Sidebar by Rayna Bailey
Wildlife – January 2005 – Colorado Central Magazine
AS THE COLORADO Division of Wildlife and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service consider the reintroduction of wild wolves in southwestern Colorado, Mission:Wolf goes about its task of caring for unwanted wolves and wolf-dog hybrids that have been raised in captivity and can never be set free.
Located in a remote corner of southeastern Custer County, Mission:Wolf was established in 1984 and licensed by the Colorado DOW and the federal government as a wolf refuge in 1986. There, founder and director Kent Weber has devoted the past 20 years to providing a sanctuary for “domesticated” wolves and wolf-dog hybrids that are no longer wanted by their owners but have no hope for survival outside of captivity.
The sanctuary’s first priority is providing life-long care for the unwanted wolves and hybrids it takes in, including food, water, safe shelter, companionship, privacy, and veterinary attention. With the animals secure, Mission:Wolf embraces its second priority, educating the public about wolves.
“We want people to understand the difference between wolves and dogs,” Weber says. “Our belief is that humans are disconnected, especially from nature, and the thought is, if you like something go buy it. We want to teach why wolves don’t belong in a cage and through education teach the role of wolves in the wild.”
According to Weber, owning an “exotic” animal such as a wolf or wolf-dog hybrid is irresistible to many people. However, the thrill is quickly gone once a pet wolf or wolf-dog hybrid grows beyond a cute ball of fur into a full-sized animal with all of its wild instincts intact, especially since wolves like up to 10,000 acres to roam in rather than the average-sized backyard.
“Wild doesn’t belong in your backyard,” Weber stresses.
Typically, once a wolf or wolf-dog hybrid grows past the pup stage one of two things happen: The frustrated owner dumps the rambunctious and unwanted “pet” in the country to fend for itself, or a sanctuary like Mission:Wolf gets a call to take the animal off the owner’s hands.
Weber notes that there are some 250,000 wolves and hybrids living in captivity and that since its inception, Mission:Wolf has had to refuse requests to help about 5,000 animals due to lack of space and funding. In recent years “we have turned down an average of 300 animals a year,” Weber says, adding that “most are pets or are from roadside zoos or breeders who have gone out of business.”
Several years ago, Mission:Wolf became home to one of the sanctuary’s pure wolves. The wolf, just about five weeks old at the time, was given to the sanctuary by a family in Pueblo, who had acquired it from a roadside zoo set up in Cañon City. Although that wolf’s story had a happy ending, the same isn’t true of most captive wolves and wolf-dog hybrids.
The fate of captive wolves and hybrids that don’t make their way to safe havens like Mission:Wolf is certain death. Weber says that 70 to 80 percent of captive wolves or hybrids die before their second birthday. If the animal does survive, owners often turn them loose in the country because they fear the wolf will revert to wild, and without a caretaker the animal’s chances of survival are slim. Weber says a wolf that has been imprinted by humans and then dumped in the country typically goes after easy prey–dogs, cats, and other domestic animals–only to be shot by a startled or angry farmer or rancher. “But generally, the wolf starves to death” before that happens, Weber says.
Of the wolves and hybrids that make their way to the safety of Mission:Wolf, some are comfortable enough with humans that they are trained as “ambassadors” to take part in the sanctuary’s educational programs.
Although maintaining the comfort of wolves on the road can be as difficult as handling temperamental rock stars, these socialized ambassador wolves hit the road each year with Weber and other staffers in a converted Greyhound bus, affectionately known as the “Wolfhound” bus, to offer educational programs across the country. “We just got back from a 40-day, 76-program, 8,000-mile tour,” Weber says.
Over the past 15 years, Mission:Wolf has touched more than 500,000 people through its educational outreach sessions. Programs have been presented to government agencies, conservation groups, and the general public at universities, museums, corporate offices, law offices, schools, and clubs. Mission:Wolf has also been featured on television specials for National Geographic, the NBC Today Show, and others.
Touring programs include nose-to-muzzle encounters with the ambassador wolves, discussions about America’s wild wolves and lessons learned from Yellowstone National Park’s experiences with wolf reintroduction, the status of captive wolves, how wolves communicate, and the differences between wolves and domestic dogs.
As wild wolves become more prevalent through reintroduction programs across the country, Weber says Mission:Wolf’s role will be “working more with people about the problems that come from people and communities being irresponsible. We will teach communities how to be ‘conflict free areas’ by disposing of dead livestock and trash properly and how to identify a wolf from a dog from a coyote.”
Also as part of its educational outreach, Mission:Wolf welcomes students from across the United States and foreign countries, who stay at the facility for a few days to as long as several months or more. During their time at Mission:Wolf, the young volunteers work with the wolves and perform other tasks at the facility. “We currently have a long-term volunteer here from Germany,” Weber says. “We also have short-term community service projects in the summer for students 14 to 16 years old through the ‘Road Less Traveled’ program.”
It isn’t necessary to be a student or on-site volunteer to have a wolf encounter or learning experience. Visitors are encouraged to make the trip to Mission:Wolf and spend a day or longer. Weber says visitors are welcome 365 days a year from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Noting that the journey to the sanctuary can be difficult in the winter without a four-wheel drive vehicle, especially after a heavy snowfall, Weber says, “If they find the road and get here we are happy to show them around.”
Currently, Mission:Wolf encompasses some 250 acres, of which 50 acres are enclosed as a safe haven for the 35 wolves and wolf-dog hybrids the sanctuary is now sheltering. Weber says that the number of wolves housed at Mission:Wolf varies and that there have been as many as 52 animals in previous years.
Facilities include a visitor and education center, a veterinary building, and a tool shop. Under construction is a community building and greenhouse. In addition to the 250 acres under Mission:Wolf’s banner and 200 acres protected for the sanctuary, a project to conserve an additional 300 surrounding acres is underway.
Overnight camping is permitted at Mission:Wolf if arrangements are made in advance, however, those planning an extended stay should be prepared for a “back country experience” and must provide their own food, water, and gear.
To reach Mission:Wolf from the town of Westcliffe, drive south on Highway 69 approximately 27 miles to Gardner Road. Turn left on Gardner Road, which is unpaved and includes two bridges, and drive 14 miles to the Blue Spring State Land sign, the sanctuary’s driveway. Turn right and drive about two miles. At the end of the driveway is a steep, rocky hill so visitors may prefer to leave their vehicle and walk the remaining distance to the sanctuary.
For additional information, call 719/859-2157, or visit the sanctuary’s website: www.missionwolf.com.
Rayna Bailey free-lances at many pursuitss, including writing, from her home near Westcliffe.
