@shepherdmanswife wanted to visit a Wolf Rescue Centre near the highway, but during a decision making process over 30km she decided that we were running late, and wouldn’t have time. Then she thought we might anyway. But then again the “Walking with Wolves” experience needed pre-booking, and it wasn’t worth just popping in, and so we wouldn’t. Then again maybe we could just go and have a look. We went.
We drove along gorgeous country roads to The Northern Lights Wolf Centre, which was small and very welcoming, housing just eight wolves, all bred in captivity by licenced breeders, but “surplus to requirements”. We had a lively presentation, with wolves prowling around the compound behind the speaker. The original wolves at the centre were bred for the film industry. Nowadays wolves on film are computer generated, and so the more recently acquired wolves were bred to be sold as pets but supply exceeds demand.
The wolves are used to educate the public about the role of the wolf as a key species in their home habitat. Wolves were historically eradicated in Yellowstone Park, and in consequence grazers, such as deer and elk, spent more time in lakeside habitats, now safe from predators. The lakeside habitat was destroyed, the bush habitat, no longer grazed, was uncontrolled, and an entire eco-system changed. Wolves have now been re-introduced. In Canada wolves in mountain areas are protected, but they can still be shot at lower levels.
Satnav directed us back to the Highway via dirt roads, past vivid Fall colours, more yellows than the reds we have seen in New England on a previous trip
See http://365project.org/shepherdmanswife/other-things/2014-09-18 and http://365project.org/shepherdmanswife/more/2014-09-20 for @shepherdmanswife's photos of wolves - better than mine! Maybe I'll add one of mine tomorrow
Were you not allowed to photograph the wolves? I can imagine the discussion you both had and glad that you followed your desire to go. This is a dirt road and gives me a feeling of the territory!
Very cool. Love your commentary. I thought I had read that wolves had been reintroduced to Yellowstone and that other wildlife was thriving because of it?
I guess as long as you see those telephone/electric/whatever wires, you know you're not entirely in the wilderness. Very beautiful lines with a vanishing point.
I don't know why, but my first thought was, "Robert Duvall." The actor. Perhaps it reminded me of a scene in one of his films, although I cannot remember which one. Well done!
This view looks like my childhood, only the road is too flat! Thanks for the shot!