WOLF CONSERVATION CENTER - Moving forward, one paw at a time.
The Wolf Conservation Center located in South Salem, NY serves as an education and recovery center for wolves. Their goal is to promote wolf conservation by teaching about wolves, their relationship to the environment, and the human role in protecting their future.
I spent two days at the center during their annual wolf captures. This involves going into the enclosures and herding the wolves into a box so they can be examined and moved to new enclosures. It’s no easy task and stepping into the first enclosure was a bit unnerving. The enclosures house some of the rarest wolves in the world; The Mexican Grey Wolf and Red Wolf. They also have four wolves which permanently stay in the center. These are the stars and ambassadors of the center. I quickly learned their reputation is misguided. These experiences are what the center is all about.
The crew at the center is made up of four staff members and, during captures, lots of excited volunteers. Everyone pitches in with the initial capture and I was no exception. The herding process involves forming a human wall, yelling, trying not to trip in the dense growth, and feelings of jubilance and confusion. Being wild wolves, they want nothing to do with us. Their escape methods rivaled that of Houdini. Once captured, they will go through a checkup by a vet before being released.
For more info, check them out here.
