W O L F C E N T E R A D O P T I O N P R O G R A M

$174,800Caring for four ambassador wolves costs nearly $174,800, including their health and upkeep, food that is not donated, and the maintenance of the Wolf Camp. You can make a significant impact in our programs by adopting one or all of the Wolf Center’s wolves. Preserve the legacy of the Sawtooth Pack by giving an adoption to someone or a local classroom.

n Please mail the Adoption or Gift Adoption Packet to the following person, business, or school:

Member Number ______________________________________________________Name ________________________________________________________________School/Business ________________________________________________________City ________________________________ State _ Zip _______________________Email _______________________________ Phone (____) ______________________

Please mail completed form with check or money order to: WERC, P.O. Box 12604, Portland, OR 97212 or visit: www.wolfcenter.org, click on the “Adopt a Wolf” menu.

Running Homefor

Can you find the

hidden animals in this book,

including the two

on this cover?

by Gail McDiarmid & Marilyn McGee

Illustrated by Durwood Coffey

for

$25Juvenile • Photo pack 5x7 • Wolf plush with name tag • Certificate

Yes!$100Adopt the Pack • Photo pack of Owyhees 5x7 • SLQ • Choice of 1 Owyhee Pack name t-shirt • “Running For Home” Book • Certificate

Yes!

$25Adult • Photo of adopted wolf 5x7 • SLQ • Certificate • 1 free adult admission to WERC

Yes! $50 Yes!

• Poster of history and benefits • DVD • Photo Pack of Owyhee 8x10 • Certificate • Piyip photo for each child while supplies last • Info kit with individual adoption form and fundraiser challenge

Classroom- Juvenile

$250 • Photo pack of Owyhee 5x7 • Tribute Poster 11x14 • SLQ • Running For Home book

Sawtooth Memorial Adoption • DVD • Certificate • Choice of 2 Owyhee name t-shirts • Free admission for a family of 5

Yes! $500 • All 11 wolves photo pack 8x10 • Tribute print 16x20 • Choice of 4 Owyhee name t-shirts • Premium Certificate

Sawtooth Memorial Adoption • SLQ • DVD • Free admission for a family of 5 • “Running for Home” book

Yes!

See website for more giving opportunities! www.wolfcenter.org

Adopt a ClassroomHere’s how it works. Your $50 donation sends the great package shown here to the middle school of YOUR choice. We’ll do all the work and your gift will include a note from you expressing your commitment to education about wolves.

35

but to humans as well. This fact was the sole reason why the federal government gained the authority to investigate the private property where the wolves were held. As they grew older and experienced age-related health complications, the parents of the original owner struggled to care for the wolves. Captive wolf handlers must be physically fit and strong enough to deter a potential aggressive conflict with any one or group of wolves. Additionally, here at WERC, handlers are taught to never visit the wolves when feeling ill or injured. Any human must be on the top of their game to physically associate with captive wolves inside an enclosure. Contrary to wild wolves, who do not develop captive-induced neurosis and still maintain a fear of humans, captive wolves can be very dangerous to human handlers in certain situations. Therefore, the safest practice is to not allow the captive wolves to see any weakness among the handlers, such

The Unabridged

History of the

Owyhee Pack

Part 2

A Four-Part SLQ Feature

W olves that are held captive in stressful or unhealthy situations develop a low level

of neurotic behavior most of the time. The physical strain caused by inadequate protein, water, and shelter from the blazing desert sun eventually degrade the body and tends to make wolves more aggressive. The instinct to survive is strong in wolves, and they are known for being relatively adaptable to their environment, so a pack would learn a way to survive such difficult conditions. Unfortunately, when the necessary nutrients for life are scarce, the aggression levels of the group escalate. Some of the wolves in Owyhee County had major scarring on their head, neck, and rump areas. Even some features of the head, such as ears, were displaced from significant injuries. Substantial evidence could be found to safely assume some of these wolves were highly violent, and not only could pose a danger to other wolves,

by Jeremy Heft


as an injured knee or mental exhaustion (such as being overworked by a small nonprofit organization). Unfortunately, these standards were not employed by the private owners in Owyhee County, and the mother nearly paid for this mistake with her life. One day, the main care provider, the original owner’s mother, entered one of the enclosures for an unknown reason, and was subsequently attacked by one of the packs. The details of this encounter have never been made clear to WERC, however judging by the tidbits of information we have gathered, the incident was violent and could have been fatal. She was able to escape the enclosure, but required medical attention. When asked by the doctor what had occurred, she was honest and shared the story of the event. Apparently, she was unaware that federal law forces the medical facility to report such an animal attack to authorities, who eventually contacted the federal agency responsible for investigating such incidents. The

Harsh, stressful and dangerous conditions

caused the USDA to intervene and look

for new long-term and humane living

arrangements for the seventeen wolves

of the Owyhee Pack.


History of the Owyhee Pack SL

United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is responsible for oversight on all captive animals in the country, and every responsible captive facility maintains a license with them to house such exotic animals. Being the highest level regulatory agency regarding captive animals, the USDA has the power to confiscate or otherwise force the removal of captive animals from locations of inadequate care. Within weeks, USDA law enforcement officers visited the home to investigate the situation. They evaluated the backyard facility and it did not take long to reach a decision about what was best for the wolves and bobcats. Under threat of prosecution by the USDA, the owner was essentially forced to transfer custody of the neglected animals to the federal government. Within days after the investigation was complete, the USDA contacted WERC for assistance in removing and transporting the wolves. Since our USDA inspector had recently visited our facility and was aware we had a vacant two-enclosure enclosure, a formal invitation to take custody of all 17 wolves was offered to WERC. The inquiry was literally worded “can you take 17 wolves tomorrow?” Of course, there was no way possible for us to accept all 17 wolves at once! Several separate packs had been established in different enclosures, so it would be impossible to introduce them together into a single enclosure. A bloody territorial battle would absolutely occur. The distinct packs would need to be kept in separate enclosures at their new facility, so WERC could only responsibly accept one of the packs. After a couple days of deliberation, WERC officially accepted the invitation and promised to provide a permanent

home for one of the packs in desperate need of care. Thankfully, a wolf sanctuary in Florida had space for the remaining 12 wolves, and provided them a home far away from their troubles in Idaho. Only one week after being initially contacted by the USDA, the plan to remove the wolves and transport them to each facility began. The translocation of 17 large predators is a huge undertaking, and required the cooperation of nine agencies and organizations. The first step in the process was for each agency to prepare their respective aspect of the move. The USDA prepared the legal paperwork and the veterinarians prepared the capture and restraint methods, while WERC prepared both the two-acre enclosure for habitation, as well as the transport crates for our new ambassadors. The Nez Perce


SL History of the Owyhee Pack


Tribe, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and Idaho Department of Fish and Game all contributed to rounding up the necessary (and rare) wolf transport kennels. Some of the carriers used were the same exact kennels used in the reintroduction of wolves to Idaho! Since the agencies were spread across the state, it was an honor to have all three agencies so graciously assist us in acquiring enough carriers on short notice. Then, WERC rented a large U-Haul truck to haul the occupied crates back to Winchester. Next, the handling team and the transport plan was assembled. Obviously, all current WERC wolf handlers would head up the project, but we also attempted to have our attending veterinarian at the time, Dr. Lynne Nelson from Washington State University

Veterinary Teaching Hospital, travel with the team to oversee the healthcare of the new recruits. Unfortunately, Dr. Nelson was not available on such short notice, however she recommended a veterinary student who was only one month away from graduating with a DVM, and had a particular interest in the opportunity to help wolves. Mike Cochran was a great addition to the team and a natural fit with WERC handlers. He was essentially our veterinarian (obviously well-trained at WSU VetMed) and he was very thorough in ensuring the optimal health of each wolf. I think he enjoyed the experience of making a difference in the lives of

Mike Cochran was a great addition to the

team and a natural fit with WERC handlers.

He was essentially our veterinarian

(obviously well-trained at WSU VetMed)

and he was very thorough in ensuring the

optimal health of each wolf.




the rescued wolves, as well. Mike was responsible for the anesthesia monitoring and physical examinations of our newly accepted rescues. He also assisted in the care of the wolves who were transferred to Florida. The WERC team had diverse backgrounds and specialties, however the common goal to rescue some desperate wolves drove the team to gel together and perform the difficult task without complication. On April 22 (yes, Earth Day 2008) the Winchester wolf handler crew departed for the four-hour journey south to Nampa, Idaho in a large U-Haul truck and a Wolf Camp pickup. A multitude of supplies, equipment, and wolf pharmaceuticals, plus the five special transport kennels were all on board for this exciting, yet somewhat scary adventure. Although collectively we possessed great experience in wolf handling and veterinary medicine, none of us had ever transported a single wolf over a distance, let alone five of them at once

on a five-hour journey across the terrain of Idaho! Sarah Berna, a former WERC intern and an experienced volunteer handler of the Sawtooth Pack, was a critical member of the team. Sarah had prior experience in veterinary medicine and had a knack for gaining animal’s trust. She was a perfect person to have along to help keep the new pack calm during the stressful event. The other crew member from Winchester was Randy Stewart, WERC’s Education Coordinator at the time and a handler of the Sawtooth Pack for eight years. Randy was a logistics guy, someone who could fix most any problem with little resources. I suppose his vast time on submarines taught him to be self-sufficient, and that skill helped the Sawtooth Pack for years, and now the new recruits as well. Being charged with the care of WERC’s wolves, I was designated the leader of the team. However, anyone who has ever worked with me in stressful situations knows, I am a very democratic leader. WERC’s Handler Corps, including our new veterinary

It took many hands to ensure the maximum

safety and welfare of the Owyhee Pack.



consultant Mike, successfully completed this very complicated translocation together. Even so, more than just the usual Winchester crew was needed to lift and carry the anesthetized wolves while they were examined and crated for the pending transport. Since the process of removing the wolves needed to begin early in the day, the WERC handler crew drove to nearby Nampa the day prior and spent the night in an “economical” hotel, hoping to be well-rested for the big day. At first light of April 23, 2008, WERC began the largest transition of the organization’s 16-year history. Sarah, Randy, Mike, and I loaded the trucks, made final preparations and drove South for another 30 minutes to Melba, Idaho, where the wolves were located. A rendezvous area had been established, where all agencies met for a briefing. At this moment, the magnitude of the operation was apparent. The Owyhee County Sheriff acted as the Incident Commander of the event and provided both a history of the situation and current rescue objectives to the multi-agency crowd. The cooperating agencies included: USDA Law Enforcement and Veterinary Specialists, Owyhee County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho Department of Agriculture, Idaho Humane Society, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho State Police, Owyhee County Fire District, Big Oak Wolf Sanctuary, and WERC. During the early morning briefing, the question of wolf handling experience among each agency personnel

was raised. It was very obvious that the WERC handing crew was the most trained and experienced with captive wolves. Accordingly, tasks were divided up among personnel to maximize our collective effectiveness. I was asked to accompany the two veterinarians who would be performing the darting. Having the most experience in handling wolves among the coalition, it was only natural that I assume the most hands-on, and dangerous, encounters with the agitated wolves. My job was to enter the enclosures with the fully aware, stressed, wolves and “push” them to one end of the enclosure, where veterinarians Dr. Mark Drew (Idaho Department of Agriculture) and Dr. Jeff Rosenthal (Idaho Humane Society) would be waiting behind a visual

Cooperating agencies included: USDA

Law Enforcement and Veterinary

Specialists, Owyhee County Sheriff’s

Office, Idaho Department of Agriculture,

Idaho Humane Society, Idaho Department

of Fish and Game, Idaho State Police,

Owyhee County Fire District, Big Oak Wolf

Sanctuary, and WERC.



barrier with rifles to shoot darts loaded with anesthetic drugs. The wolves caught on quickly and after several darts nearly hitting ME, it was decided that other measures were necessary to successfully dart the wolves. Both veterinarian dart shooters then entered each enclosure to obtain closer, cleaner shots at the wolves. Having three people in each small enclosure, the wolves panicked and ran frantically about their pen. This activity allowed for opportunistic rifle shots, and sped up the darting process. However, the wolves were now very agitated. This caused an increase in metabolism and adrenalin in their bodies, which in turn counteracted the sedative properties of the delivered drug. Therefore, the wolves required higher doses in each dart to create immobilization. Since high amounts of anesthetics were used, it was imperative to handle each wolf quickly after they visually appeared unresponsive. This was my job…the most dangerous of the entire operation. The typical induction time of the drugs we used is about 15 minutes. After a wolf would eventually lie down and their head was on the ground, I would approach carefully and determine their level of responsiveness. There is an art to testing the tactile response of predators, since most will strike out in defense if they are not yet under heavy sedation. However, we must control and secure their airway immediately after they are unresponsive, so this technique is constantly pushing the limits of wolf and human handler safety. Meanwhile, fully alert, distressed wolves of the same pack were sprinting by within feet of me as we both dodged more darts! Once the darted wolf was proven to be unresponsive, I

muzzled them for handler safety, then a fast medical exam was performed to ensure the wolf was stable. Finally the hind legs were placed in hobbles (just in case the wolf woke up unexpectedly). As I stabilized the wolf, a transport team, led by Randy with several law enforcement officers to provide muscle, entered the enclosure and together we loaded each wolf to a stretcher. The transport teams would then carry the wolf to a waiting pickup truck and be driven a mile down the road to a nearby fire station. Randy monitored the wolves’ vital signs and ensured the helpless wolves were safe throughout transport. The local fire district was gracious enough to empty their station and provide a perfect secure location for processing the wolves and preparing them for long-distance transport. Dr. Laurie Gage, a USDA large exotic cat veterinarian was the lead medical authority at the fire station staging area. Mike, WERC’s stand-in vet, assisted Dr. Gage with vaccinations, medical exams, and some minor surgeries necessary to treat injuries on the wolves. Sarah was also a leader in moving wolves around and assisting with examinations.

The transport teams would then carry the

wolf to a waiting pickup truck and be driven a

mile down the road to a nearby fire station.



To be continued…

This is the second of a four-part series running in the 2016 issues of SLQ. Be sure to read the next SLQ to learn how the Owyhee Pack acclimated to their new home in Winchester and quickly became the ambassadors who would carry on our important Mission.

Reinforcements from WERC’s Portland office, including the organization’s president Chris Anderson, arrived and joined in the sorting and moving work at the fire station. Chris brought along his strapping young sons (Kendall, Elias, and Owen) to do the heavy lifting for us…and they did. Two WERC Board of Director members at the time also drove to the scene from Boise to lend a hand. In addition, a crew of volunteers from the Idaho Humane Society helped move wolves around and document information about each wolf. Eventually, after hours of darting, all 17 wolves were being processed at the fire station at once. It was bustling with activity, yet the station remained relatively quiet so the sleeping wolves would not be disturbed. After each wolf was examined for health and injuries, each was vaccinated and microchipped for identification. Some small procedures to stitch up wounding or remove the darts were performed if necessary. Then, each wolf was gently placed in an individual transport crate with straw for bedding and loaded to their respective transport vehicle. Our new recruits rode in the luxury of our large

U-Haul, where the Florida bound wolves had to settle for a horse trailer. After a long day for both canines and humans, eventually all rescued wolves were secured and ready for transport. Our team bid farewell to all of the other cooperators and began the five-hour trek north to Winchester. The sun was already getting low toward the horizon at this point, so we knew a night time release into our enclosure was inevitable. Each transport crate was secured within the interior of the U-Haul truck, and I remained in the cargo area with the kennels to ensure the wolves were not in danger or distressed. I laid next to the transport crates as the wolves slowly awoke from their sedation and became aware. All the wolves remained calm and quiet during transport, which allowed us all to catch a nap before the big release into the new enclosure. However, after five hours of driving, we were all ready to get out of that truck! The mission was almost complete. There was just one more task---the release into a new, unknown territory under the cover of darkness. It was a procedure that made both distressed wolves and weary handlers even more apprehensive about the end of the day.



Ioften joke that I’m a “Turder by trade” if someone asks what I do for work. Responding to their puzzled expression, I explain that I collect barn

owl pellets for schools so students learning anatomy in biology class are able to dissect owl vomit and put together skeletons of mice, rats, bats, voles, birds, etc. A sigh of relief and a laugh typically follows. Pelleting (or turding) is by no means glamorous work, but I would be lying if I told you I did not enjoy talking to people, climbing around the inside of old barns, petting farm animals, exploring the back roads of the Pacific Northwest, or meeting free-ranging dogs of all shapes and sizes. Communication skills are very important in my line of work; people need to trust that you will not steal their belongings and I have found that trust is found and granted through conversation. If you can read

by Kyle Owens

A regurgitated barn owl

pellet is often confused

with excrement.


people and respond to their emotions, conversation just comes naturally. Dogs are similar in a sense, but their communication is primarily non-verbal. After my internship in Wolf Camp this past summer and fall, I feel like I can read the dogs I meet in the field just as well as the people I encounter. Recently, however, I certainly did not feel this way. I was pulling around the backside of a house with an old cherry-red barn. The barn was enormous, secluded, and it had a large and open attic window (a perfect barn owl roosting habitat). I walked up the dirt driveway toward the house with my focus primarily on the barn. As I got closer to the porch my focus changed as I noticed the shades were all drawn. Everything, including the small house, was covered in a layer of algae, dust or lichen. It looked like the planter beds had not been landscaped in decades, and the front yard was cluttered with trash and flat-tired junk cars. In that moment I felt slightly uneasy and dumb for walking so far from my truck, but I never changed my pace toward the porch steps. It was the silent dog that made me halt suddenly. The dog stood next to the door on a thick, heavy, and rusted chain-link leash. This Rottweiler was well over three and half feet tall. He had the bulky physique of a bulldog (no neck, just torso) and a face as big as a dinner plate. It looked like an egomaniac’s genetic experiment. The dog peered at my face with his ears down and droopy as I approached the door. When I stopped to greet him he had a little over four feet of slack in his chain and I stood three feet away, hunched over with my hand out and speaking softly. “Hey, buddy.” His expression did not change; his ears continued to droop and his eyes were semi-beady like a dead fish. The tail was clipped and I wasn’t able to deduce the dominance situation. There was seriously no emotion. I can’t say this enough. The large Rottweiler might as well have been a standing corpse. I thought, “Is he blind? He doesn’t look blind.” The second I lost my confidence and felt that something was seriously not right, the dog just exploded. It was like the flick of a light switch. His face turned to beast mode and, without any hesitation, he took two long strides and leaped at my shin. Luckily I jumped back, but there were only inches between me and his mouth when he ran out of chain. The dog broke his silence and made roaring snarls with half barks and deep guttural breaths as the chain tightened

The second I lost my confidence

and felt that something was seriously not

right, the dog just exploded.

“

”

by Kyle Owens


Canid Communication SL

around his neck. There is no question that I would be powerless if he got hold of me. As I walked back to my truck he stopped making noise, went back to his dead self and sniffed the grass where I had stood moments ago in a greeting posture. Dogs and wolves may have split from a common ancestor 34,000 years ago, but their body language is still relatively similar between the two groups. This Rottweiler was extremely hard to read because it simply did not display any emotion. I still don’t know what to make of him. Canids of all shapes and sizes use facial expressions, body posture, ear position, tail position, and other discreet cues (sometimes even verbal) to display intention, dominance, or submissiveness. The cues are not universal though. A dog barking may translate differently to a wolf in the wild. A dog will bark for a variety of reasons: protecting a territory (home or yard), playing, seeking attention, boredom, or possibly out of alarm or fear. Wolves will perform what is called a bark howl -- a succession of quick barks or one high-pitched bark that is followed by a short howl. A bark howl is a wolf’s distress call and a warning to other pack mates of possible danger. If you see a wolf perform a bark howl, it is best to leave immediately because something is most likely very wrong. If you are observing wolves from a distance and understand their body language, you can easily determine pack rank because lower ranking individuals will almost always respond to a more dominant wolf by being respectfully submissive. Some expressions can easily be noticed from a distance. For instance,


SL Canid Communication

you will see subordinate wolves squat while urinating and the more dominant alphas lift their legs to urinate. Rank can also be determined by observing tail position. Subordinate wolves will have their tail lower than higher ranking individuals when they are in close proximity to each other. A wolf that does not express submissiveness (a raised tail position for example) around a higher ranking individual, such as an alpha, will have their behavior corrected in an aggressive manner. In these instances of aggression, the tail position of the more dominant wolf will not change dramatically as dominance and aggression are both seen with a raised tail. If the troubled wolf is not willing to challenge the more dominant wolf for higher social rank in the pack, then you will see the lesser individual curl its tail in between the hind legs and maybe even roll onto its back as a sign of respect. Perhaps you have witnessed a dog curl its tail when he or she is in trouble? Household dogs might not roam in a pack, but that does not mean they don’t also express similar nonverbal expressions to show their intention or social position around other dogs or humans. A relaxed dog may have its mouth slightly open; its ears will be up (but not facing forward), and the tail will be pointed toward the ground in a relaxed state. When

A tail curled in between the

hind legs and lowered ears

indicates submissiveness in

canines.



a dog is alert, its mouth will be closed, ears will be facing forward, the tail will be almost horizontal from the body and it might slowly wag from side to side in a semi-relaxed state. When a dog is aggressive, the nose might become wrinkled enough to see the teeth and the gums, ears will be facing forward, the fur that runs along the dog’s spine (hackles) will be raised, and the tail will be rigidly pointed in the 10 or 11 o’clock position. Just like wolves, raised tail position in dogs is a sign of dominance. A fearful and aggressive dog might curl its front lip, the ears will be pinned back, the fur on its back will be raised, the body will be in a lowered posture, and the tail will be curled in between the hind legs. Without getting too specific about subtle differences, I will say that wolves and dogs share almost identical body posture to convey intention. That being said, wolf nonverbal communication is extremely important for pack structure and order and not so much for a dog in a house full of humans. Wolves can sense weakness, and weak individuals in a pack do not maintain a high rank and do not reproduce. The hierarchy within a pack and prey selection is grounded by the ability to accurately distinguish vulnerability. Therefore, wolves experiencing any type of ailment will do everything in their power to not visually express pain or discomfort. Wolf survivability is largely determined by the pack or an individual wolf’s ability to select the most attainable, and more often than not, the weakest prey source(s). Wolves that survive and wolves that reproduce are wolves that are skilled at distinguishing weakness. If you ever see a wolf in pain or discomfort, their condition is likely very severe.

Two dogs playing with

one dog demonstrating

submissive behavior.


SL Canid Communication

When you look into a wolf’s eyes you don’t see a dog looking back at you. When you talk to a wolf in a soft voice like you would a dog, you expect some kind of canid recognition, but there is none. I believe that even a stray would perk up its ears or look in your general direction if it heard you speak, but not a wolf. If you are worthy of interest, a wolf will stare straight into your eyes while taking in every minute expression in your facial muscles. It will examine your gait as you walk and will pick up even the slightest hitch, and it will smell every pore of your body looking for even the slightest, exposed ailment. Have you ever heard of dogs smelling cancer? A German shepherd has 225 million olfactory (scent) receptors, humans have 5 to 6 million, and wolves have 280 million. Sickness is weakness and wolves can sense it in you and amongst themselves. It is said that 93% of all daily human communication is nonverbal. This is based on several studies of nonverbal communication that were conducted by Dr. Albert Mehrabian, author of “Silent Messages.” He found that the nonverbal component of daily human communication made up 55% and tone of voice made up 38%. The remaining 7% of communication is simply words. The accuracy of Mehrabian’s studies is debatable, but he certainly brings up the question of how much we “read” in a person when they speak. Ninety-three percent is a significant amount. So, why do people feel like they can trust me after they speak to me for ten minutes on their front door step? Am I conveying submissiveness somehow? Perhaps this is why we get along with dogs and love wolves so much: we communicate nonverbally.

A wolf that does not express

submissivness... around a

higher ranking individual...

will have their behavior

corrected...

“

”



Up In The Air With Raptors! Up In The Air

With Raptors! by Chris AndersonSpring and summer

are fascinating times of year to observe

bird activity. When travel-ing around North America, there is such diversity of birds, it’s hard not to pull off the road to stop and view these avian treasures. As human popula-tions increase and expand into many species’ natural habitats, we also observe impacts on those habi-tats—some reversible, others not. As I write this article, I’m watching a red-tail hawk that has adapted to her urban environment and perches on a nearby building waiting for a morsel in the form of a rat or smaller bird. She and her species have the ability to adapt. So do humans. In fact, it’s what makes our species so impactful--we have a terrific ability to devise strategies to affect all of the others. We can change or create behaviors that can stop bad practices or start

good ones. Until very recently in North America, the prevalent use of pesticides reduced the populations of many bird species, caus-ing significant damage to ecosystems surrounding agricultural lands across the continent. Upon learning these lessons, biologists and ecologists responded and in many cases saved species that were on the verge of extinction. Today many species thrive be-cause of the response by a community of conserva-tionists. Why is this so important? Natural pest control is optimal, naturally speaking. Owls, hawks, eagles, and other birds of prey are essential to a healthy ecosystem. Like all apex predators, raptors help

manage the populations of other species. Some of the food sources they consume can cause great damage to crops and even landscapes that are not agriculturally productive. For example, raptors greatly reduce spe-cies defined as pests such as mice, voles, and rats. Additionally, some raptors consume larger prey such as skunks and rabbits, con-trolling those populations so they do not overgraze and unbalance a harmoni-ous ecosystem. Barn owls have reigned supreme as one of the most efficient hunters on wings. Before the advent of modern agricultural methods and the overuse of pesticides, barn owls were the farmer’s best friend when it came to rodent control. A single barn owl can consume 53 pounds of gophers in a year


or 3,000 rodents per family in a four-month breeding cycle. They prey mainly on meadow voles and gophers as well as rats, mice, moles and the occasional rabbit, bat, and songbird. Natural pest control minimizes risk to humans and other consumers. Still prevalent, the use of pesticides is potentially harmful to humans and other animals. Animals, including humans, that consume prey that have ingested pesticides present risk to those consumers. Rodent poison placed in-side a building or anywhere outside can secondarily kill an owl if the bird eats a poisoned rodent. It can also kill other beneficial predators such as hawks, foxes, bobcats, coyotes and snakes. Natural pest control makes economic sense for agricultural produc-ers. By promoting habitat for birds of prey such as kestrels, barn owls, and other raptors, farmers and ranchers can reduce the high cost of pesticides and at the same time promote species that reduce the pests they are attempting to control. The most commonly applied pesticides are insecticides (to kill in-

sects), herbicides (to kill weeds), rodenticides (to kill rodents), and fungicides (to control fungi, mold, and mildew). The latest US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) information on US pesticide usage from 2007 reports that more than 1 billion tons of pesticides are used in the US every year. This is 22% of the estimated 5.2 billion pounds of pesticides used worldwide. Agricultural use accounted for 80% of pesticide use in the US. It makes sense that if we can increase natural predators we can reduce pesticide use, thus improv-ing our human experience healthfully, environmental-

ly, and economically. As an added stewardship bonus, we can help build popula-tions of important species! How can we promote natural pest control to-day? The Wolf Education & Research Center encourag-es habitat promotion and conservation. By working with outreach organiza-tions such as Kidwings Explores and partnering with agricultural producers, we can make great inroads into promoting raptor populations and lowering the cost of {agricultural?} production. In 2002, G.T. Miller ob-served in Living With The Environment, Pesticides

Barn owls can consume 53 pounds of gophers in a year or

3,000 rodents per family in a four month breeding cycle.


Up in the Air with Raptors SL

are not a modern invention. Elemental sulfur was used by ancient Sumerians to protect their crops from insects. Medieval farmers and scientists experiment-ed with chemicals ranging from arsenic to lead on common crops. Nineteenth century research focused on more natural techniques involving compounds made with the roots of tropical vegetables and chrysanthemums. In 1939, Dichloro-Diphenyl-Tri-chloroethane, or DDT, was discovered to be extremely effective and rapidly be-came the most widely used insecticide in the world. Twenty years later, serious concerns about the human safety and biological effects of DDT led 86 coun-tries to ban its use. The consolidation of farms and subsequent rise in industri-al growing practices (such as monocropping) that be-gan in the 1950s kicked off an era of heavy pesticide use. There are over 350,000 current and historic pesti-cide products registered in the United States, and the

pesticide business is a 12.5 billion dollar industry in the US alone. Because barn owl populations have declined in recent history, today’s farmer does not enjoy the same widespread benefit from barn owls as did their predecessors. One signifi-cant factor that partially ac-counts for this decline is the existence of fewer mature trees with large enough cavities for the barn owls to nest in. Fortunately, how-ever, the birds are easily attracted to an artificial cavity such as a nest box. This means that the barn owl population in certain areas can be significantly

increased by putting up suitable nest boxes. And because of the barn owl’s unique non-territorial behavior, there can be as many owls in an area of high pest infestation as there are boxes available to use. The Hungry Owl Project teaches “Although Barn Owls will not com-pletely eradicate the rodent population they can cer-tainly reduce the number of rodents to a manageable level. Along with other non-poisonous methods of pest control, using owls is a long term, successful, and safe approach to rodent con-trol. However, NO rodent poisons can be used while encouraging owls to your property.” Without these predators the pest problem can become ten-fold. Working with nature, not against it, we can achieve a balance in which all win.

Without these predators the rodent problem can become ten-fold.

Working with nature, not against it, we can achieve a balance in which all win


SL Up in the Air with Raptors

Meet our 2016 SUMMER STAFF

Each year, roughly between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the Wolf Education & Research Center hosts at least three guests who participate in what we call the Intern Experience. It’s a little known fact that our own biologist and site manager Jeremy Heft was once an intern and subsequently has dedicated 18 years of his life to WERC and to the wolves in his care. The Intern Experience is a central part of our programs. Many of you who’ve visited have met these individuals and know that we select from a terrific pool of talent, ranging from undergrads to graduate students from across the country and, occasionally, from around the world. We’d like you to meet this year’s interns, who comprise our summer staff. Here they are, in their own words!

Danaé Mouton is from Huntersville, North Carolina and is a senior Biology major at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Outside of class, Danaé volunteers with a local animal shelter and a wildlife rehabilitation and education non-profit. In doing so, she hopes to help the public appreciate all animals from pit bulls to black vultures. Last summer, Danaé volunteered as a research assistant studying the effects of human disturbance on the carnivore populations of Southeastern Arizona. While attempting to avoid rattlesnakes, scorpions, and cacti, she learned how to identify carnivore

species’ scat and tracks, and ultimately decided to pursue wildlife biology as a career. As a self-proclaimed bird nerd, Danaé enjoys birdwatching in her free time, as well as reading, writing, dancing, and cuddling with her 12-year-old Shetland Sheepdog. In her future endeavors, Danaé will continue to study and preserve our world’s essential carnivores while educating the public about the vital roles predators play in our ecosystems. She is particularly interested in studying social carnivores, especially wolves, and is excited to care for and learn from the wolves and staff at WERC this summer.


You can welcome each member of our summer staff by writing to them at the following email addresses:

[email protected]@[email protected]

Care and welcome packages can be mailed to: Wolf Education & Research Center P.O. Box 217 Winchester, Idaho 83555

Eve Preucil was born and raised in Sun Valley, Idaho until her parents moved to the US Virgin Islands and she went to boarding school in Switzerland for high school. With the mountains as her playground, she grew up hiking, camping, biking, and skiing where she developed a great love for the outdoors. Her love of the outdoors developed into a passion for conservation and learning about nature, which led her to participate in field research on butterflies in Indonesia as well as implement various energy-saving campaigns and projects at her high school.

When she is not outside enjoying nature or doing schoolwork, she teaches environmental issues to 5th graders as part of a club called “A Cleaner Tomorrow”, volunteers at the local hospice center, and works in her college’s on-campus garden. Eve will be entering her second year at Pitzer College in the fall, and is planning on majoring in Organismal Biology and minoring in Environmental Analysis with the hopes of developing a career in the field of wildlife conservation when she graduates.

Lindsey Rasnake comes to the WERC from Kingsport, Tennessee where she was born and raised. She attends the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and is about to enter her junior year there. Lindsey is majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Science, with a concentration in Wildlife Management. During the school year, she works part-time on campus at the Ag/Vet library. She has also volunteered at Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium since she was in high school, where she had the opportunity to socialize two generations of gray wolf pups, and eventually be a naturalist intern during one summer.

Lindsey plans to put her knowledge and skills to use as a wildlife biologist someday. She’s had a passion for wildlife since early childhood, and she plans to continue to work with and for wolves—and all wildlife—as long as she is able. She looks forward to an exciting summer full of learning and working with the Owyhee Pack.


SL Meet our 2016 Summer Staff

Places to Stay and Play Along Idaho’s Hwy 95

WINCHESTER, WOLF CAMPThis former lumber mill town located on the western edge of Camas Prairie is surrounded by ponderosa pines. With a population of just over 300, it’s a quiet day camp and vacation destination featuring Winchester Lake State Park.

Winchester Lake State ParkThis park offers 74 spacious campsites and four yurts on Winchester Lake in the Craig Mountains. It's located less than a mile from Wolf Camp and the Visitors Center.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/Winchester

Marshall’s Meat Center402 Nezperce AveBest place in town for all your campfire cooking, Marshall’s makes their own fresh hot dogs that are absolutely delicious!

Calamity’s Lake City CaféAlgoma StIf you are going for breakfast, don’t pass on the hash browns. Dinner specials resemble country home cooking.

This guide to scenic Hwy 95 gives you all the best points of interest within a couple of hours of Wolf Camp in Winchester. Highway 95 takes you north through the Palouse Region (home to the University of Washington in Pullman), south through Camas Prairie and down to the shores of Payette Lake.

By Lori PrichardGift Services/Reservations


Wolf Camp, of course!On the lake! Great fishing, kayaking, hiking and wildlife viewing.

LEWISTONFrom Wolf Camp, the closest larger town is Lewiston, 35 miles northwest. Lewiston has a regional airport, many restaurants and hotel options. “The Lewis Clark Valley is a recreational paradise jam-packed with history and natural beauty,” says Sharon Damon, Visitor Information Specialist with the Hells Canyon Visitors Bureau.

Clearwater River Casino and Lodge50 rooms adjacent to the Clearwater River, saltwater pool, restaurant, café, event center and gift shop.crcasino.com

Red Lion HotelClean, quiet, comfortable and fairly-pricedredlion.com/Lewiston

Italianna Inn Bed & BreakfastLocated on a hillside vineyard, here you will enjoy the authentic atmosphere of Northern Italy. Each guestroom has its own unique comforts and charm.Italiannainn.com

Vic & Dawna’s Hells Canyon ResortNestled in the heart of Hells Canyon along the Snake River you will find this incredibly beautiful upscale lodge.hellscanyonresort.com

Hells CanyonLewiston is the gateway to Hells Canyon, North America’s deepest gorge and a place of unsurpassed beauty. From the Snake River you will view canyon walls and spires reaching heights of 9,393 feet, surpassing even the Grand Canyon! Hells Canyon offers many recreational opportunities, including steelhead fishing, jet boating, river rafting and an abundance of wildlife viewing. The following outfitters can assure you get the most of your time in Hells Canyon:http://riverquestexcursions.com/http://www.rowadventurecenter.com/http://snakeriveradventures.com/

The Nez Perce National Historical ParkComplete informational center and museum featuring historical displays and interpretive programs teaching travelers about the rich history and customs of the Nez Perce Tribe.

Asotin County Family Aquatic CenterSlip-and-slide your way to a fabulous pirate-themed aquatic center in Clarkston. Kids go crazy for the outdoor water park, featuring exciting slides, a lazy river and a fun-filled adventure pool.theaquaticcenter.org


SL Places to Stay and Play

WINERIES AND WINE TASTINGThis region is considered part of the new frontier of wine-growing areas in the U.S. Local wineries are winning medals for varietals made from local and regional grapes. For a complete guide to the Lewis Clark Valley Wineries, visit:lewisclarkwine.com

Clearwater and Snake River Recreation TrailCasual bicyclists have free access to more than 25 miles of paved pathways. At the 5th Street pedestrian overpass, you can access downtown Lewiston. The eight-mile Spiral Highway has become famous for the challenge it presents, climbing from the river’s edge to the top of the valley.

MOSCOW/PULLMANHeading north from Lewiston on Hwy 95 about 35 miles are the two university towns of Moscow and Pullman. A photographer’s paradise, The Palouse Region, meaning “land with short thick grass,” is a geologic wonder unlike any other. The sweeping landscape of rolling hills and plateaus are sprinkled with antique shops and wineries and is rich with history and charm.

Bella Vista FarmLeave the hustle and bustle behind and rest your mind and soul in this quiet spot on the Palouse. Lilly, the Great Pyrenees

and keeper of the farm livestock will welcome you to your guest suite.bellavistafarm.com

Browne Block Guest HouseStay in the heart of downtown Moscow, walking distance to all services. This historic site was built in the 1890s and was the site of the “Reading Room,” precursor to the Latah County Library.browneblockguesthouse.com

The Hilltop Inn and RestaurantHometown hospitality provides everything you need to make the most of your stay. Enjoy the great views while dining at The Hilltop Restaurant, which features a full menu of everything from salads to steaks.hotelonthehill.com

Wylie Lauder House Bed & BreakfastOver 100 years in the making, this fine B&B features a relaxed elegant experience and exceptional breakfasts. You’ll enjoy this beautiful heritage home tucked quietly away in the trees but minutes from town.wylielauderhouse.com

Arboretum & Botanical GardenUniversity of Idaho CampusSixty-three acres fill the valley against a backdrop of the rolling Palouse hills. Walking trails range from easy grades through steeper climbs to the most spectacular overview sites from which the Blue Mountains of Oregon can be seen. In addition to the garden splendor, the Arboretum provides a unique site for observing migratory birds all year long.uidaho.edu/arboretum

Palouse FallsDeemed the official waterfall of


Places to Stay and Play SL

Washington State, Palouse Falls is not to be missed. Standing at a height of 198 feet and surrounded by striking basalt cliffs, the powerful waterfall lies on the Palouse River upstream of the confluence with the Snake River.wta.org/palouse-falls

Bear Center at Washington State UniversityThe WSU Bear Research, Education & Conservation Center is the only grizzly bear research center of its kind in the U.S. Anyone can view the bears foraging or playing in the exercise yard, splashing in their pool, or lounging in their outside runs.bearcenter.wsu.edu

Camus PrairieTraveling south from Wolf Camp a short 20 miles, you'll find the small towns of Cottonwood and Grangeville, both located on the Camus Prairie.

Dog Bark Inn Bed & BreakfastThe inn is inside the world’s biggest beagle. Guests enter the body of the beagle from a private second story deck. Also on the property is the Chainsaw Art & Gift Shop, which features wooden dog carvings created by a husband and wife team.Dogbarkparkinn.com

The Inn at St. GertrudesOffers the peaceful serenity of a monastery with the modern comforts of home. Your stay is tended by Sister Corinne Forsman and Sister Chanelle Schuler. Enjoy a continental breakfast of freshly baked breads and homemade jam. Rooms are well-appointed with pillow-top mattress and private baths, flat screen TV and wireless Internet.stgertrudes.org

Centennial Marsh Wildlife Management AreaYou will want to visit this 3,000 acre wetland during the spring and early summer to experience all its wonder and beauty. Thousands of waterfowl and a huge sea of incredible azure blue Camas Lily are in bloom. It’s common to see numerous animals, including antelope, deer and elk grazing the area.

Tolo LakeThe Nez Perce used this 35-acre lake for gathering camas root and meeting with neighboring bands. The lake also has roots that go back to the last ice age. Remains of a Pleistocene mammoth and prehistoric bison were excavated from the lake in 1994.www.nps.gov


SL Places to Stay and Play

McCALL This section of Hwy 95 is stunning and worth the two-hour drive south of Winchester.

McCall is a resort town situated on the southern shore of Payette Lake, near the center of the Payette National Forest. Payette Lake fills a basin along the Payette River to a depth of over 300 feet and spreads over more than 5,000 acres. The town has the well-deserved reputation of being Idaho’s Four-Season Playground.

The Shore LodgeVoted 12th best hotel in the U.S. by Trip Advisor. Guest suites provide access to the unrivaled mountain lake sanctuary. The on-site Cove Spa offers indoor/outdoor immersion pools that are Idaho’s’ best kept secret.shorelodge.com

Ponderosa State ParkPonderosa State Park covers a 1,000 acre peninsula that juts into Payette Lake. Tent campsites, RVs and cabins are available.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/ponderosa

Mile High MarinaA quick stop at Mile High Marina will provide you with all your water sport rental needs, including ski boats, jet skis, kayaks and stand up paddleboards. Stay for a great lunch on the deck.milehighmarina.com

Manchester Ice Rink & Event CenterOpen 7 days a week for skate rentals, it’s the coolest place in town!manchestericecenter.com

Burgdorf Hot SpringsA rustic resort nestled in the mountains of McCall, it features three therapeutic natural mineral hot spring pools. Cabin rentals are available.burgdorfhotsprings.com

Did you know that Idaho has the largest number (340) of hot springs in the nation? Find a convenient location at www.idahohotsprings.com

Brundage MountainSki and snowboard in the winter, mountain bike, disc golf and hike in the summer.brundage.com

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLFJug Mountain Ranch Golf CourseRanked second-best new public course by Golf Digest, Jug Mountain Ranch is a world-class course that respectfully takes advantage of the land, water, trees and wildlife provided.jugmountainranch.com

Clearly, there is much to see and do while visiting The Wolf Center. Visit the site below for more information about planning your next vacation. www.visitidaho.org


Places to Stay and Play SL

Our mission is to provide the highest quality captive animal care and education

possible and inspire greater public tolerance toward apex predators.

We engage the public to support sustainable relationships with nature

to become a social norm.

Our vision is a growing community of individuals who work toward a more

sustainable relationship with nature. This is achieved through captive animal care,

regional interpretive programs, and ongoing development of contemporary media.

We partner with diverse cultures and traditions to build a united

and stronger future for all species.

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