The Colorado Wolf Issue: Relocation and Rehabilitation
- Mar 3, 2016
- 4 min read
Word Count: 820
DURANGO- The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission passed a resolution in January prohibiting the relocation of wolves into Colorado, but said they will protect wolves that make it into the state on their own. However, the debate over whether or not wolves should be allowed into the southern Rockies is far from over.
Lords of Nature- A documentary by Green Fire Films
Why Wolves?
Wolves are proven to benefit ecosystems. Dr. Andrew Gulliford, Professor of History and Environmental Studies at Fort Lewis, points out that they are top-tier predators who keep elk, deer, and coyote populations balanced. As a result, vegetation thrives, meaning a resurgence in flora, insects, and, strangely, butterflies.
Gulliford is currently working on a book reprint of The Last Stand of the Pack, a description of the last wolves killed in Colorado.
He said that as state taxpayers we support Wildlife Services, a branch of the US Department of Agriculture which, according to its site, “help[s] Colorado’s livestock industry reduce losses from predators.” In 2014, the department exterminated 322 wolves.
Gulliford said he is in support of reintroducing the grey wolf to Colorado. He cites Yellowstone National Park's 1995 relocation program as a model.
Gulliford said he thought relocation was possible. He pointed out that 63 percent of Coloradans are in favor of it. “Colorado is essentially an urban state. Two-thirds of our population is on the Front Range...that would become very much a rural-urban fight,” he said.
Click here to learn about the history of wolves.
WolfWood Refuge: The Nuts and Bolts
Some people, like Paula Watson who owns and directs WolfWood Refuge, are saving wolves that have been abused and cannot be placed in the wild.
WolfWood is a state-funded, non-profit rescue operation for wolves and wolfdogs. It is located approximately 30 minutes outside of Durango, but you will not find directions nor an address on the website (for privacy reasons).
Watson's animals are not fit for relocation because they have come into contact with humans. The wolves she rescues have usually been emotionally and/or physically abused.
“I take umbridge with the way humans deal with animals, period,” she told me.
WolfWood receives funding strictly through donations. It has a very low overhead, so all of their money goes directly to the wolves on a needs-basis. There are no paid employees- the refuge runs solely on Watson and her volunteers.
Megan Rickey is an intern and a volunteer at WolfWood for her Sociology major at Fort Lewis.
She said she feeds the wolves a combination of meat and dog food. Since the refuge runs off donations, the wolves are not always guaranteed meat. She explained that the wolves eat more dog food than meat in the summer because they shed their coats and do not need as much protein.
Rickey said it is unfortunate that the wolves have to eat Purina because their digestive systems are not made for it. However, “Paula truly cares about her animals and tries the best she can. Not everything can be perfect or complete,” she said.
WolfWood in Photos
My WolfWood Tour
When we finished talking, Watson took me on a tour of the 40-plus acre property. She has over 50 wolves, a dozen of which are full-breds.
The wolves and wolf-dogs at the refuge are not domesticated. Watson made it clear that there is a fine line between socialization and domestication. The former is what she strives for, while the latter is not only unnatural, but impossible.
Watson explained that Majesty is the only dangerous wolf on her property. To me, Majesty looked happy, even playful. "She's a perfect female wolf, but she's brain damaged," Watson said. Majesty developed a bipolar disorder after she almost choked to death on her own chain.
If a wolf cannot get to your face, they become insulted. It is akin to not shaking someone's hand. This is one way in which they have gotten a reputation for aggressiveness towards humans. So when I was invited into Oakley's pen to meet him, I had to immediatley drop to my knees and let the full grown canid attack my face with his tongue and rub his body all over mine.
It really was an exhilerating experience.
Wolf Facts:
Wolf eyes are slanted. They can have light green to brown eyes, but never blue.
Wolves have 250 million smelling cells- people only have 10 million.
Wolves ears always stand up.
They don’t have back dewclaws like dogs.
They have long tails they wrap around their noses when they get cold.
They have a black spot on their tails- it is a scent gland.
They eat up to 20 pounds of meat in one sitting.
Watson’s wolves only need to eat twice a week.
All wolves are born in May because they have to be strong enough to live through the winter.
A wolf’s first instinct when threatened is to run.
In the wild, it is not the size of the wolf but its skills which make it an alpha.
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