Month: April 2017

MYTH: Predators are bad for wildlife. The scientific community agrees that this claim is quite wrong, yet it’s surprisingly pervasive belief in rural Western culture. Misconception such as this can unfortunately cause real harm, as they drive political discourse and policy. FACT: Wolves make prey populations healthier. The preponderance of scientific evidence supports the view…

With 42 specialized teeth for slicing, tearing, and grinding, wolves are supremely well-equipped carnivores. A wolf could make short work of a helpless Easter egg, but Atka, an ambassador Arctic gray wolf, instead takes a slower, perhaps even epicurean, approach when presented with an egg as a treat. Enjoy!

Go on a journey to the frozen north with wildlife photographer Vincent Munier. Spotlighting foxes, wolves, hares, owls, and even a polar bear, these photographs capture the beauty of the Arctic.

Mexican wolf M1i33 with daughter, F1508 (a.k.a. K.B.) Birthdays abound! Wolves are mono-estrus, breeding only once a year during the winter months. So springtime is birthday season! Today we celebrate Mexican gray wolf M1133! In October of 2015, Mexican Gray Wolf M1133 (affectionately nicknamed “Rhett” by the Wolf Conservation Center’s community of webcam watchers) met…

Throw back your head and let out a long celebratory birthday howl for Nikai! Welcome to the terrific twos, kiddo! The Wolf Conservation Center‘s youngest Ambassador has been an inspiration from his adorable start. Within a month of joining the WCC family the little beast huffed, puffed, and hiccupped his way into the hearts and…

  HAILEY, Idaho – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program – which kills thousands of predators across the country annually – announced today it has abandoned use of M-44 cyanide bombs in Idaho in response to a petition filed by 19 conservation and wildlife organizations (including the Wolf Conservation Center ) two weeks…

Last month, an adventurous Mexican gray wolf broke new ground. As a part of ongoing reintroduction effort in Mexico, a family of critically endangered wolves was released in the wild approximately 90 miles south of the international border. Last month, one of the wolves, an adventurous yearling, broke new ground. The 11-month-old female crossed the…

FEBRUARY 26, 2017 — Wolf OR-48 of the Shamrock wolf family was killed on private land in northeast Oregon after an “unintentional take” by the USDA’s Wildlife Services. OR-48 was killed by one of the most lethal tools in Wildlife Services’ arsenal: an M-44 device (a.k.a. “cyanide bomb”) – a spring-loaded metal cylinder baited with…

Vital. Not Vicious. Wolves are a critical keystone species in a healthy ecosystem. A keystone species is often, but not always, a predator – like the wolf. Outnumbered greatly by their prey, predators can control the distribution, population, and behavior of large numbers of prey species. By altering prey movements, browsing patterns, and foraging behavior…