My little baby Timber Wolves

Take a look at these beuatiful babies! (picture 2002). Meet Shunka and Wahkonda. They are six weeks old and rescued from death by my friend Darlene who is the director of the Wolf and Wildlife Center. You would not want to hold onto a package of hot dogs in front of these little guys, ask my mother in law, lol. Shunka weighs 145 lbs now and is an ambassador wolf to schools and civic organizations. He is a magnificent blonde wolf, his eyes gold flecked with copper. I had not seen him in three years, and was walking to the Martini Hut in Woodland Park. I had no idea that the Wolf Center was putting on a benefit there. Shunka broke from the group and made the thirty feet between us in three bounds. His paws imediately to my shoulders, and his tongue in my mouth (wolves greet each other in that manner), and then flopped on his back to get a belly rub! Three years after I bottle fed him and hadn't seen him! Most people were aghast, a volunteer with the Center was so fearful of his behavior that she was shaking. Darlene was there and just told everyone to stay back, and let him greet me. As for me, I didn't see him until he had his paws on my shoulders. It kind of freaked me out until I recognised the behaviors, and allowed him to "taste" me.

Sixty percent of all wolves born in captivity are put to death. Now I ask you, why would anyone want to own a wolf? You can't house train them, ever, this includes hybrids. Try putting your hand in their feed bowl after you have put meat in it, you will come back with a stump. You wll not EVER own another pet while the wolf is in your home, they will die. You CANNOT predict behavior when the wolves head is touched, even with Shunka, I NEVER touch his head or ears. To play and place your head over the neck of a wolf is to ask for an incredibly fast attack. Genetics assures this, it is the Alpha male that will see it as a challenge, and fight for his position. I urge all who read this to understand that wolves DO NOT make good pets, and that which is wild should remain so. We are not protecting our individual herds, our sheep, hell most of the people I know live in the big city. Yet, we seek to put the wolf onto the enfangered species act. I am going to say this one time after exhaustive research into the subject: THROUGHOUT HISTORY, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A SINGLE REPORT OF A WILD WOLF ATTACKING A HUMAN BEING. So, you can forget the wild wolves where the vampires range. They are quite shy. These beautiful animals are put into shelters when STUPID people realize they can't handle them. It is illegal to set a wolf or hybrid to adoption. Their only option is to be taken in by a Wolf/Wildlife Center, or to be put to death. Darlene recieves no less han 45 calls a month from all over the country to see if he has room to adopt a littler, or other wolves that have been put to shelter.

With kindness in your heart, I personally ask you to support the reintroduction of the wolf in the Rocky Mountain Region far from sheep/goat/cattle farms. Before you look into the eyes of the wolf, you better be ready for it's impact. I was stunned to a great depth at the intelligence looking back at me.

I need to explain the tongue in the mouth communication. When the cubs are old enough to eat firm foods the mother will pre chew raw meat and the cubs will dine from her mouth. It is a demonstration of love when done to a human. To not accept this greeting, is to trample upon thousands of years of genetic memory.

Rocky February 19, 2006