MUZZLE TO MUZZLE.

On the 31st of August 1997, I was given the opportunity of a life time. I was given the chance to meet a pair of timberwolves at a U.K. Wolf Conservation Trust seminar. The morning started with a seminar by Ian Redman, cofounder of Wolf Help called "Savage Freedom... Wolves on the Hunt". After a break for coffee and biccies, Maureen Greeley, Director of Wolf Haven in Seattle, gave a seminar called "Wolves in America... Competition, Conflict and Celebration". Then after lunch, I had the chance I'd been waiting for, to meet the wolves themselves...

A skittish Kodiak. There are two wolves at UK Wolf, a male called Kodiak and a female called Kenai. Normally people are allowed to interact with both wolves in a pen. Unfortunately Kodiak has become rather restless of late and has begun testing people. He does this by growling and seeing if anyone becomes intimidated. If you back away then forget it, Kodiak will have nothing to do with you. But if you stick a hand out, (Admittedly, a hard thing to do to a growling wolf!) then he'll relax and wander over in hopes of a belly scritch.

So during the visit the organizer decided to keep the wolves separate this time. Kodiak was walked in a field (pictured lying down on a chain), while Kenai was kept in the pen. (Pictured walking) This separation made both of the wolves nervous and so they didn't want much to do with everyone. So unfortunately I didn't get to spend as much time with the wolves as I would have liked. But much to my joy, Kenai became more relaxed later in the day. Then, while I was in the pen she came down from the hill, gave me a good sniff over, and allowed me to scritch her. Once her curiosity was satisfied, she wandered back up the hill. Kenai, the wolf I got to scritch.

Timber, an Alaskan Malamute. Along with the two wolves, there was an Alaskan Malamute at the seminar, who was called Timber. And what a charmer he was! I love Huskies, and Timber was no disappointment. He was very affectionate and well behaved, and just too damn cute! I'm hoping to visit them again sometime during the winter. Smaller groups visit during the winter and the show season has just ended, so the wolves will be much more relaxed. Also they're starting to grow their winter coats, so they'll be looking their finest too.