It's not just wolves who face an existential crisis.
Wolves are one of America’s most iconic and important animals. And yet, they have continually been vilified and misunderstood. Even with science and statistics justifying their importance, they continue to be hunted, both legally and illegally, poached, poisoned, and trapped.
If wolves are driven to extinction, we lose more than an American symbol, we lose a keystone species who plays a critical role in creating and maintaining the healthy, balanced ecosystems, which support us all.
If we threaten the survival of wolves, we threaten our own survival.
The Wolf Conservation Center (the Center), located on a nature preserve not far from New York City, is a powerful voice for wolves. With a mission to secure their survival, we are a global leader in advocacy, education, research and recovery of wolves.
Our vision is a world where wolves thrive.
As wolves are ever more threatened, our ability to fight on their behalf is ever more urgent. To that end, we are undertaking the first significant upgrade and expansion to our facilities since our founding more than 25 years ago.
"To stand with wolves is to stand for wildness, balance, and beauty. Their survival is inseparable from our own. By protecting them, we protect something essential in ourselves."
Martha Hunt Handler, Board President
Urgent action is needed to secure the future of wolves.
Red wolves, once common from southeastern Texas to central Pennsylvania, were declared extinct in the wild in 1980. Today there are only 16 wild red wolves residing in North Carolina.
Mexican gray wolves, who once numbered in the thousands across the southwest, were declared extinct in the wild in the 1970’s. Today there is a single population of approximately 286 individuals living in Arizona and New Mexico.
The most common species, the gray wolf, is also at risk. Removed from the endangered list in 2020, they were added back again in 2022 and are now protected in 44 states. Despite this, there are less than 10,000 of them scattered across the contiguous U.S.
A global leader in wolf recovery.
The Wolf Conservation Center, located on a nature preserve just an hour north of New York City, is a powerful voice for wolves. Our breeding and release programs are instrumental to ensuring the survival of the Mexican gray wolf and the red wolf — two of the rarest mammals in North America. In addition to releasing captive pups to the wild, the Center is a leader in research aimed at devising wolf survival strategies, advocacy and education programs that drive awareness and dispel misinformation to change and secure the future of all wolf species. Together with our supporters, we are having an immense impact.
Upgrading our facilities. Expanding our reach. Securing the survival of wolves.
Located in South Salem, just an hour north of New York City, the Center has extraordinary reach and impact. At our 32-acre wilderness campus, visitors encounter wolves face-to-face—many for the first time.
The upgraded facilities will improve the experience for our wolves, visitors, and our team. It will serve as a hub of education, innovation and inspiration for wolf advocates around the world.
Preparing for this expansion for more than a decade, we have purchased adjacent properties, acquired building permits, and raised half of the funds needed to complete the project. Groundbreaking is set for early 2026 and construction will take approximately 14 months.
Education Facility
The centerpiece of the expansion — a new building featuring interactive exhibits, a gift shop, and a multimedia classroom to host large groups for lectures and programming.
Outdoor Amphitheater
Seating for 150 in a beautiful, natural setting just outside the Education Facility, providing a dedicated venue for education and community events.
Ambassador Wolf Enclosure
An enhanced enclosure and visitor platform for Nikai, Silas, and Kinari, our three gray wolf ambassadors, providing a more integrated, natural experience for visitors and wolves alike.
Overnight Accommodations
Our most popular program — sleeping overnight as wolves howl from dusk to dawn — upgraded from seasonal tents to year-round camping huts.
Site Enhancements
An upgraded driveway, expanded parking for 26 vehicles, wheelchair-accessible trails, restrooms, and footpaths connecting the full campus experience.
Animal Care & Staff Facilities
A new climate-controlled animal care building and properly converted staff workspaces, allowing the Center to grow its team and programs.
Join us in leading the pack in wolf conservation.
We invite you to support our capital campaign to expand the Center’s wilderness campus facilities. As our reach and influence grows, so will the preservation of wolves worldwide.
The Center’s mission to advance the survival of wolves by inspiring a global community through education, advocacy, research and recovery, has never been more critically important. For continued success, our world-class programs need a world-class infrastructure. Your donation can help provide that.
By joining our pack through your gift to this capital campaign, you will...
Bring more visitors to the Center, deepening the public’s understanding of and connection to wolves.
Create the wilderness campus our rare and beautiful wolves need and deserve.
Expand the education and research efforts that influence global wolf advocacy and action.
Join us. Together, we can create a world where wolves thrive.
Prominent, meaningful donor recognition will be available throughout the new facilities.