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Questions and Answer
Period
1) Q: How did you get involved with wolves? :
My
introduction to handling wild zoo babies started as a young child for me, I was given opportunities to bottle-feed lions,
tigers and bears oh MY! I was a VERY shy introverted child, animals both domestic and wild fascinated me! I felt a great
bond and kinship with all living things great and small from pet frogs and ants to dogs and cats. My journeys on a daily
basis were magical, and I could not wait to get home from school to venture out on my trusty bicycle, to see what new and
exciting wonders I could discover for that day. This was a world I did not fear.
My world would collide as a teen with
a wolf called Farley, he was a captive wolf in horrible conditions, but I was not licensed for such wildlife. I would take
the long hours necessary, and drive to visit him, all along thinking of ways to rescue him from this fate worse than
death, this was no well organized zoo where the welfare of the animals took priority. He was housed in a cage*
10 by 15* had a mesh roof and the floor was caging /mesh material. Everytime I got home after a visit I would write
notes of my shared time with him.
This started
me on my quest to get licensed, unfortunately this owner put him on the selling block to the highest bidder, being so
young we went as high as we could, and we thought we had actually bid his freedom, but to no avail, he was sold last minute
to some inadequate private zoo, and I never saw him again.
My love and respect of wolves was no more, nor less than my love and respect of say gorillas or dolphins,
in fact as a youngster I desired greatly to work with gorillas and dolphins both . I still do. Who knows
maybe someday, the world does work in amazing ways, and anything becomes possible once we open ourselves up to it's gifts.
I wanted to either become a Zookeeper, Veterinarian, Conservation officer, or a Wildlife biologist. I attained licensing
while still a teen. When I started to work at the local large public zoo as a young girl, bringing various wild animals like
a python and hawk around the k-12 school system giving educational talks, on not only the biology of the animal involved,
but habitat. I knew I had found my calling.
My education, as part of being a director of an ever expanding facility is on going however, and I am
a proud member of The Wildlife Rehabilitation Society Of Saskatchewan where I am working towards my official certification
as a wildlife rehabber in 08'.
| Skylar and Legend |
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2) Q: Why do you have wolves in captivity? Are they your pets?
This is another frequent question
posed of me. First off no wild animals would be necessary to really have in captivity unless they were orphaned/needed
rehabilitation. But the facts are habitat is being destroyed at an all time high, various wild species around the world
are losing their homes. Some species your children will never get to see in their lifetime, nor will some even care that
much because they have never seen, nor learned about the animal to care.
Zoos/Educational facilities came about to create awareness, and
help educate the public on the amazing disappearing wild wonders out there, and what better way to help get something
protected, than to allow people to see up close and in person the animals themselves. What people make a more personal
connection with , they help to save and put forth extra energy to do so. However this is why you simply do not want
the public to view a wild animal in a cage, devoid of enrichment and stimulation in it's life, (such as Farleys story) you
want visitors to learn about, and connect with the NATURAL wild habitats and environment that surrounds them, for it
is THERE where truly such wild animals can be saved (land protection.)
It does no good to simply say we are saving any animal
in the wild by simply holding it in captivity, and breeding it to simply be placed in other holding facilities if
such animals are not actually being saved in the wild, and their wild homes protected *first and formost.*
We must not forget all the smaller things that hold up the larger things
such as wetlands that support frogs and fish. The first sign of wild land in crisis is the lack
of frogs. Though in Canada wolves are not considered endangered *yet*, (although CDN Arctic wolves could
be classified as At Certain Risk) they are highly misunderstood, and so many myths surround this much needed predator of the
eco system.
Many people may never even hear a wild wolf howl, some may never
care to. But there are some who will benefit from getting to meet a wolf in person, it will allow a
break through of the mythical and unjust portrayal of what wolves are truly all about.
What one understands, they no longer fear.
What one no longer fears, one no longer hates.
What one no longer hates, they no longer wish to exterminate.
As far as the wolves being my pets , no... we
do not treat any of the *wolves* that reside here as *pets,* the way you treat your dog as a pet. The
wolves that reside at AWA are raised from the time they were but days of age, (except for any adult rescues that may come
in) I am a part of their family, and consider myself a friend, a steward. I personally never lose sight of
who they are, but neither do I lose sight of who or what any individual creature is, including all the human animals I meet.
I also know someday there will come a time where I will no longer hear *their* songs right outside my door, where I will
grow old, be sitting in a rocking chair hoping to catch a glimpse or hear a wild song to remind me of my past journeys,
whispering to myself what a ride.
| Sky on Mountain Bike at AWA |
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3) Q: Is it hard to work with wolves?
Yes and No. Emotionally it can be at times when
dealing with prejudice and bias all around, AWA resides in an area where people are very much against wolves. They
do not understand the animals thus they have fear and hatred. Maybe I am supposed to be living in the area I do for
a reason, I don't know. I get a lot of ignorant based questions and I have to remain calm and professional in the face of
such ignorance. Even many Conservation officers completely misunderstand these animals. If you treat any animal
like it is a dangerous wild animal it will act appropriately.
Though I am not ignorant to a wolf's potential and capabilities,
I also understand wild canid ethology and respect these animals at all time. As far as physically it
does take a LOT of physical work to build habitats, shelters, enrichment, clean the habitats on a daily basis make sure they
have clean and enough water at all times, and that they are happy. Financially it is extremely expensive, thousands have been
spent with nothing that has come in to support the work we have done. Its all come out of pocket. I am hoping that one
day this will change and enough donations will come in to cover the outreach , feed, habitat enrichment and building costs.
Volunteers are very important to our work!
| Skylar and Tibet |
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4) Q: Why do you like wolves?
I treasure and value all life, not just
wolves. Wolves are an independant creature like humans, whom form bonds and create families. I do love wolves specifically
to answer your question directly, because they have taught me the art of patience, and respect. They have pushed me to understand
canids in a way, and to see into a world I never saw just dealing with domestic dogs. I have had to earn their
respect and trust. They are an animal that portray the true wild within us all, and they have allowed me to reach deep within
my own psyche and pull that untamed person to the light of day where she once hid in the shadows. They have been some of my
greatest teachers about myself and about others, they have allowed me to bear witness to hatred, prejudice, and misunderstanding,
thus I thoroughly understand this when I see it in every day life, when another human being treats another badly because
they are different, and misunderstood. They have helped to connect me with my inner music, and they have allowed me to touch
my own soul. I will be forever grateful.
5) Q: Wolves sound amazing can I have one as a pet?
Just because an animal may be amazing does not
make them pet material. Wolves regardless of being handraised, retain all their wild tendencies that made them what they are
*predators* and still wild. Not to mention they are illegal to have as *pets*, and illegal to hold
period unless the person/facility is licensed and have the right type of containment and experience /understanding
to work with such a complex intelligent creature. If you really love wolves go to my section how to help it gives a list of things you can do to help wild wolves out. (If) you are passionate about working *with* wild
animals including wolves, then please go to the section Animal Careers on this site. My own goals and intent in getting involved with wildlife started very young and I never wanted a *pet* tiger
or *wolf*. My goal all along has been based on education, and environmental preservation.
6) Q: What do you get out of doing this?
(Insert
laughter here)...Well the only thing I get out of doing what I am doing as you state ;0) , ( *educating* about an animal
that evokes so many different reactions and feelings, to the point I have had some people scream at me in hatred due to working
with these guys, and ignorant remarks such as one day they'll eat you) is knowing that perhaps those children
who are left with a positive experience will grow up have children of their own and pass on that information.
7) What do you envision for the future?
I *personally* am a simple person that takes
my life by the moment and by the day. However as the director of AWA, the professional outlook is continuing to
grow AWA's programs and experiences.
I believe I am guided by unseen hands, and I walk in the direction I am meant. It all takes a
huge financial/emotional commitment and dedication and that road has been extremely long and tiring. On another side note;
I am heavily involved in the spiritual side to my life. I have studied under the ways of Buddhism for a number
of years now, and hope someday a spiritual retreat can be built on the land for those wishing to just get away to an
inner calm, and center within. Life has brought some amazing friends into my life *Buddhist monks* and other fellow buddhists,
I feel these are definately signs pointing me in the direction my facility should head. Stay tuned to the growth.
8) Q: Your
not a conventional animal behaviorist, what would you say
to any critics?
The work I do is far from
conventional, and no normal person decides to shares his or her life with wolves..
In a day and age where there is so much discord, and disconnection from the self, from our spirit, from
nature and wildlife, to connect it all together into one world has not been easy. I
get some people thinking I must be flat out crazy, but for those
whom have walked away having learned, truly learned something, not only
about wolves… but about themselves, and for those kids I have seen be touched in ways conventional methods could not
reach; I know it’s the right path.
I
encourage youth to become eco warriors! The letters I have received, the phone calls from around the world and all the amazing
people that have graced my life, it’s all due to the roads I have chosen to trek since childhood. My life consists of
so many variables, and it is far from all about wolves. I am a free spirit, and share my world with free spirits.
I don’t journey paths
most trodden, (I know many animal pioneers way before my time went through similar challenges) thus I have experienced
things and will continue to experience things that only a truly open mind, heart, and soul can experience. And let me tell
you its one heck of a thrilling ride. We truly
do not know what is most important
until faced with situations that challenge us as sentient beings. Many
people are caught up in chasing monetary possessions, stuff,
what they can get and what they can possess; so much so they forget to nurture
their soul, the most important of all things.
If tomorrow one were to lose all their stuff what would they have left in this life? Talk
to a person whom has lived or grown up in a war torn area, talk to a concentration camp survivor, and one will truly know
what loss is about, and in the end, you are faced with just what becomes
the most important in this life…Your spirit. Stuff is just stuff, it can be attained again, but lose
your soul, lose your spirit you truly do lose everything.
To any critics, YES
some days I dance with the wolves, sing with the wolves, walk with the wolves, they have been but
one kind of teacher in my life that has helped me to continue to not only think outside the box, but step
on the box. I am constantly challenged in various
ways through my daily interactions with them, and on a daily basis I can walk
away having learned something new.
I am
proud to be non conventional despite some of the pains that has brought into my life off and on through out. But I
take every lesson as a gift; I take the good and not
so good things that occur in
life, and make them a part of the journey and my story.
Does this mean I
lose sight of the kind of animal I work with along with all its natural inherent behaviors?
NO, I am well aware I work with wild animals, but I have worked
hard to combine and apply more than just the scientific and practical
in my dealings with an animal that evokes so many different feelings in people.
I have never been a typical person, nor do I live my life
typically. I don’t wear rose-colored glasses
when it comes to wolves; they are a perfect predator, a perfect creation of what they were made to be …wolves.
But they are also as deserving
as any other sentient being that lives on this miracle planet we call Earth of our respect.
On a daily basis I look in the mirror to assess just WHO I am, how I am evolving and growing within myself.
I feel honored to have captured glimpses and lasting memories of an animal that has shared in my tears, my tragedies, my smiles,
my laughter, and my life. I know from the time I was yee high to a grasshopper,
that I would be combining being an artist, working with youth, and working with wildlife into one world.
Don’t
ever allow anyone, tell you there is any such thing as mission impossible. Life
is about possibilities, and dreams; it is about living whilst alive and dreaming whilst awake.
9) Q: When not working with wolves what other things do
you do?
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