So much is lost in translation — that’s why learning from a live animal teaches us more. The tilt of a head, flick of an ear, a silent gaze from a wolf’s eyes; these tell a story that can’t be captured in words.
Most people in our region don’t have access to this kind of education, even though Southern Vermont was historically home to at least one species of wolf, and currently two other types of canids: the fox and the coyote. Regardless, the cultural remnants of human interaction with wolves and other predators is with us every day in books, movies, folktales, art, and music.
Wolfgard Northeast’s education center would provide the public a chance to see wolves, coyotes, and foxes in-person — captive ambassadors for their wild cousins. No matter what the equation, high-impact education is a quintessential factor to seeing keystone predators like wolves return to the Northeast.
Want to help us make a home for ambassador canids? Support us! Volunteer! Share our news with your friends!
As more news on the wolf center develops, there will be opportunities to hear about the project in a number of different forums. Keep an eye out here or on our Facebook page for the latest updates.
Look at some of our Frequently Asked Questions below for more information on this project:
Wolfgard’s education center will be a place where the public can visit and learn about wolves, coyotes, and foxes by seeing them in-person. This is particularly important education; live animals teach in a way that videos, programs, and stories never can. The evidence in this can seen all across the country with the success and impact of organizations that provide live-animal programs. Our education center will house captive wolves, coyotes, and foxes (“canids”). These animals will never be released into the wild, but will instead be “ambassadors” to wild animals, emphasizing the importance of wild canids in our regional ecosystems through education. While the center will be open to the public, it is also the canids’ homes. Their home will be large enough that they can roam and explore, and will not be forced “on display” at any time. Just like any human home, there is a time and place for visitors and also a time and place for rest and privacy. In our design, our initial plans encompass multiple enclosures, a small program building or annex, and a residence for caretakers. We have created four different designs to accommodate whatever location becomes available to us that is also suitable for the ambassador animals. A “canid” is any mammal in the dog family, known as Canidae. Wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals, African wild dogs, and maned wolves are considered “canids,” as they are all a member of this family! Canidae is a diverse family of wild carnivores that spans across the world. Additionally, our faithful companion, the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris), is a member of this family, too. Wolfgard focuses on education surrounding the canids that are either present or native in the Northeast. This includes foxes (gray and red, both native), coyotes (present, but unknown if they are native), and wolves (native but “extirpated,” meaning they are extinct in the Northeast due to human causes). Our goal is to ensure the survival of these species through public education. Wolves are social animals, just like humans. We are planning for a minimum of three ambassador wolves, and have plans to accommodate up to five initially. We may expand to house a few more in the future. Ultimately, we want to house as few wolves as are valuable for education. A wolf’s real home is in the wild, not behind fences. There is an incredible need to rescue captive wolves and wolf-dogs in this country. Far too many people think raising a wolf or wolf-dog is “really cool,” only to find out a few months later that it is too much for them to handle. In Vermont, it is legal to own a wolf-dog, but like any animal, properly caring for a wolf-dog requires knowledge, time, space, and a willingness to invest in the creature’s future. There are too many tragic stories that end with a captive wolf or wolf-dog’s death. Initially, Wolfgard’s plan is to house rehabilitated or non-releasable foxes (wild foxes who, for a variety or reasons, can’t be released into the wild). As our plans progress, we will work to house larger canids, like coyotes and wolves. While we may have room to accommodate rehabilitated wild animals, our main focus is as an educational organization, not a rescue center. However, both rescuing and/or rehabilitating wild or captive canines is a valuable and important endeavor. As we grow, we certainly won’t rule out the possibility. At this time, we don’t have plans to rescue wolf-dogs. However, if you are a wolf-dog owner and are looking for resources to help you properly care for your wolf-dog, Mission:Wolf has an excellent information page here. No. Any wolves in our wolf center will be life-long captive wolves. Despite the lack of wolves in the Northeast, active reintroduction is not necessarily in any of our best interests. There are a number of wolf populations to the west and north of New England that can and do disperse into our region. As of yet, none of these dispersing wolves have established a viable population. Because gray wolves are still endangered here, we think widespread education is one of the best steps towards creating an environment in which wolves can thrive. There are a few excellent wolf centers and organizations in New England. However, in Southern Vermont, there is at least a 3+ hour drive to reach any of them. Similarly, there are extremely few programs that can travel and bring live-wolf, fox, or coyote education to this region in a way that is cost-effective or good for the animals. In order to teach the Northeast about wolves, we need wide-spread education. Southern Vermont is a central location to reach regions where there is both viable wolf habitat and an under-served in education about wolves. Also, Southern Vermont is a beautiful place! It’s blend of wilderness and accessibility makes it perfect for teaching about our ecosystems and the human relationship with natural landscapes.