The differences between the Raised By Wolves Research Center

and

The Wolf/Wolf-hybrid Rescue Ranches

 

            Wolf/wolf-hybrid Rescue Ranches (RR) are actually quite different from Raised By Wolves (RBW), but they serve an equally important purpose.  It is a very unhappy reality that wolf/wolf-hybrid RR are desperately needed.  RR provide a safe home for unwanted wolves and wolf-hybrids.  The RR save these animals from severe neglect, abuse, and often literally save their lives. It is extremely unfortunate that these RR are always filled to capacity.  They receive calls every day, and do their best to do all they can for these animals in need of human help.  Sadly, there are just too many animals that require rescue. The main reason that the RR are always full is that most people have no idea what they are getting into when they adopt a wolf-hybrid – the situation is even more difficult when people try to live with pure wolves.  Unprepared for what life is really like living with wolves/wolf-hybrids, most people want to unload their animals after only a brief period of time. The majority of wolves/wolf-hybrids who are adopted as pets are put to sleep before they are 2 years old.

 

How is a visit different?

 

·         Size, Number, and Arrangement of Animals

RR generally have many more animals than we have here at RBW – sometimes there are as many 75 animals living at the RR, so obviously most of these facilities are much bigger than RBW. 

With few exceptions, the animals at RR live in pairs. 

 

·         The Tours

Both the RR and RBW have a set of rules that must be followed while on the premises.

The RR often do several tours a week – sometimes more than one tour a day!  They can accommodate large groups and children.  Sometimes there is a cover charge.

RBW does tours by appointment only, and only for small groups (no more than six).  This is because the presence of strangers (especially if there are many strangers!), tends to create tension and stress in some of our animals.  Many of our animals enjoy meeting new people and making new friends, but this can still result in over-stimulation that can later result in aggression.   As the RBW research is all about studying the natural behavior and patterns of our animals, and because we try to protect our animals from anything external that disturbs or distresses them, we have to limit the frequency and amount of visitors.  This is also the reason our tours are for adults only.  

When RBW does a tour, we follow a set protocol with which our animals are familiar.  A major feature of this protocol is that we go slowly!  The fast pace of the busy civilized world is out of place at RBW.  We respect the natural rhythm of our animals, and they need time to adjust to the presence of new people.  Deviation from our usual operating procedure can be confusing and disturbing to our wolves/wolf-hybrids, so we ask you to be patient, and kindly bear with us.  A complete RBW tour takes about two hours.

There is no cover charge for a RBW tour.

 

·         The “Tour Talks”

The content of the RBW “tour talk” is quite different from the RR “tour talk”.

Every animal at the RR has a heartbreaking history, and guests must be prepared to hear some very sad stories.  For the animals that have a home at the RR, their tale has avoided a tragic ending.  Seeing the beautiful wolves and wolf-hybrids at the RR and hearing their stories, helps people to understand just how dire the situation is for so many of these wonderful animals.

Some of the members of the RBW community have also escaped a tragic life and death by a very small margin, with unspeakably horrific past experiences with people.  However, many of our animals had tremendously happy puppy-hoods and have enjoyed a trauma-free life. 

      On the tour talk, the RR present the usual “ranking-ladder” hierarchy model to explain basic pack dynamics.  At RBW we use the new alternative complexity model when discussing pack hierarchy and pack dynamics. In this model, the terms “higher ranking” or “lower ranking” are not applicable.  When we introduce the new model, we also cover the traditional model (including the historical aspects of where it came from), pointing out the fundamentals of both, and the conceptual, theoretical differences.

 

·         Ambassador Animals

Frequently, RR have “ambassador animals” – these are wolves/wolf-hybrids who are taken out into the community (schools, street fairs, etc.) as representatives to try to help educate the public about wolves and wolf-hybrids, and also to raise funds for their facility.

The RBW ambassador animals never leave home – people come to them.

 

                  

  The Angels –Nightingale & Gossamer                    The Amigos –Miracle & DayDream

 

                       

     The Underworld –Chaco & Elwood                         The House pack –Beau-Beau & Chakra

 

·         Direct Interaction with the Animals

      Rarely do the RR allow people in with any of the animals.

There are four pairs of wolf-hybrids at RBW who are extremely “people friendly” – these are our ambassadors.  After a brief review of proper etiquette, protocol, and rules to follow, under the supervision of a RBW staff member, guests of RBW are welcome to go into these enclosures and experience direct interaction with our amiable ambassadors.

We also have a pack of four pure wolves that, on occasion, guests may go in with.  These wolves present absolutely no threat or danger to people.  However, all four of these wolves came to us badly traumatized by human treatment, and they sometimes become extremely nervous when strangers are around.  Whether or not guests may go in with them is completely dependent on the mood of the wolves.  If they are relaxed, calm, and curious, guests are invited to enter the wolves’ enclosure.  If the wolves are restless and tense, we cannot permit people to go in with them. At RBW the needs of the animals always outweigh the desires of the humans.

It is important for RBW guests to understand that the animals at RBW are not tame or trained or under our control.  They have never been taught tricks or to obey commands, and therefore do not respond to “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, “Down”, etc.

Because the RBW animals are so gentle and friendly, people sometimes mistakenly think they are “tame”.  This is not correct.  Technically, the word “tame” means: to deprive of spirit –so this is not a word that applies to any of the RBW animals!

People can enter the ambassador enclosures and interact with the RBW animals not because these animals are “tame”, but because normal, healthy wolves/wolf-hybrids are naturally social creatures.  And, humans and wolves are two species that have an intrinsic compatibility when it comes to play!

One primary difference between a domesticated animal and a wild animal is that domesticated animals have been bred (for countless generations) to be dependent on humans and to be under human control.  Wild animals are independent and are not under human control.  An animal that is wild is not necessarily an animal that is dangerous.

 

The Gubbios –Pandora & Darwin                        Mystic                                                 Merlyn

 

·         The visitor centers

The RR often have a large visitor center with gift shops where guests can purchase a wide assortment of wonderful “wolf souvenirs”.  The RBW visitor center is a modest sized room (with a southwest & “wolves” decor, of course) with a display table of our literature.  Our guests are invited to look at the many RBW photo albums, and browse through the material on our display table.  This visitor center is also where our guests meet “the House pack” – two very gregarious, people-lovin’ wolf-hybrids.

       

      Guests visit the RBW Visitor Center and meet the House pack.