06 January, Saturday - More Snow
(this time let’s add some wind) - Ž
OK, the trend was being established, a storm every week. The Sanctuary received another eight inches, WideAwake received about nine and on the 8th, the winds were blowing between 80-100 mph at WideAwake. Charlie’s snow removal equipment (at WideAwake) could no longer move the massive amounts of snow that had fallen or drifted across the access road. In case some of you have missed previous newsletters, WideAwake is the temporary facility we set up for 18 rescued wolves from Wisconsin (in June 2006) and is near Black Hawk, Colorado. You can read about that rescue in our Spring Newsletter.

The walls of snow along the 3 mile access road to WideAwake were now preventing the new or drifting snow from being pushed to the side of the road. We began trying to contract with snow removal companies, but could not afford the $25,000 plus estimates they were giving us.

We needed immediate help as a new storm was on its way and supposed to arrive by Wednesday night. This would take big equipment, probably with tracks. We were also concerned about getting supplies into WideAwake before the entire road was able to be plowed. This we believed could be done with snow mobiles. We needed to get meat in for the animals and remove as much snow from their enclosures before the next storm arrived.

The plea went out in an email, “If anyone has or knows of individuals who might be able to help with the heavy equipment, snow mobiles or might have other ideas, please call.”

09 January, Tuesday
- ‘Rocky Mountain Rescue’ to the Rescue -‘
Our email alert for emergency help brought in a number of responses and we would like to thank everyone who offered their help and concern. The back country search and rescue organization, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, responded to our pleas for snowmobile transport to the wolves. The group assembled Tuesday along with a number of staff and volunteers from Wolf, at the entrance to the access road to WideAwake. Machines were unloaded from trailers, supplies and people were loaded up and the group was off, for the three mile journey to the facility.

Emergency Teams & Supplies Get In
The expertise and compassion of this group was outstanding. They drove through large drifts in the road without a problem and were able to get our volunteers and supplies into the wolves without a hitch. Phase one was well underway. Over 800 lbs. of meat, 12 cases of dog food, animal medications, 8 volunteers, a snow-blower, hand tools for snow removal and the Channel 7 News Reporter and camera were all ferried in without incident.

Thank you to the folks from the Rocky Mountain Rescue Group:
Craig Skeie, John Snyder and Les

If you have a moment, please drop them a note and thank them for an outstanding job (contact@ RockyMountainRescue.org).

The volunteers continued the tasks involved with phase one — getting the wolves and the facility ready for the next storm, which now was scheduled to arrive on Thursday. Animals were fed, excessive amounts of snow around feeders and water buckets was removed and the plans developed on what would have to be accomplished before Thursday. It took two days of solid work to achieve this goal.

Thank you to our dedicated volunteers:
Lou & Ken Dobbs, Jim Mittl, Christina Kuroiwa, John Sackal, Steve Wolfsong, Rich Willard, and Tom Bolton.

Blowing The Road
We were blessed again to receive the help from a wonderful person, John Snyder, who went to work clearing the road to WideAwake. His rates were outstanding and a small fraction of the other quotes we had received. His front-end loader with a blower attachment allowed the snow to be thrown over the top of the piles along the sides of the road. John started at 10 pm on Tuesday and continued through the night until 4 pm on Wednesday. He was able to clear the road well enough for 4x4 vehicle access to return to WideAwake. This dedication was significantly above and beyond. We are extremely grateful for his extreme efforts. Volunteers were again getting into WideAwake and getting the daily chores done. If you would like the contact info for John and his services, please send us an email with your request.

We also purchased a snowmobile in order to allow volunteers to always have access to the facility, no matter what happens to the road.

11 January, Thursday - DOW Meeting - Ž
Although we were unable to attend the meeting, the Commission requested that the DOW get input from the stakeholders before moving forward.

12 January, Friday
- Love Girl Taken To The Hospital
Thursday afternoon one of our wonderful volunteers, Heather, doing chores at WideAwake noticed a rear leg problem with Love Girl. She was knuckling her right foot. She was monitored until Friday when another of our volunteers, who is an MD, showed up for the daily chores and special medications. Her report was not good as the problem seemed to now be affecting both legs.

Love Girl was caught up, kenneled and transported to CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Fort Collins. One of the cofounders met them there and exams were performed. It was originally feared that she might be exhibiting the same symptoms as Jack.  This indeed was NOT the case, however the prognosis wasn’t great either. 

The initial exams indicated that she was suffering from some sort of disc problem that was affecting her ability to walk correctly on her back legs.  This could be caused by some sort of injury or degeneration in the spine, a tumor or embolus from a disc.  Unlike Jack, there does not appear to be any association with heart worm disease. 

Unfortunately, to diagnose exactly what it might be would involve an MRI.  This is fairly invasive and extremely expensive.  It also would not change the determination on what we would choose as a treatment for her.  To fix a permanent injury would require very invasive surgery and the recovery period would be extremely painful and require severe confinement, both of which we believe not to be in the best interests of a wolf.  Likewise if it were some sort of tumor, the best case would require the same sort of invasive procedures and recovery.  If it was a self-resolving injury or embolus, the treatment would be a course of steroids and time to heal.  Instead of putting her through the trauma of an MRI, surgery and difficult recovery, we moved directly to treatment with steroids.  This takes up to 14 days to determine its effectiveness.  We also determined that her best chances for this recovery was going to be with her mate, Bootsy.  Kiley and Chris transported Love Girl back to WideAwake on the 13th. The steroids were already working and there was very little problem with her legs or walking.

13 January, Saturday - More Snow
About four inches at the Sanctuary and three inches at WideAwake.

15 January, Monday -
A Potential Mate for Arkte - •“
An email was received outlining a severe situation where a young male (Lobo) needed placement. He was very protective of his pack mates and had bitten his human caretakers. Vital statistics and photos were requested and received -- it certainly appeared that this boy may be ideal for a sanctuary setting. The caretakers were insistent on how much they loved him, how special he was to them and wanted him to have a wonderful life in an appropriate setting. They would transport him anywhere. They would provide a significant donation for his care, which almost never happens in this business. However, Wolf was already at its county-mandated limits and would have to wait on any commitments. The current caretakers indicated that they could hold onto him for up to eight weeks.

21 January, Sunday - More Snow - Ž
About eight inches at the Sanctuary and four inches at WideAwake.