News, Fall 2000, page 2

Sharing the Spirit

We were recently honored with a visit from Dr. Paul Joslin, a well-known wolf biologist and current Executive Director of the Alaska Wildlife Alliance. The Associate Director of the Alliance, Karen Deatherage was visiting us and brought Paul along with her. Karen came to follow-up on, and visit with, an animal that she had rescued in Alaska that ended up being placed at the Wolf sanctuary (Kiki). They were in Colorado to attend Carnivores 2000, a conference being held in Denver. Wolf was also attending this conference. Wolf had been invited by the Defenders of Wildlife, the sponsors of the conference, to give several programs with the ambassador wolves.

We enjoyed our visit with Paul and Karen and the many stories Paul had to tell about some of his field research on wolves. We were especially touched by his recount of his first sighting of a wolf in the wild and the resulting poem he wrote to express his feelings. Paul explained that he does not consider himself a writer and has never produced any other poems besides this one. We were so touched by his emotions that we wanted to share it with you.

The Howler of the Night

Once when the sun was hot
And beat upon a tattered road where I did walk
Cried I loud as though a wolf did cry upon the night.
And as I stood in the wavering heat
There came back to me a cry so deep
As though a wolf did cry upon the night.
And as I stepped behind a tree
Came again that cry to me
But now so near as if to say
Who goes that dares to howl before the night.
And when at last he saw me there
He turned and left me to my tattered road
And it was he,
The howler of the night.

Paul Joslin

Pigs & Wolves

Earlier this year a small child was bitten by a wolf near his home in Alaska. This report made the news throughout the United States. The main reason was, because if true, this would have been the first documented incident of a healthy wild wolf ever attacking a human in the history of North America. It later turned out that a logging camp had been leaving meat out for the wolf, for over a year, in order to get photos. The boy evidently got between the wolf and a dog and received very minor injuries.

The following article by Alaska State Senator Kim Elton seemed so appropriate as a frame of reference, to combat the irrational fears of many individuals, that we are reprinting it here with permission of the author.

Proponents of wolf control quickly seized on the unfortunate circumstances of a small child attacked by a wolf near Yakutat (Alaska) this week. The attack spawned impassioned pleas for expanded predator control. That may or may not be a good idea.

Not to minimize the trauma suffered by the six-year-old who needed some stitches for puncture wounds, it should be remembered that this one brief treated-and-released incident pales in comparison to the seven deaths and 190 hospitalizations caused by dogs between 1991 and 1997. Cats caused 39 hospitalizations and horses 23. Bears, of course, are involved in numerous incidents with humans, causing five deaths and eighteen hospitalizations between ‘91 and ‘97. In fact the number of hospitalizations caused by wolves (from 1991 to present) now equals the number caused by pigs - one!

Frankly, it seems unseemly that some legislators allege the Governor is responsible for this wolf attack near Yakutat because he resists wolf control in McGrath. That’s like saying legislators are responsible for drunk driving because the majority won’t pass my .08 DWI threshold bill.

Future Events

The Self-Actualization and Enlightenment Center/Journey Books, a nonprofit organization, will be sponsoring the following events with Wolf for the benefit of all sentient beings:

Wolf Ambassador Wolves will visit Journey Books, 6731 W. Colfax Ave., Lakewood, Co., from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM on Jan. 13^th, Feb. 10^th, and Mar. 10^th, 2001. Journey Books will donate 10% of all sales to Wolf A slide show is scheduled for 3:00 PM for a minimum of 5 people. A $5.00 minimum donation is expected.

Reiki Healing at Wolf First degree class is on Saturday, May 5^th. Second Degree Class is Saturday, June 2^nd. Receive instruction, a manual and attunement, a practitioners certificate, and hands on experience with the wolves.

Healing Weekend with wolves/Summer Solstice Celebration at the S.A.E. Centers Mountain Retreat. Sat., June 23^rd & Sun., June 24^th.

Field trip from Journey Books to Wolf, Sat, July 28^th. Includes transportation, tour, and lunch.

Space is limited for the Reiki Healing, Field Trip, and Healing Weekend with Wolves. Call Lorraine May, Reiki Master/Teacher, at (303) 239-0382 for reservations.

Become A Member of Wolf