News, Summer 2000, page 1

Errand day, April 26, 2000. I had been to town, which is approximately twenty miles from the rescue. I had been to the grocery store, bank, drug store and post office. I had stopped to have lunch with Gail, a dear friend and volunteer and her friend, Veronica. After lunch we were heading up the mountain to take Veronica, who had never seen a wolf, on a tour of the facility. Driving up the mountain I happened to notice there was smoke rising over one of the hills. We reached the Rist Canyon Fire Station where there is a public phone and we used it to call in the fire. After speaking with the 911 operator we were relieved to learn that the fire crews were already at the fire. What we didn’t know was exactly where the fire was located. The mountainous terrain and winding roads can be confusing.

As we turned off the main canyon road, onto the 2.5 mile access road that leads to the facility, we noticed that the smoke was getting thicker. It still didn’t register exactly where the fire was located. As we pulled up to the house and started unloading the groceries, we began to realize just how close the fire was. All of us made our way up to the house. Frank was on the phone and as we waited for him to finish his call it became apparent that he was speaking with someone connected with the fire department. It felt as if my heart had been jump-started. Now I waited very impatiently, listening to every word of this one-sided conversation, trying to learn what was actually happening. After what seemed like hours, but was actually only minutes, Frank hung up and turned to me. The expression on his face said it all. The Fire Chief had informed Frank that the fire was just slightly over quarter of a mile away and heading in our direction. We were told to prepare to evacuate all 42 animals and ourselves, should it become necessary. Our worst nightmare had just become a reality! Frank and I divided up our emergency call list. Both of us started making calls to all of the volunteers who had said they would be able to help in this type of emergency. We recruited family members and anyone we knew that had a vehicle large enough to haul extra large portable kennels and if necessary, wolves and wolf dogs loose in the back of cars or trucks. Frank contacted Jeff Battle, Director of the Humane Society of Larimer County. Jeff understood the seriousness of the situation and offered the help of kennel workers and the use of four animal control vans. Explaining the need for vehicles and portable kennels to everyone we were able to reach by phone and leaving messages for those we could not, the tension began to mount. Some of the animals that might have to be moved would need to be tranquilized. We contacted our friend Terry Cairns. Although his own home was in danger from the fire, he said he would be there as fast as he could get to us. Terry is an expert in the field of animal capture and has taught me all that I know about the subject. With Terry’s help we would be able to tranquilize the animals twice as fast, saving much needed time.

Meanwhile, another friend and volunteer, Antonio Silva kept bringing us updates from the fire-line. One time the news would be good, the fire-line was holding and the wind had slowed or changed direction. If we were lucky the evacuation might not be necessary. The next time Antonio would bring bad news. The wind had changed direction and was again heading the fire towards the Wolf compound and our home. We all were on an emotional roller coaster. The four-leggeds picked up on the tension as volunteers started arriving. This was more two-leggeds than they had ever seen before and they were being conveyed by more vehicles than had ever been to the rescue.

As people arrived we explained the situation to them and assigned them different tasks. Some were asked to gather the kennels or help locate more. We would need to have all the leashes and collars ready. Blankets had to be rounded up to cushion kennels and in some cases cover the kennels so the animal inside did not become too agitated. Tranquilizer darts needed to be loaded after the proper dosages were calculated. It was necessary for Frank and I to take the time to decide which animals could be moved without tranquilizing them and in what order they needed to leave the compound to prevent any problems with different packs meeting on the way out to waiting vehicles.

We decided to move as many animals as possible without darting them. The darting process is very traumatic for both the animal and the human doing the darting. A miscalculation in dosage or a bad shot can severely injure or kill an animal. We are very fortunate in the fact that most of the animals at Wolf are socialized constantly and have at least two or more people that they trust. Because of their trust we would also be able to hand inject some of the animals causing much less trauma. A large percentage of the animals could be leashed and walked out to the waiting vehicles and taken to safety. We also knew that some of the animals would be very difficult to tranquilize and tensions were mounting. Arrangements had been made with a local boarding kennel for all of the animals, all we had to do was get them there safely.

A few hours had passed since Gail, Veronica and I had brought home the groceries. The groceries still sat on the counter unattended and basically forgotten. A pot roast, started earlier in the day, still cooked on the stove. Volunteers ran in and out of the house doing various things. Every time the phone rang we would all jump thinking it was the fire department telling us to go. Someone made a pot of coffee and we went out on the deck to keep vigil. By this time there were approximately 50 volunteers, all waiting to see if we would need to evacuate or not. You could almost taste the tension as well as smell the smoke. The animals knew that there was a very serious danger present and that it was getting closer. They were becoming more agitated with each passing moment.

Suddenly, as we were standing on the porch, 40 to 60 foot flames shot above the trees directly across from the house. To see those flames so close to the animals’ enclosures and our home forced us into action.

The word was given to all of those who had been waiting. GO! NOW! Volunteers moved, as quickly as possible getting animals in collars and leashes. Others started bringing in the portable kennels. Trucks and cars were moved into place and humane society van doors were opened in preparation to load the animals. It became very hectic, as the house pack was led out of the main compound, clearing the way for other animals in the higher runs. It was just about this time that two firemen came speeding up our road from the direction of the fire. As they approached, you could sense the urgency in their movements. When the taller of the two started to speak, I heard the deep concern for the animals and us. “Ma’am, we’ve lost the line! You have to go, and you have to go now! Get these animals and people out of here!” I explained to them that we were already in the process of loading and moving the animals to the kennel. “Ma’am, you have to promise me that if this fire comes much closer you will get these people out of here because when it comes, it’s going to come fast.” Making this promise, I thanked the two firemen and returned to the compound to continue darting and tranquilizing the animals, determined that every animal would be removed to safety.

Meanwhile, as a vehicle was filled to capacity with frightened animals it was driven up our very bumpy road, taking them to the kennel in Fort Collins and safety. At the kennel, other volunteers were supervising the unloading and actual kenneling of the animals. They provided bedding and water but most importantly, they calmed and comforted the animals, most of which hadn’t been away from the Wolf facility for years.

At the rescue, we were making progress but the Sheriffs’ Department was not allowing anyone to return. The road was blocked and we needed more drugs to finish tranquilizing the remaining animals. Arrangements were made to relay the needed drugs from Rist Canyon Road to the facility. This went very well until we realized that someone, in an effort to save personal belongings of ours, inadvertently loaded the dart gun and the blowpipe in one of the vehicles going to town. Terry, whom had been helping with the darting and tranquilization, believed that all was under control. He had left earlier to check on the status of his own home, which was also in danger from the fire. All of the animals except Whisper and Bear had been moved to safety. Both of these animals were not reacting to the drugs and without tranquilizing them, neither could be moved.

As time went by, and the fire got closer, we were considering our options. It was now dark and flames could be seen over the mountain ridge not more than 500 feet from the facility and our home. We could see trees exploding as the flames reached them and then we received help from Mother Nature and the Great Spirit. The firemen came down the road to tell us that the wind had changed and the fire was going the other way. If it held we would be all right. At the same time we received word that the dart gun had been located and was on its way up the mountain.

As soon as the dart gun was returned, the remaining two animals were tranquilized, loaded and moved. The remaining volunteers grabbed anything they could find, taking it to safety. Driving up the road, away from the facility, we could once again see the flames approaching. The wind had shifted one more time but had allowed us to save the last two animals. We hoped we would not lose the facility and our home but the animals were all safe and that was the most important thing.

Arriving at the kennel, we found three of our volunteers waiting for us. They had come from Fort Collins and Denver to help. These wonderful people, Diane Huber, Lorraine May and Debbie Sannan had kept watch over the animals from the time they started to arrive until we were able to get there. In an effort to make the animals as comfortable as possible, we moved some of them closer to their companions or in some cases in with their companions. This move to the kennel was an extremely traumatic experience for all of the wolves and the next couple of days remained stressful.

Two days after the evacuation, the Sheriff’s department gave us permission to return the animals to the facility. This process was also nerve racking for all involved but it is always wonderful to be going home!

There were over 50 people who came to help with the evacuation. Some of these people closed businesses or left work to get here. They allowed wolves to be loaded into their brand new vehicles, some of which did get damaged by frightened animals chewing tonneau covers or head liners. All of the volunteers worked long and hard to save the lives of 42 magnificent creatures. We can never thank everyone enough but you know who you are and we love you all. Our thanks also to the Humane Society of Larimer County, Mary at the Country Squire Kennel, and all of the people who donated medications for the animals. A special thanks to Terry, North Star Veterinary Clinic, South Mesa Vet Hospital, Animal Emergency Center and City Park Animal Clinic.

Frank and I are very distressed to report that one animal, Cherokee, passed away 24 hours after returning home. The trauma was too much for him and he died of stress. Please see the article on Cherokee in this issue.

Become A Member of Wolf