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Summer International Wolf     

Now you can read sections of International Wolf exactly as they appear in our printed magazine. Click on the featured links below to view PDF files of the stories.

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Features

The Poster Wolf
By Bobbie Holaday, photos by George Andrejko
On January 26, 1998, wolf 511 became the first wolf to return to the Southwest under a plan devised by the U.S. government and state agencies. The author tells the story of how 511 came to be known as "the poster wolf" and what happened after her release.

Are Alaska's Current Predator Control Programs Based on Sound Science?
Sound Science Is the Basis for Alaska's Wildlife Management, Cathie Harms
Predator Control Programs Are Not Based on Sound Science, Vic Van Ballenberghe
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) initiated two predator control programs in winter 2004 and three more in winter 2005 to reduce the number of wolves in certain areas to allow moose populations to increase. Two articles present opposing viewpoints about the scientific basis for the design and implementation of ADF&G's predator control programs.


Departments

As a Matter of Fact

    Where did Adolph Murie conduct his primary wolf study?

From the Executive Director

    by Walter Medwid
    The owl left a perfect impression in the fresh snow despite the interlacing highways of rodent trails. The primary feathers of the right wing left a series of graceful streaks, and the roughly triangular shape of the owl's short tail made an especially deep mark. The impression seemed oversized until I surmised that the owl had been intent on throwing its whole body into the capture of the rodent that had attracted its attention. The final evidence of the drama was the delicate row of small red blood spots, like a necklace, near the top of the owl's impressionÑjust where its head should have been. The necklace gave evidence that the owl had been successful in its quest for its prey that night.

International Wolf Center Notes From Home

Tracking the Pack

    Watching the Exhibit Pack Sparks Memories of Earlier Times
    by Lori Schmidt, Wolf Curator, International Wolf Center
    It's an exciting time for the International Wolf Center. Wolf care staff, nannies and volunteers successfully raised Grizzer, Maya and Nyssa, the Center's new pups, in 2004. Their transition into pack life was smooth, and the winter season brought the expected dominance displays between the females. Wolf watchers also saw a change in the dominance of the Center's longestablished arctic wolves. Malik was always considered more dominant until the pups were introduced, but Shadow has clearly taken on the role of disciplinarian and leader of this pack.


Wolves of the World

    WOLVES IN BULGARIA
    Research and Conservation
    Text and photos by Elena Tsingarska-Sedefchev a
    The wolf's eyes tell me so much. They are full of life, full of the wish to roam in the forest and smell every odor. I am happy to have close contact with a wolf named Vucho. He was born in the Varna, Bulgaria, zoo and has been a member of our "pack" since he was 11 days old. The zoo's director kindly consigned him to us for our education project, the Wolf Study and Conservation Program.

    WOLVES IN FINLAND
    Wolf Population on the Rise in Finland
    by Neil Hutt
    Riku Lumiaro's words have the ring of familiarity. In an increasingly crowded world, the survival of wolves and other large carnivores depends largely on the tolerance of humans. But animosity toward wolves is strong in Finland just as it is elsewhere, and the Parliament is besieged with demands by segments of the Finnish population to increase the number of wolves that can be legally killed. Member of Parliament (MP) and World Conservation Union Wolf Specialist Erkki Pulliainen reports that some people in locales along the eastern border of Finland want to take matters into their own hands and decide how many wolves should be officially removed in their area. Pulliainen points out, however, that this is not an option. Finland is a member of the European Union (EU), and EU legislation regarding wildlife conservation takes precedence over Finnish law.

News and Notes

Personal Encounter

    So Close and Yet So Far: An Ellesmere Experience
    Text and photos by Dean Cluff
    The October day unfolded like any other that fall in 2003, but late in the evening I checked my e-mail and saw one from Dave Mech. While that was not unusual, the offer it contained was a pleasant surprise. Dave had asked me to accompany him to Canada's Ellesmere Island in the High Arctic the following summer. I resisted the urge to reply immediately with a resounding "yes," waiting until the next day, so as to not appear overly ecstatic. So began my journey to Ellesmere in July 2004.

Wild Kids

    Wolf Research: So Many Ways to Learn About Wolves
    Anyone can pick up a book and learn about wolves. But how did biologists discover this information in the first place? In this article we will learn about the different tools and methods researchers use to learn about wolves.

A Look Beyond

    Fear Factor
    by Nancy jo Tubbs
    The summer I was 12 my friends and I savored evenings around the campfire telling ghost stories, then walked each other home in the dark and twitched every time a twig snapped nearby. Since then I've known the power of story and imagination to influence what we believe.