Day Trip
Wolf sanctuary offers educational excursion

A pair of arctic wolf pups, barely 6-months old, playfully bite at each other at the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in Candy Kitchen, N.M. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

WILD SPIRIT WOLF SANCTUARY — Atop one of the peaks in the Zuni Mountains, about 8,500 feet above sea level, the howling of the wolves mid-afternoon Thursday was music to the ear.

Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary Executive Director Leyton Cougar was walking through the large, open, fenced cage area with a visitor, and as they walked from one end of the sanctuary to the other, the harmony of the howling pierced the brisk wind.

Some wolves had higher pitched voice like tenors and sopranos and some had lower toned pitches like bass singers.

It is a sound that one does not forget.

Saving the wolf
Saving wolves and wolf-dogs cross-bred between domesticated dogs and wild wolves from inhumane treatment, irresponsible breeders and people who suddenly realize the cute little wolf puppy they thought was going act like a dog doesn't is the mission of this non-profit organization.

There are 63 animals currently housed at the sanctuary, and Cougar said between one to seven animals are turned away every day of the year.

"Think about the numbers," he said, "That is at least 365 animals we turn away every year because we don't have the room or funds to care for them, that's epidemic proportions."

A program, sponsored by the sanctuary and presented to schools, groups and organizations and at a number of events throughout the year allow Cougar and staff to educate and inform students and the public about wolves.

Educational outreach
Any school, group or organization may contact Cougar at the sanctuary to book a presentation.

One of two wolves, Storm, an arctic wolf, or Raven, a timberwolf, will accompany Cougar, who presents a thorough, informative and interactive program, usually with hands on for the audience, any day except Mondays, when the sanctuary is closed to the public.

Being able to pet a wolf is not something one has the opportunity to do often, if at all.

The sanctuary was founded 15 years ago by two women, Jacque Evans, an artist and Barbara Berge, an actress.

It takes money
The 80-acre sanctuary operates on a thin budget of $120,000 with five paid employees and a couple of volunteers. The wolves are the major cost.

Each wolf is fed three and a half pounds of meat, five days a week, all year.

That means the sanctuary must purchase 9,100 pounds of meat for the wolves to eat. Donations of beef, elk, chickens, are always accepted and appreciated, Cougar said.

Meaty bones are also provided to the wolves to gnaw on to help keep their teeth in shape.

Gift shop, New Web site
A small gift shop offering wolf-related items, plush toy wolves, trinkets and art by area Native artists helps with the budget. Admission costs also help. During four daily tours, the staff presents information about wolves, their behavior in the wild and stories about many of the animals currently at the sanctuary.

A new Web site is expected to be on-line replacing the current one before Thanksgiving, Cougar said.

The new site will allow visitors to see pictures of the wolves, read their stories, sign up for newsletters, make donations and purchase gift shop items.

The Web site is www.wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org.

Funding for the sanctuary comes from private donations, memberships and admission fees.

To reach Cougar at the sanctuary, call (505) 775-3304, mail to: Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, 378 Candy Kitchen Road, HC 61, BOX 28, Ramah, NM 97321; or e-mail: info@wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org.

"The goal for us is to rescue animals that need it," Cougar said.

"We are doing the educational outreach program because the more people learn about wolves the less animals we have to rescue.

"Our goal is to one day have no more animals that need rescuing," he said.

"Unfortunately, that day will never come."

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin, call (505) 287-2197 or e-mail: tiffin.independent@yahoo.com.