CALL OF THE WILD

I have only had the privileged of a few incredible wolf sightings. Each of these were staged at my home in Arrowhead, Cimarron, Colorado. The first was with my 9 month old Great Pyrenees, Lavina, who was in heat. They circled the house for days. With 5’of snow, the roads closed for winter, and snowmobiling with Lavina to the parking lot, our exit was tricky and memorable. Speeding out with them trailing behind us. These were brown with some black and white trimmings. My second sighting was in a blizzard in mid-winter. Living in a glass house, they seemed like a vision suddenly appearing out of the circular falling snow. Two silver tipped wolves as big as my Great Pyrenees, perfectly camouflaged by the mountain environment slowly came into view. Their thick fur glistened with silver tips, blending perfectly into mountain surrounding. I later heard that 25 wolves had been released on the Colorado Western slope. Due to illegal shootings, mountain lions and cars, it is estimated that only 14 are estimated to have survived. Somehow an Alpha pair migrated into Arrowhead, our incredible high mountain environment.
In the 1940’s wolves completely vanished from Colorado. With natural migration, a pack was found in 2021. 30-40 wolves have been released to date. Four packs were established by 2025. A federal block preventing wolves to be reintroduced from Canada has stopped the releases. A new source has yet to be found.
Wolves are often referred to as Eco Engineers. They select only the weakest for prey promoting survival of the fittest. During hard winters, scavengers rely on wolf leftovers. They prevent overgrazing by some of their prey. They keep close knit families with shared parenting of new pups. Wolf pups are born blind and deaf. The Alpha partners are intelligent and social. They are loyal and care for the pack as one unit. They care for their sick and elderly. Complex body language and vocal communication are not only for teaching hunting and survival skills, but often affectionate play. The loss of a mate or family member are mourned. There is so much we as humans can learn from the wolves. Stores like “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Peter and the Wolf” have created false pictures of the great asset and gentle nature of the wolf.