Bucket List Cross-Off – See a Timber Wolf (Grey Wolf)

 Bucket List Cross-Off – See a Timber Wolf (Grey Wolf)

 

My "Uniform" - Age 6

Anyone who has known me a long time knows of my obsession with Timber Wolves. Growing up I was the weird kid who wore wolf t-shirts whenever I could and did every school project I could possibly do on Wolves. I have a collection of wolf prints (not cheesy ghetto art, realistic nice stuff). I have wanted to see a wolf for at least the last 25 years of my life. I knew seeing them in the wild was most likely not going to happen. Growing up, I begged my parents to send me to the Toronto Zoo with an enrichment class I was in to see the wolves. They scrapped up the money and sent me off.  When we got there, the teacher said we didn’t have time to see the wolves. I was always the good kid, but being this close to the wolves, I had to see them. I attempted to sneak off and run to see them but the ass followed me and prevented me from going. Later, when I was older I returned to the Toronto Zoo and they no longer have Timber Wolves but Arctic Wolves (still amazing to see, but the Timber Wolf remains my favourite.) Earlier this year, I wrote a formal Bucket List and it shouldn’t be a surprise that seeing a Timber Wolf made it to the list.

I was very fortunate to cross this item off my Bucket List; this summer, I was finally able to see a Timber Wolf.

Haliburton Forest is a Conservation area open to the public, within the forest is the Haliburton Wolf Centre. I had read about them on line and our friends told us they had been there previously. As we were at the cottage, about 25 minutes away, my husband and I packed up early Sunday morning to head out to the Wolf Centre. Haliburton Forest gave us breath-taking views as we coasted along. When we arrived at the Wolf Centre about ten minutes after it opened, there were only two other people there. Upon entering, you walk into a gift store to pay for your ticket. It cost us $10 each. (Worth every damned penny!) You proceed to your left and then a quick right and up a slanted walkway into the observation room, a hexagon shaped, glassed viewing area that overlooks the clearing of the enclosure. To the right of the gift shop there was hallway with windows that also look out in to the enclosure; this gives a better view of the wooded area.

 

 

I was hoping to at least catch a glimpse of a wolf; they have a 50-acre enclosure, mostly wooded, so I didn’t know if I would even get to see one. When I walked into the observation room, I actually gasped aloud when I looked out the first window and two wolves were right there enjoying the sun. I didn’t just see those two wolves, but the whole pack, all ten of them. They all made appearances within the 1.5 hours we were there. Even the Omega showed up briefly, which is rare. (He is bullied by the Alpha so he mostly hangs out on his own.) There were three 4-month-old puppies, which were the icing on the cake. I wanted to hug them and squeeze them (We weren’t allowed anywhere near them, but I can dream, no?) They were all so stunning. I had my nose pressed to the glass and may have run back and forth from the observation room to the observation hallway with the social graces of a wild child. The glass was one-way glass so supposedly the wolves can’t see you in an effort to make it as natural as possible for them. However, the Alpha male kept looking up at us; I think he could see a bit of colour through the glass when the sun was just right. 

 

Alpha Male on patrol

 

Pack members

Pack Members

Pack Member

 

Puppy Bums!

Pup

Alpha Male giving puppy kisses to the pups

Alpha Male and Pups

Pack Memeber and Pup

 

 

Omega

My husband humoured me by telling me to take as long as I wanted; he knew I have been waiting most of my life to see them. His thoughts were “They just look like dogs to me.” He cracks me up. It started to get busy so we eventually left. I may have cried a wee bit one when I left, as I am a nerd. (Hey, don't judge.  You look forward to doing something your whole life and see what you do! :P ) I was actually surprised I didn’t cry when I got there but I was in “Aw” the whole time. The Omega, however, made me a wee teary-eyed while I was there. He’s the lowest ranking wolf, eating last, and barely getting to eat at that, as he is the bottom of the totem pole. Such is the circle of life.

I may have taken 133 photos while I was there. Don’t worry, I will just share a few of the better ones.
 

This was one of the greatest experiences of my life.