EATS AND SLEEPS WITH WOLVES

I have always thought that if you want to really get to know an animal and build a quality lasting relationship with them you must sleep with them, eat with them and play with them often.
So you can bet I have spent my fair share of all of the above with the pups we got last spring.

At our out of town Education Outreach programs with Storm, Forest And Savanna and I got lots sleep and snuggle time with the kids.

We received a call from a woman that had two rams battle to the death.
Volunteer Greg drove into Albuquerque and picked up the loser of that battle.
We then took it into our one acre exercise enclosure and let 7 of our 11 pups come in and have lamb buffet.
Web-mistress and photographer extraordinaire Allison Bailey stayed with them taking pictures through out the carnage.
Me, being the weird wolf Dad that I am, got in there with the kids. I wanted to see how well they would accept me around their exciting food find.
Forest and Dakota were extremely comfortable with me being there. Dakota gave me a few growlee warnings; forest could careless of my presence. Timid Thunder was the most challenging of my presence snapping and snarling at me and even charged me twice.
The rest of the kids gave varying responses from indifference to snaps and growls.
The feast lasted about 2 1/2 hours with the all the kids taking play breaks in between snacks.
I must admit the energy of 7 wolves feasting on an animal was quite the rush. I can’t wait to do it again!
These young pups are growing up fast they certainly may not ever allow me to interact like that again…I guess I will see.