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| Welcome to a potpourri page of "special interest" subjects and opinion.....a little bit of something for everyone along the lines of wildlife (especially wolves), conservation and the environment, global warming, etc....all ultimately, in one way or another, affecting us all. Keep scrolling down...you're bound to find something that appeals to you. Either you will want to learn more, agree with a topic, or debate an issue.  There is an archives found by scrolling down, as well as current, active topic or "hot issues." Here is a great link to where Susan Kline volunteers when she is not working with her Parkinson's Family...and even at the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary she always is giving a PD talk. Click HERE ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************ Click Piyip Gets Close and Personal to see a short, short video about Piyip...the last of the Sawtooth Pack that yours truly had the privilege of spending time with as a volunteer at the Wolf Education and Research Center in Idaho. ********************************************************************* Click here for some fascinating videos. Scroll down the page to see the selections to view. ********************************************************************* And then there is Outrageous! When the weather breaks – Some bad weather passing through Idaho may be the only thing keeping 50 wolves alive in the Lolo zone of Clearwater National Forest. Idaho Fish and Game officials have said the state is ready to move forward with plans to remove up to two-thirds of the wolves in the area by aerial gunning, just as soon as the weather improves. The aerial gunning plan was approved by the Idaho Fish and Game Commission at its December meeting and will be carried out by federal agents with Wildlife Services, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hunters and trappers have already killed at least 260 wolves so far this season, yet the state is still targeting more wolves in order to boost elk numbers for hunters. We’re pushing the state to abandon this unwarranted and unscientific wolf-killing plan. We’re also calling on the Obama administration to reform Wildlife Services and stop wasting precious tax dollars to artificially boost game populations. American taxpayers shouldn’t be asked to subsidize hunters. It’s time for Idaho to start managing wolves responsibly as they manage other wildlife instead of trying to kill as many wolves as possible. Crossing a line – Defenders isn’t the only group expressing concerns over Montana’s proposal to extend the wolf hunt in the Bitterroot Valley until April 1. Two members of the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission voted against the proposal. Commissioner Ron Moody has taken it a step further by openly criticizing the proposal, which he says would cross the line of ethical fair-chase hunting. Hunters aren’t typically allowed to shoot animals during their reproductive season when pregnant mothers are relatively defenseless. He also points out that wolves are just one of many factors that have reduced the size of the elk herd in the Bitterroot. He says bad winters, over-harvest of cow elk in prior years, others predators and habitat fragmentation have all Gibbon pack in Yellowstone. Photo courtesy of U.S. National Park Service. conspired against elk. “You can’t single out the wolf, and say, well, we’ll eradicate the wolves and that will fix the problem,” he said. “If you eradicate the wolves, you’d probably have one less excuse for what the real problems are.” Listen to a feature interview with Moody on Montana Public Radio (jump to the 9-minute mark): In a column titled “Hatred of predators reaches ridiculous fervor,” Nick Gevock at the Montana Standard also laments the kill-all-the-wolves mentality en vogue across much of Montana. He writes: “Do wolves, bears, mountain lions and other predators kill game? Of course they do, and they should be managed to sustain and yet control their populations using sound science, not hysteria.
In the early 20th century, we tried predator control as a cure-all to boost game numbers. It failed, because it didn’t take into account the myriad of factors that go into sustaining healthy wildlife numbers.” “The Grey” area between fact and fiction – Though we’re still hoping “The Grey” will flop at the box office, the movie continues to garner attention for its sensational (and violent) portrayal of wolves. Our wolf expert Suzanne Stone explained to Greenwire why even fictional tales can do wolves a disservice: “This kind of misrepresentation of the nature of wolves leads to a lot of confusion and fear of the species, which can drive their politics and management… Movies like ‘The Grey’ are fueling anti-wolf sentiments in popular culture at a crucial time for wolf recovery.” Case in point: in the same article, Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) perpetuates the ridiculous myth that wolves eat children. That’s just the kind of irrational fear that anti-wolf extremists are only too eager to spread. Now “The Grey” is making their job easier. Wolf Weekly Wrap-up John Motsinger | Posted on 27 January 2012 | **********************************************************************Lone wolf entering California marks historic conservation success WASHINGTON (Dec. 30, 2011) – A lone dispersing wolf from Oregon, known as OR7, has crossed the border into northern California. The following is a statement from Jamie Rappaport Clark, president of Defenders of Wildlife: “I can’t think of a better way to ring in the New Year than celebrating this incredible conservation success. The return of the gray wolf to California represents more than two decades of hard work by wildlife advocates and state and federal wildlife managers to bring this magnificent animal back from the brink of extinction. We also owe our thanks to the millions of Americans who gave their support along the way. However, there is much more work to be done to ensure that breeding packs can become established and accepted as part of California’s natural heritage. Defenders of Wildlife has been honored to help turn the dream of wolf recovery into a reality. Now, we stand ready to help the people of California learn how to safely coexist with wolves in this important part of their historic range.” Learn more about OR7 from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Media Contacts:
Mark Stopher, DFG Executive Office, (530) 225-2275
Jordan Traverso, DFG Communications, (916) 654-9937 The gray wolf that was wandering in southern Oregon has crossed the California border. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) this animal is a 2 ½ year old male formerly from a pack in northeast Oregon. Since the animal has been collared with a Global Positioning System (GPS) device that periodically transmits its location, biologists have been able to document its travels since it was collared in February 2011. Based on the GPS data, he is now more than 300 miles from where his journey began. His journey, in total, has been more than twice that far with many changes in direction. Several times he has reversed direction and returned to previous locations. Today, the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) learned that this wolf, designated OR7, crossed the state line into northern Siskiyou County yesterday. Tracking data puts his most recent location as a few miles south of the Oregon border. It is not possible to predict his next movements which could include a return to Oregon.DFG continues to collaborate with ODFW and expects to receive daily location data. This information is transmitted daily when atmospheric conditions permit. DFG will be sharing only general location information as this wolf, while in California, is protected as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. “Whether one is for it or against it, the entry of this lone wolf into California is an historic event and result of much work by the wildlife agencies in the West,” said DFG Director Charlton H. Bonham. “If the gray wolf does establish a population in California, there will be much more work to do here.” Read a press release from California Department of Fish and Game See what Defenders is doing to pave the way for wolf recovery across the West Get weekly wolf news on Defenders blog John Motsinger Posted on 30 December 2011 Some more background for additional details for the wolf-minded reader..... Will cry of the wolf return to California?A lone gray wolf in the prime of his life roams 730 miles to seek a mate and a new home, crossing nearly the entire state of Oregon in two months.He skirts small towns, crosses numerous highways, surmounts the Cascade mountain range and pauses just 30 miles from California.It sounds like the stuff of legend. But this journey is very real, and it holds huge implications for California. If the wolf, known to Oregon officials as OR7, resumes its southbound trek it will make history as the first wild wolf confirmed in California in nearly 90 years.The wanderings of OR7 are already stirring excitement, not to mention controversy. "It's actually a reason to celebrate," said Suzanne Asha Stone, Northern Rockies representative for the group Defenders of Wildlife, which led the charge to reintroduce wolves to the West. "I didn't think I'd see it in my lifetime." Cattle and sheep ranchers in the state's northern counties are not among the celebrants. Some are watching OR7's travels with dread. "We definitely have concerns," said Jack Hanson, a cattle rancher near Susanville and treasurer of the California Cattlemen's Association. "I'm hesitant to say I see a clear road and things will go well." The California Department of Fish and Game, for more than a year, has quietly worked on a plan to prepare for the eventual return of wolves. It expects to release the plan in January. "There's a very high probability, in the next few years, that a wolf will enter California," said Mark Stopher, who oversees the plan as a special assistant to the Fish and Game director.The wanderings of OR7 bring the urgency to a higher level," Stopher said. "He could be in Yreka in two days if he wanted to be." Perhaps no other wild animal carries as much baggage as the wolf.Centuries of human storytelling have portrayed the wolf as a conniving predator that targets people, from "Little Red Riding Hood" to a new movie coming in January, "The Grey," in which wolves hunt plane crash survivors. Biologists say such stories are a gross distortion. There are only two cases in the past century of wolves killing people in North America, and even these are disputed. Death by grizzly bear, mountain lion – even deer, elk and moose – is far more common. "Unfortunately, with wolves it seems many people can't distinguish between mythology and fact," Stone said. Reintroduced wolves thriving Wolves were eradicated across the West in the early 1900s by hunters and trappers who saw them as a threat to livestock. The last wild wolf documented in California was killed by a trapper in 1924 in Trinity County. It had only three legs, having escaped a previous trapping attempt. More recent thinking has revealed the important place of the wolf in Western ecosystems. Because they tend to prey on the weakest member of a deer or elk herd, for instance, wolves help keep those species stronger. They are also known to harass coyotes, which have become a significant pest in some rural areas. The 1995 reintroduction of wolves to the Northern Rockies, led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, remains one of the most controversial undertakings in the history of the Endangered Species Act. The service transplanted 66 wolves from Canada to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho wilderness areas. Ranchers feared cattle and sheep losses. Hunters worried that populations of elk, important prey for wolves, would be suppressed. Fifteen years later, the transplants have grown to a population estimated at 1,651 wolves across six states. The population is so strong that wolves were removed from the endangered species list in most of their western range in October. Elk numbers have not been significantly harmed. Data from Idaho, Montana and Wyoming indicate larger herds overall than before the wolf returned. The distribution of some herds has changed, but the states report hunters have equal or greater success harvesting elk. Mike Ford, Northern California representative of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, said the local situation is a bit different. California has one of the smallest elk populations in the West, and the species has been slow to recolonize much of its former habitat. "Adding a predator is going to potentially slow us down," Ford said. "It's going to potentially extirpate elk from places in California again." Livestock ranchers are similarly concerned. According to federal data, wolves killed 4,588 cattle and sheep across the Northern Rockies from 1995 through 2010. Those losses are small relative to the livestock inventory in those states, which totals millions of animals. Environmental groups agree that even small losses can harm a family livestock business. Stone's group created a fund to reimburse ranchers for their losses. Payments average $1,000 per animal and totaled $450,000 last year. "It's probably a good part of the equation, but it wouldn't ease my mind, to be honest with you," Hanson said of such reimbursements. "There is obviously going to be some financial pain." Through 2010 in the Northern Rockies, 1,517 wolves were killed because they made a habit of feeding on livestock; the killing is allowed under the wolf reintroduction program. Hanson said this option would be necessary in California. Finding mate, food key issues OR7 is a direct descendant of the reintroduction effort, and his origins hold both promise and peril to people watching his movements. He was born two years ago in the Imnaha pack, which lives in Oregon's northeast corner. His mother is B-300, the first wolf to return to Oregon when she migrated from Idaho in 2008. His father is OR4, a wolf the state planned to kill this year because it was preying on livestock. That action has been stayed following a lawsuit by environmental groups. OR7 is believed to have participated in livestock killings but was not considered an instigator, said Michelle Dennehy, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, which manages a wolf population in the state that now stands at 24.OR7 wears a GPS collar that records his location daily. After his long journey, he has lingered for the past three weeks in the Siskiyou National Forest east of Medford. "This is the farthest a wolf has ever dispersed in Oregon," Dennehy said. "Like everyone, we're watching and interested to see what this wolf does, because there's just no telling what could happen." Even if this wolf does cross into California, it would likely be more a media event than an ecological shift. OR7 will still need to find a mate. To settle down, he'll want to know there is enough food around. Deer are ample, but California's northern counties have fewer elk than Oregon. And he will want to avoid people and roads, which is tougher in California. Any wolves that enter California would be considered federally endangered, Stopher said. The forthcoming planning document, he said, aims to collect information about wolves, habitat, prey and other issues unique to California. It is not a species management plan. That will come later, he said, if there is a species to manage. In reality, it could be years until California has its own wolf pack. Stopher hunts deer in Idaho every year, which started him thinking that California needs to get ready for wolves of its own. "It's pretty cool to come across wolf tracks in the snow," he said. "It adds an element of wildness that I didn't know was missing before. But it changes everything." mweiser@sacbee.com Published Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 ******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** The amazing disappearing, reappearing wolves of Oregon Wolf numbers in Oregon have fluctuated quite a bit this year, but according to a new map, state wildlife managers now believe at least five distinct groups of wolves comprising four different packs exist today. Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) announced this week that a new pack has been identified along the border with Idaho in the northeast corner of the state. That brings the total number of known wolves in Oregon to at least 23: four in the Imnaha pack, six in the Walla Walla pack, five in the Snake River pack, four in the Wenaha pack, two wolves in northern Umatilla county, and two have dispersed from the Imnaha pack to central Oregon. The official count, however, won’t be determined until the end of the year when ODFW does their survey for the 2011 Northern Rockies annual report. Only packs with at least two adults (one male, one female) and two or more pups are considered “breeding pairs.” The state’s initial goal as outlined in the Oregon wolf management plan is to have four breeding pairs on either side of the Cascade Mountains. If Oregon’s wolves continue to move about the way they have this year, the state may reach their goal sooner rather than later. Depredations remain low across region...So far, so good for most ranchers in the Northern Rockies this year. Most states saw a continued decline in the number of confirmed livestock losses with Montana, Idaho and Wyoming reporting 74, 57 and 38 cattle depredations and 12, 65 and 30 sheep depredations, respectively, for the year. (See the latest Wyoming status report for more detailed information on livestock losses in the past decade.) With millions of cattle and hundreds of thousands of sheep out on the range, wolf related livestock losses remain well below one percent of overall livestock losses. Yet Defenders will continue to work with willing partners in the livestock community to further reduce those losses. Unfortunately, the number of wolves being killed by hunters picked up dramatically this week as general rifle season opened in Montana. The combined total for both Idaho and Montana passed the 100 mark this week, with 83 killed in Idaho and 27 killed in Montana. ****************************************************************************************************************** ARCHIVES:  Geronimo....the most famous Parkinson Ambassador Wolf became Spirit Wolf on March 30, 2010. He was famous in PD circles all over the US and in Europe as well. Many adventures, narrow escapes, and stories of love and survival were a regular feature in his human Susan Kline's former newsletters... where myths about PD and wolves were dispelled. There will be a special commemoration to honor this magnificent wolf at the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in Ramah, New Mexico, late in October. One of Geronimo's greatest fans was Mr. Nathan Slewett, Chairman Emeritus of the National Parkinson Foundation...we lost Mr. Slewett this year also. .jpg) ************************************************************************************************************************* Why wolves? As a reminder from the "About Us" page...educator, Susan Kline, indeed has a couple of passions...one for helping those with Parkinson's disease...and the other to help the widely misunderstood wolf. From that page: ".....she socializes wolves….yes, wolves…. Susan has married the Parkinson community and wolf education efforts in a therapeutic blend to dispel the myths that have branded both groups. The PD patient has related to the misunderstandings and the kinship has been highly successful in building bonds and hope. Keep up to date on the rescues and efforts that are always happening at the Wild Spirt Wolf Sanctuary by clicking here Note: Geronimo's sister, Duchess, lives at the Sanctuary...she is the last of the family members that have been the stars of wolf stories for many of you over the years
WOLF NEWS IS NOT GOOD NEWS LATELY..... Hard news to take when some of us worked so hard out in the mountains in Idaho to make it possible for wolves and humans to get along.....five women, including Susan Kline, managed with peaceful monitoring of the location of the legendary Whitehawk wolf pack with its young, to prevent clashes between sheep herders and the wolves...all part of the first wolf guardian program by Defenders of Wildlife in Idaho's magnificent Sawtooth Mountains. We all got along without tragedy...too bad that successful time had to end. Without protection, sadly...the entire Whitehawk pack would be slaughtered by humans. Five women, however, had managed to give them one more year of life and will always recall that with joy.
********************************************************************************************************************************************************** Just discovered...... Would you like to do something that really counts to help animals, hunger, health issues, the environment...and costs you absolutely nothing? Found the thing for you...and you never have to leave your chair. (You should think about exercise though!). Click here, to see something so simple and so amazingly helpful for those of you who care about making things better. Thanks! ************************************************************************************************************************************************************ ********************************************************************************************************************************************************* WOLVES Photos below are from 2008'sOctober's Howl O Ween event. Some wolves got very happy with goodie stuffed pumpkins for their pleasure. To learn more about this great event, please visit the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary's great Website www.wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org Update: Howl O Ween events 2009, 2010 and 2011 were held each October and were howling successes! ...and when you visit the site, remember to also visit the Updates page for up to the minute Sanctuary news. On the home page you will see a nightshot of luminaries. Each one of several hundred had a wolf paw print cut out on it. Those were done by my mom, Marian Williams. Yes, that's the same gal that use to put all of those Parkinson newsletter mailings together before she left this earth in January '08 at age 92. Well, I couldn't resist dropping in the photo for you!   ............................................................................................................................................................................................. Goodbye Frost
To the shock and despair of the staff and volunteers, we bid a sad farewell to Frost. Frost was one of five pups tha t were born on-site when his mother, Sierra, arrived at the Sanctuary pregnant. While three of his siblings, Teton, Shasta, and Trinity, were left to be raised by their parents, Frost and his brother, Flurry, were brought into our animal care office to be raised by humans. (Susan Kline had the joy of caring for the two through a couple of night shifts that she will always remember and treasure.) We have many fond memories of bottle-raising the boys and watching them grow-up before our eyes; from causing mayhem in the office to splashing in their baby pool. As a teenager, Frost began to mature into a young wolf, but still allowed his current companion, Cheyenne, to take charge. He gained the reputation of being frisky with volunteers, and new visitors could expect a bruised leg or torn sleeve when they entered his enclosure. Still, Frost was a big snuggler and loved to play with his caretakers. He had a special spot in everyone's heart.
Frost's caretaker, Brennan, noticed when he went into his enclosure Sunday morning that Frost was acting a little off. When he walked, he had a slight stiffness to his back legs and seemed more lethargic than usual. I was called into his enclosure to have a look, and after examining Frost for any noticeable injuries and finding none, called in Angel. After watching him experience difficulty keeping his balance, it was immediately decided that he needed to be rushed to the vet's. Angel and I brought Frost to the van and speeded to our vet in Albuquerque. His condition quickly deteriorated, and an hour away from the vet's office, he passed away.
Our shock is only compounded by our confusion of what happened. Frost's family has experienced unexpected deaths and illness in the past - Axel was once rushed to the vet's with symptoms similar to Frost but luckily recovered, while Trinity passed away after sudden symptoms struck her. Our attempts to discover the cause of his death was compromised when a vet tech placed his body in the freezer, destroying clues that might help us. We will be getting a gross necropsy done and still might be able to discover the cause of his death.
We would like to thank everyone that helped support Frost during his life at the Sanctuary. Bill & Jo S., Marie L., Carmen & Randy D., Mark P., Danielle J., and Patricia H. - thank you for helping us to take care of our boy. We will miss you, Frost. Frost's photo from Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary ....................................................................................................................................................... Goodbye Trinity (From the Wild Spirit wolf Sanctuary Report of 11/18)
 To the shock and despair of the volunteers and staff, we have to say goodbye to our little Trinity. She was one of five pups born at the Sanctuary during May of 2007, after their large Arctic family arrived at the Sanctuary. Her brothers, Frost and Flurry, were removed to increase socialization, while Trinity remained with her sister, Shasta, and brother, Teton, in the enclosure with her parents. When she was just three months old, she had her left ear removed by either a neighbor or one of her parents. Just a month after injury, the Mountain Pack family was struck by tragedy. A fungus called cryptococcosis caused Momma Sierra and the son, Teton, to become ill. Teton developed a severe limp during the peak of the illness, but luckily regained complete strength. Sierra, unfortunately, had to be euthanized after the fungus complicated other health issues. Trinity looked as if she was affected as well, but after spending some time is isolation, she appeared fully healthy again, and remained in isolation with her brother, Teton, to keep him company. After the tragedy had passed, the family seemed to have returned back to normal. Out of all her siblings, Trinity was the gentlest and sweetest. She would come over to her caretaker or visitors in her enclosure and sniff them softly, or lick their fingers. She was Daddy's little girl, and she was sometimes able to steal food away from him, a feat none of the other kids could ever accomplish. Mostly, she just kept to herself, and observed happenings from the top of the hill. Throughout most of her life, we always thought something was kind of off about Trinity. Her withdrawn attitude, occasional stiffness and refusal to not eat every now and then made her caretaker worried. After going through several theories (worms, leftover cryptococcosis fungus, etc.), we came to the agreement that perhaps being quiet was just part of her personality, but at the next possible opportunity, we would get some blood-work done. The opportunity presented itself when our vet made the appointment to visit the Sanctuary last Saturday. Unfortunately, that was too late for Trinity. On Wednesday morning, she was found stumbling around her enclosure, drooling excessively from her mouth. We rushed her to the vet, where she was going to stay the night while tests were run. Three hours after we left the vet's office, we received a phone call saying she had passed away. No one wanted to see this little girl die so young. We were determined to find out what killed this poor pup. Later, after an autopsy was performed, the results showed that she died from Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Hypothesized to be a genetic disorder, the heart becomes enlarged, which causes such problems as loss of appetite and diminished energy. It is what inevitably killed her mom, Sierra, after the cryptococcosis shocked her system. Trinity probably had it since she was born, and it was only a matter of time before it took her away. The remaining members of her family are grieving. Her brother and sister look around the enclosure and continually inspect the gates, wondering where she went. Papa Yukon has kept to himself. The staff and volunteers still cannot believe she is gone; we all expect to see her smiling face peeking through the fence every time we walk up there. It pains us to think that this little girl's life has already ended, when she should have had so much more to experience. We thank everyone who supported Trinity through her short time here with us. She enjoyed all of the special enrichment treats she received, and made sure not to share it with her siblings! The only solace we can take is that Trinity is now with her Momma Sierra. We will miss you dearly, Trin-Trin. UPDATE: Papa Wolf Yukon has since passed away unexpectedly.
*************************************************************************************************************************************************************** The Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary.....
Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in New Mexico has been incorporated since 1994, received its 501 (c) 3 IRS status and USDA licensure in 1995 and is now recognized as one of the most experienced sanctuaries for wolves and wolf-dogs in the country. This is where Susan Kline heads for "wolf medicine"...or in other words, for her rejuvenating and re-energizing respite. Care Partners are supposed to re-energize, you know. For some respite may be found in gardening, or walking or swimming....for Susan it's being withher four-legged friends...the wolves.
 
Staff Photo Duchess and Geronimo Photo & Artwork of Geronimo by Susan Kline The Sweet Reunion……..
Several of the animals (at the Sanctuary), because they have been raised in captivity, enjoy attention from the staff and volunteers. The Geriatrics like Hooter and Nakona enjoy some scratches on their head, Oscar has the "paw of death" which he will swing onto an unsuspecting volunteer's back to get their attention, Dakota throws himself up against the fence for lovings when volunteers walk by, and Forest has already met thousands of his people in his short life and has given most of them kisses! On the other hand, there are animals that, even though they have spent their entire life in captivity, have no interest in humans whatsoever. Animals like Spector and Lakota are perfectly content staying near the back of their enclosures when volunteers are around, and Ghengis Khan and Selena appreciate their caretaker leaving them alone. Unfortunately, there are sometimes animals that have conflicting feelings about humans. Hawk, who passed away, was very well socialized when he was a pup, but later was abused and neglected, making him weary of humans. He continually could not make up his mind whether he wanted human attention or not. Two other animals that currently live at the Sanctuary are going through the same thing: Duchess and Geronimo. When younger, they were well socialized by their owner; in fact, Geronimo used to be an ambassador at the wolf center he lived at! However, when they were older, the owner left them at the center. It wasn't until a year later that she picked them back up and brought them to Wild Spirit. Once again, she abandoned them. Duchess and Geronimo went from intense socialization to almost none thanks to their owner leaving them. The two became nervous around humans that led to dangerous behavior. They bit some of the volunteers, including Angel, who was bit on the leg by Geronimo when she entered the enclosure. He was nervous of her in the enclosure, and had to use his teeth to give Angel the message to "Go away!" For about a year and a half, no one entered the enclosure with them in it; instead, Duchess and Geronimo would be led into their subenclosure, allowing the caretaker to wander around the enclosure without them. That was until just last weekend when Susan Kline came to visit. Susan was friends with Duchess and Geronimo's owner, and so has known them since they were pups. When they moved to the Sanctuary, Susan continued to visit the pair and their mother, Princess. Her through-the-fence interaction with the pair was astounding! The two would rub up against the fence and beg for scratches and attention! Each time Susan visited, we contemplated letting her in their enclosure to visit, but their past incidents always had us worried. Finally, during her last visit, we gave her permission to enter inside the enclosure. Safety was still our number one concern, and so a staff member watched from outside the enclosure, while someone else waited further away with an air horn in case trouble arose. Everyone held their breath while Susan entered. Geronimo at first was too preoccupied by his bone to take notice, but eventually, he spotted his favorite person in the enclosure and came over to visit! He held out his leg for scratches and begged for butt rubs! Duchess was too intimidated by the people to come forward, but continued to circle around as if debating if she was brave enough or not. The visit was a huge success, and best of all, no one got hurt. We were happy that Susan was able to visit the kids she missed so much and had a positive experience while doing it. Perhaps Duchess and Geronimo's time at Wild Spirit has eased their nervousness, and we are excited about their future. Goodbye Princess ...an update story from the staff at Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary......
 The month of July has not been good to our animals. We say goodbye to another old lady that passed away last week, Princess. She originally came to the Sanctuary with a staff member who owned Princess and her offspring, Duchess and Geronimo. The staff member has since left the Sanctuary, but the trio remained with us as we accepted responsibility for their permanent care and sanctuary. Princess had a liking for certain people, but for everyone else, she usually remained aloof or a little hostile. She stayed by herself in an enclosure for a while until we received a handsome new male, Axel. Happy with a trophy boyfriend, Princess spent her last months very content. When she felt like it, she would receive attention from a caretaker, otherwise, she would keep to herself in the back of the enclosure. Princess was one of the oldest residents at Wild Spirit, and we were always surprised how spry Princess acted in her old age. She passed away quickly and unexpectedly one afternoon, not showing the usual "last days" signals that most the of animals show. Although her death was quick, we imagine that is how she would have wanted it.
We thank everyone who supported this Golden Girl through her last months living at the Sanctuary. A big thanks to Susan Kline who made sure to swing by often to say hello to Princess, and to Mae Jackson who made sure Princess always felt loved. We will miss you, Momma.
About Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary........ Each of the wolves and wolf-dogs at Wild Spirit are unique in their own way. They've come from all areas of the country, at all different ages, from all different backgrounds. They vary from pure wolves to practically pure dogs. Some love attention, others, because of abuse or simply the shy nature of the wolf, are very timid around their caretakers. Some love tennis balls, some enjoy walks. Some particularly enjoy thievery of human items and some are simply content for some good-old-fashioned fence-fighting with neighbors!
This furry family is why Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary exists. Please visit the great website by clicking on the link below... feel free to look through the pictures and stories within this section of that website to learn more about each resident. Certainly you'll fall in love with each "fur-kid." If someone particulary touches your heart, please consider sponsoring them and helping Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary provide them with the best life possible.
 (Photo to left) May May Ali, daughter of "the Greatest" Muhammad Ali, holds up a happy greeting  to Geronimo from her birthday party held recently in Hollywood (Photo to right) Birthday greetings to Geronimo from Europe on a German Parkinson group's riverboat cruise in The Netherlands and Belgium Of course Movement Disorder Specialist, Dr. Robert M. Hutchman wanted in on the Geronimo Greeting Project .jpg) Please check out more at the link to the Sanctuary...... Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary ...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
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