A return to Wolf Park...

... and it was open this time. Did the tour earlier and now I'm in the parking lot waiting till 7:30 pm when it's howl time. The park has 19 wolves with 9 of them in a main pack. The rest are either by themselves or in 2 and 3 wolf packs. The wolves are not tame but they are human raised as pups and then introduced to the pack. As a result they are not fearful of humans like wild wolves and the park workers and volunteers can pet them and go in the enclosure with the pack. They actually have a program where people can "adopt" a wolf and after taking some classes and being introduced to the pack you get to go in the enclosure and pet your wolf. Some of the wolves like their belly rubbed, some like to play others try to steal things from the people when they are distracted. It was amazing to get as close to the wolves as you do just taking the tour around the park. At times literally just a chain link fence between you and them. The rule is no fingers on the fence though because the wolves get their pills in hotdogs through the fence so they might get confused by your fingers. The park also has a herd of bison and on Sundays they do a program about prey and predator where they actually take 3 or 4 wolves and put them in the bison enclosure(a open 50+ acre field) and you get to watch as the wolves try to hunt a bison. In 20 years they have never gotten more than a mouthful of hair before having one of the bulls get tired of the game and chasing the wolf out of the enclosure. I think it would be neat to stand at a fence and see the interaction of the wolves as they try to seperate a small bison from the herd and the bison defending themselves. Maybe next time I will be here on a Sunday. After howl time I am heading to Indianapolis Airport for the night. I fly out in the morning for a week in Florida. Time for my next orthodontist appointment/visit with friends and family. Should be fun. Going to play some poker of course with my buddies which is always fun. When I fly back next Saturday it is off to North Dakota! Well that is all for now but anybody passing by Battle Ground, Indiana come see the wolves- it is worth the trip. Take care, Jim