Wolf Haven International

WOLF HAVENS MISSION IS TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT WOLVES AND THEIR HABITAT. WE RESCUE AND PROVIDE SANCTUARY FOR DISPLACED, CAPTIVE-BORN WOLVES; PROMOTE WOLF RESTORATION IN HISTORICAL RANGES; AND PROVIDE A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ABOUT WILDLIFE.

SANCTUARY: WOLF HAVEN INTERNATIONAL IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED WOLF SANCTUARY THAT HAS RESCUED AND PROVIDED A LIFETIME HOME FOR OVER 300 DISPLACED, CAPTIVE-BORN ANIMALS SINCE 1982 UNDER THE MISSION TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT WOLVES AND THEIR HABITAT. MANY OF THE ANIMALS RELOCATED TO OUR SANCTUARIES COME FROM PRIVATE OWNERSHIP, WHILE OTHERS COME FROM ZOOS, ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS, AND OTHER UNFORTUNATE SITUATIONS. AT WOLF HAVEN, THEY ARE GIVEN EXCEPTIONAL CARE, QUALITY FOOD, A VARIETY OF ENRICHMENT ITEMS, PROGRESSIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT, AND COMPANIONSHIP WITH OTHER WOLVES.OUR SANCTUARY IN TENINO, WASHINGTON HAS ENCLOSURES THAT RANGE FROM 1/3 ACRE TO 2 ACRES WITH AN 8 FENCE, 3 TIP-IN, AND ADDITIONAL BARRIERS UNDERGROUND. THIS DESIGN CONSIDERS THE INCREDIBLE DIGGING INSTINCTS AND JUMPING SKILLS OF WOLVES WHILE ALLOWING THEM SPACE TO FREELY MOVE ABOUT. RESIDENT WOLVES ARE TYPICALLY HOUSED IN MALE-FEMALE PAIRS. ANIMAL CARE SPECIALISTS WALK THROUGH THE SANCTUARY TWICE PER DAY TO VISUALLY CHECK ON THE WOLVES, MONITORING THEIR FOOD INTAKE AND ENSURING THEY ARE HEALTHY. IF THERE IS ANY CONCERN ABOUT AN ANIMALS HEALTH, OUR ATTENDING VETERINARIAN IS CALLED. IF THE ISSUE CANNOT BE TREATED IN-HOUSE, THE WOLF IS CAUGHT UP FOR EXAMINATION OFFSITE. EVERY ANIMAL UNDER OUR CARE IS TREATED WITH COMPASSION, RESPECT, AND DIGNITY FROM THE DAY THEY ARRIVE UNTIL THEIR END OF DAYS.THE WOLVES AT MCCLEERY RANCH, WOLF HAVENS SATELLITE SANCTUARY IN BRIDGER, MONTANA, ARE NO EXCEPTION. THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING IS ALWAYS A PRIORITY, AND THEY RECEIVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND QUALITY OF CARE POSSIBLE. DESCENDANTS OF A LINEAGE OF GREAT PLAINS WOLVES RESCUED FROM EXTIRPATION IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, THE 21 WOLVES AT OUR MONTANA LOCATION LIVE IN 1-ACRE ENCLOSURES AND HAVE HAD MINIMAL HUMAN EXPOSURE THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES (UNLIKE MANY OF THE WOLVES AT OUR WASHINGTON LOCATION). WOLF HAVEN HAS ARRANGED FOR CRYOPRESERVATION TO FULFILL THE MCCLEERY BUFFALO WOLF FOUNDATIONS MISSION OF PRESERVING DNA FROM 1920, AND THE REMAINING WOLVES HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO CONTINUE BREEDING.MCCLEERY RANCH IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC AND WILL BE PROPOSED AS A FUTURE PRE-RELEASE FACILITY IN SUPPORT OF THE MEXICAN WOLF AND RED WOLF RECOVERY PROGRAMS.

CONSERVATION & PRAIRIE RESTORATION: WOLF HAVEN PARTICIPATES IN TWO FEDERALLY MANAGED RECOVERY PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED HEALTH AND SURVIVAL OF TWO ENDANGERED WOLF SPECIES: THE RED WOLF AND THE MEXICAN WOLF. WOLF HAVEN IS A CAPTIVE BREEDING FACILITY FOR BOTH PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS A PRE-RELEASE SITE FOR THE MEXICAN WOLF. PRE-RELEASE ENCLOSURES ARE DESIGNED TO PREPARE THE WOLVES FOR A LIFE IN THE WILD. INTERACTION WITH HUMANS IS KEPT TO A MINIMUM AND MOST OBSERVATIONS ARE DONE VIA REMOTE CAMERA. TEN LITTERS OF MEXICAN WOLF PUPS AND FOUR LITTERS OF RED WOLF PUPS HAVE BEEN BORN AT WOLF HAVEN AS PART OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RECOVERY PROGRAMS. TO DATE, A TOTAL OF 23 WOLVES FROM OUR SANCTUARY HAVE BEEN RELEASED INTO THE WILD: ONE RED WOLF INTO NORTH CAROLINA; TWO PACKS OF MEXICAN WOLVES INTO THE APACHE NATIONAL FOREST IN ARIZONA; AND ONE PACK OF MEXICAN WOLVES INTO MEXICO.IN ADDITION TO OUR WOLF SANCTUARY, WOLF HAVENS ACREAGE INCLUDES 36 ACRES OF RARE MIMA MOUND PRAIRIE, 8 ACRES OF GARRY OAK/CONIFER WOODLANDS, AND 8 ACRES OF WETLANDS RANGES. THIS MOSAIC OF HABITATS MAKES UP THE PATRICK VANCE DUNN MEMORIAL PRAIRIE, WHICH OFFERS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESTORATION AND REINTRODUCTION OF REGIONALLY RARE SPECIES. RESTORATION ACTIVITIES ON OUR PRAIRIE ARE CONDUCTED THROUGH WORKING PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE CENTER FOR NATURAL LANDS MANAGEMENT, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE, WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, USDA NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION SERVICE, U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, AND BLACK HILLS AUDUBON SOCIETY.WOLF HAVENS PRAIRIE HAS SEEN A REMARKABLE RESURGENCE OF NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA. BY REGULARLY REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES, LIKE SCOTCH BROOM, AND CONDUCTING PRESCRIBED PRAIRIE BURNS, MORE THAN 190 PLANT SPECIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. 332 MAZAMA POCKET GOPHERS HAVE BEEN RELOCATED FROM SITES UNDER DEVELOPMENT TO MOUNDS ON OUR PRAIRIE AND 54 KINDS OF BIRDS HAVE BEEN SIGHTED. BAT BOXES ON SITE ARE HEAVILY USED BY NATIVE BAT POPULATIONS. WOLF HAVENS PRAIRIE IS ALSO A PROPOSED REINTRODUCTION SITE FOR THE RARE TAYLORS CHECKERSPOT BUTTERFLY.

EDUCATION: WOLF HAVEN INTERNATIONAL PROVIDES A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS ABOUT WOLVES AND THEIR CRITICAL ROLE IN A HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM, AND ADVOCATES FOR WOLVES IN THE WILD THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND STATE ADVISORY GROUPS. WOLF HAVEN BRIDGES THE EXISTING EDUCATION GAP BY PROVIDING SCIENCE- AND ARTS-BASED PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS GUIDED SANCTUARY AND PRAIRIE WALKS, TO GROUPS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. WE OFFER CLOSE TO 20 IN-PERSON PROGRAMS BOTH ON AND OFF SITE (IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH) IN WASHINGTON, CALIFORNIA, AND OREGON, AND PROVIDE VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AROUND THE WORLD. TOPICS INCLUDE: WOLVES OF THE NORTHWEST, WOLF CAF, WOLF SENSE, WORLD OF WOLVES, AND VANISHING CREATURES.WOLF HAVENS NEWEST EDUCATION TOOL WAS DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITYS COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES EDUCATION AND OUTREACH CENTER (CSU): A HANDS-ON, SELF-LEAD, WOLF-BASED EDUCATION KIT. EXPLORING THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD FROM THE ANGLE OF ECOSYSTEMS AND WOLVES, THESE KITS COVER A LARGE RANGE OF CANID INFORMATION IN A 90-MINUTE SESSION, FACILITATED BY WOLF HAVEN STAFF OR A CLASSROOM TEACHER. STARTING WITH A LITTLE HISTORY ON WOLVES IN NORTH AMERICA, STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT HUNTING, FAMILY BEHAVIOR, COMMUNICATION, ECOSYSTEM ROLES, AND THE VARIETY OF HUMAN PERSPECTIVES ON THESE ANIMALS ALL FROM THE LENS OF A BIOLOGIST. WOLF HAVEN PLANS TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH CSU TO DEVELOP MORE EDUCATIONAL KITS, FOCUSING ON A VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL TOPICS.ALL OF WOLF HAVENS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS MEET NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS (NGSS) AND OFFER A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE THAT RESPECTS DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY. WOLF HAVEN IS ACCREDITED BY THE AMERICAN SANCTUARY ASSOCIATION (ASA) AND IS ONLY WOLF SANCTUARY IN THE WORLD WITH GLOBAL FEDERATION OF ANIMAL SANCTUARIES (GFAS) ACCREDITATION.WOLF HAVEN HOSTS AN ANNUAL THREE-DAY WILDLIFE HANDLING AND CHEMICAL IMMOBILIZATION COURSE FOR PROFESSIONALS WORKING WITH WILDLIFE AND/OR CAPTIVE ANIMALS. THE COURSE IS TAUGHT BY DR. MARK JOHNSON OF GLOBAL WILDLIFE RESOURCES. AS THE FIRST WILDLIFE VETERINARIAN FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND THE FORMER PROJECT VETERINARIAN FOR YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARKS GRAY WOLF REINTRODUCTION, DR. JOHNSON PRESENTS WORLDWIDE ON COMPASSIONATE ANIMAL HANDLING. IN HIS COURSE WITH WOLF HAVEN, STUDENTS LEARN HUMANE METHODS OF ANIMAL HANDLING, CHEMICAL IMMOBILIZATION, MONITORING VITAL SIGNS, AND RADIO COLLARING TECHNIQUES. THE COURSE HAS BEEN OFFERED FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS AND IS THE ONLY PLACE IN THE U.S. THAT OFFERS A HANDS-ON IMMOBILIZATION LAB WITH WOLVES.