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Wolf Haven in Tenino Provides Protection for Animals and Education for Visitors

Wolf Haven

Brita, a female gray wolf, arrived at Wolf Haven in January 1999 with two other members of her pack.

If the movies are any indication‚ wolves are able to take care of themselves. However‚ in real life they face a variety of dangers such as animal collectors and habitat encroachment.

But since 1982‚ they’ve had friends at Wolf Haven‚ which has rescued more than 100 captive-born wolves as well as countless wild specimens. Wolf Haven is one of three places in the United States involved in an effort to restore Mexican gray wolves to the Southwest. It also houses red wolves bred for a recovery operation in North Carolina.

With more than 20‚000 visitors per year‚ an ongoing goal of the Tenino-based facility is outreach and education‚ says John Blankenship‚ executive director.

“We’re working on environmental education programs for high-school age students and above‚ looking at the large-carnivore issue in terms of their value to the ecosystem‚” Blankenship says. “We’re also writing grants so that we can give presentations to the schools in the area for a nominal or no fee.”

There are 54 animals at the sanctuary now‚ including a litter of gray wolf pups destined for Arizona once they’re grown. The pups‚ like most of the animals at Wolf Haven‚ can’t be acclimated to humans if they are to be released into the wild‚ Blankenship says.

There are tours available of the facility‚ however‚ in which visitors may view animals that were raised domestically and therefore can interact with humans.

“We’re really excited about the education pro­grams – that’s where I think we can have the biggest impact‚” Blankenship says.

Story by Joe Morris

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