Progress, because of you
Since 1999, the Wolf Conservation Center has been caring for endangered wolves, participating in species recovery, and educating the public on the importance of wolves to our ecosystems. With nearly 8 million followers, the Center is one of the most prominent conservation organizations in the world and leads the pack in our sector.
Thank you for being a part of this strong community of wolf advocates.
Over the past two years we built momentum by engaging diverse communities, inspiring new advocates for wolf conservation, and nurturing endangered wolf pups back into the wild. The Center has advanced groundbreaking research, revealing hopeful discoveries about the resilience of wolves and their vital role in our ecosystems, while continuing to fight for their protection and survival. I am proud of the growing influence of our expert staff, whose advice and support are increasingly sought by government agencies and non-profits committed to creating a world where wolves can thrive.
In 2022 and 2023 we welcomed guests from all over the world to visit resident wolves, and by highlighting the individuality of every wolf at the WCC and emphasizing their essential role in our environment, we have inspired millions of people to care about and advocate for wolves! I am truly awed by the achievements we’ve accomplished together. I hope these impacts will inspire you to continue to be an active part of our mission by engaging in our social channels, volunteering, advocating, and donating.
Alice Rodd O'Rourke
2022 and 2023 At A Glance
49,469
people educated through our on-site, offsite, and virtual education programs.
86,523
Advocacy actions taken calling on elected officials to support endangered wolf recovery.
17,189
Donors supported wolf recovery with 39,005 individual gifts.
857
Wolf Pass members provided crucial monthly support to the WCC and wolves.
1,818
Participants signed up for Race Like a Wolf, our virtual fitness challenge.
WOLVES, MEET WILD
Every wolf longs for the wild. For over two decades, the WCC has been a critical partner in the Red and Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Programs, releasing adult wolves and fostering pups to the wild.
Six pups and one adult wolf were released to the wild across 2022 and 2023, getting the rare chance to reclaim their ancestral home! On site, the WCC saw 11 pups born between 2022 and 2023, and cared for a total of 31 wolves on campus.
Building a network of educated advocates
The WCC is continually working to expand awareness for and destigmatize wolves.
In 2022 and 2023, we worked to reach communities that have been historically excluded and underrepresented in the conservation space. The WCC offered free programs to local chapters of Outdoor Afro and Latino Outdoors and created new programming for neurodiverse learners. These programs allowed people to immerse themselves in the world of wolves and become more effective and empowered advocates.
In total, wolf advocates took 86,523 actions online in defense of wolves spanning eight action alerts targeting elected officials and wildlife agencies. Advocates demanded better protections for wolves, science-based policies, and an ethical approach to wildlife management.
In 2023, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into a law a bill banning cruel wildlife killing contests – a victory that can be claimed in part by motivated WCC advocates.
Expanding our understanding through research
Established in 2021 but officially named in 2023, WCC’s Integrative Ecology and Coexistence Lab (IECL) continued conducting research that assesses strategies used in carnivore population recovery and studies the unique relationship between wildlife and
their environments.
A highlight was the Gulf Coast Canine Project, which finished its second field season and published a paper. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funded project rediscovered substantial amounts of Red Wolf ancestry in a coastal canid population in the Gulf Coast. High ancestry indicates that Red Wolves may have persisted in the region longer than previously believed and Red Wolf-like canids may still inhabit the region.
Through its innovative research, the WCC continues to uncover critical insights that bring us closer to a future where wolves and humans can coexist in harmony.
In 2022 and 2023, the IECL completed:
- 50 radio-collars purchased for the Red Wolf Recovery Program
- 5 conference presentations
- 6 invited talks
- 3 webinars about WCC research efforts hosted
- 17 peer-reviewed publications
- New research including a study on mate preferences in Red Wolves and a long-term wildlife monitoring project in Westchester County, NY
CARING ON-SITE FOR A WILD FUTURE
The WCC cares for wolves on-site at our campus in South Salem, NY and provides a unique and educational experience for guests of all ages. As part of the WCC’s role in the federal Saving Animals from Extinction (SAFE) recovery programs for the Mexican gray wolf and Red Wolf, the WCC remains one of the largest holding facilities for these rare species.
In 2022 and 2023, the WCC fostered a total of six endangered Mexican gray wolf pups to the wild in New Mexico. These pups were born at the WCC and placed in wild dens to be raised by wild wolves. This method of recovery helps to increase the wild population and add new genetics to the wild.
The WCC also welcomed Ambassador wolf Silas in 2023! The Ambassador wolf program forges a connection between the WCC guests and wolves, helping open the door to understanding wolves and their vital role in ecosystem health.
None of the WCC’s work on-site would be possible without our volunteers! Between 2022 and 2023, WCC volunteers donated 6,500 hours of service to help the WCC complete its mission. Volunteers gave their time to the Animal Care, Education, Grounds & Facilities Maintenance, and Administrative teams, helping make visits to the WCC truly inspirational!
