NOVEMBER 2011 NEWSLETTER

Donate one of the following amounts, and brighten this holiday season for our kids!!!

Holiday Gifts for Wolves, Coyotes and Fox:

$15 - Warm and snuggly bale of straw

$30 - Indestructible wolf toy

$50 - Outrageously entertaining buffalo hides

$75 - Delicious and enriching supplements

$100 - Aromatherapy collection (game animal urine) for wolves

$150 - Shipment of frozen mice-icicles for red and swift fox

$200 - 10 turkeys for a wolf holiday dinner

The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is always in need of monetary donations.THE PERFECT GIFT this holiday season... give your donation in the name of a friend or loved one.

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As Wade and I entered the airport November 13th, we saw arriving passengers greeting family and friends. We were excited because we were welcoming someone home also. As we walked, my mind was busy thinking, “how do I properly greet a retired warrior that I have never met before?”We met Capt Courtney Hemmert, USAF

as she arrived home from her deployment in Kabul, Afghanistan, and now it was time to find that special warrior we had been waiting for.We headed for the baggage claim area looking

for “him”. After a little while, Courtney and Wade motioned me to where they were standing. Carlos, our new son had arrived from Kabul. As Courtney opened the door, he greeted us with big kisses and I started crying as I said, “WELCOME HOME”. Carlos is an 8yr old Labrador that spent a large part of his life as an explosives detection dog protecting our soldiers in Afghanistan and is now retired.The story on how Carlos came to spend his “golden

years” with us has some twists and turns.It all started this past Spring with a story on TV

about retired working dogs being eligible for adoption to civilians and we decided that our next

family member would be a retired Military Working Dog (MWD) or Contract Working Dog (CWD). These dogs didn’t sign up for the job, but willingly work to protect our troop’s everyday and some have been injured or died doing their jobs. In July, I found

a dog pending disposition, but would have to wait several months for him to pass the “adoption suitability tests”. If a handler did not step up for

him, he would be ours. Handlers get priority since they establish very close bonds with these dogs. In October, a handler spoke for him. In September while we were waiting to hear about

the first dog, Wild Blue Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in Black Forest was looking for an adoptive home for

A Very Special Thanksgivingby Ruby Ridpath

Ruby, Capt Courtney Hemmert & Carlos

Thankful...Each month we have featured a different animal in danger of extinction (already on the ES list) or an animal that is scheduled for inclusion to the Endangered Species list. We’ve set up a donation jar in the visitor center and at the end of each month, money collected has been sent to a non-profit ambassador organization....

This month, we want to feature a cause “close to home” - NOT an endangered animal, but a United States HERO in need of medical care...

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a retired working dog named Bady. He had been an explosives detection dog protecting US and coalition forces in Kabul, Afghanistan. Capt Courtney Hemmert, was on deployment to Kabul when she discovered Bady was being retired due to a foot injury, and since Courtney volunteered at Wild Blue, she contacted Lauri Cross, the Director there, to see if they could provide the medical care Bady needed and find him a good home.I contacted Lauri at Wild Blue and expressed an

interest in adopting Bady, however, after weighing out all factors, we decided to wait for the first dog since Bady was guaranteed a great home.In October when I found out that the first dog

had passed his tests and a handler was adopting him, I didn’t give up. I sent an email to Lauri at Wild Blue to let her know that the first dog was adopted by a handler, and that if her volunteer heard of any other retiring working dogs, we were ready, willing and able to provide them a home.That same evening, I received an email

from Courtney telling me that there

was one other dog there that had needed a home for quite awhile since he had been passed over for the Shepherd breeds. When we made the commitment to adopt a retired working dog that had served his country, it wasn’t for a specific breed, and when we saw Carlos’ picture, we were hooked. The Kennel Master there sent me the Adoption Agreement with a note of gratitude for providing a retirement home to a “warrior”. Courtney arranged everything to get Carlos home.

Lt Col Stone and Courtney would be escorting Carlos and another working dog named Narnia on their “freedom flight home”. Lt Col Stone escorted Carlos to Atlanta and Courtney escorted him to his final destination, OUR HOME. We cannot thank Courtney and Lt Col Stone enough for serving our country and caring about the working dogs over there.This Thanksgiving we had something extra to be

thankful for: providing a home to a BIG lovable boy that deserves a great retirement after a job well done.

UPDATE: We have found out that Carlos has cancer. The tumor was removed, and we are waiting to have an ultrasound done to see if the cancer has metastasized. Regardless of the outcome, we will cherish every day we have with him. Additionally, Carlos was diagnosed with a condition called Laryngeal Paralysis that will need to be corrected with a special surgery. We do not regret for one minute giving this warrior a home, and we will do everything we can to ensure that his retirement is filled with love and the best care possible.

Wade, Ruby & Carlos

Retirement is good

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by Katie Geist Until our recent adoption our household included one dog, one cat, and one parakeet. We’ve been a two dog family for over thirty years. Recently we lost our 15 year old lab, Kali. Our two year old wild pup, Masha, was lonely and needing a playmate. Every dog I’ve had has come from a rescue or shelter. They’ve all been such wonderful dogs, mixed breeds, and an important part of our family. So my search for a rescue dog began.

I love labs and lab mixes so I’d been receiving email updates from Safe Harbor Lab Rescue out of Golden, CO for several months. I decided to apply for adoption

and check out their available dogs. Through my emails I learned that they had four little puppies that were in foster care with their mom and would be available at the end of October. The story of how they came to the rescue broke my heart, but made me grateful for the caring people who saved them.

Bella, a beautiful 1 1/2 year old black lab, had a difficult delivery in early September and her owners left her and her four newborns at a vet’s office to be euthanized. How could someone do that! The vet instead saved them all, and contacted Safe Harbor Lab Rescue. Fortunately with good vet care and a loving foster family, Bella and the pups grew strong, healthy and happy. I was able to meet Bella and the pups in the middle of October. They were all so cute, playful, and friendly. Bella was a gentle, loving mom. She let us handle the pups while keeping an eye on them.

We decided to adopt one of the females, a beautiful jet black lab puppy. She’s been with us since November 5 and has been a joy. Her new name is Tuva, a fascinating place I visited on a trip to Siberia four years ago. Tuva loves her daily walks with her new big sister Masha, is learning basic commands, and is sleeping all night in her crate with her stuffed dinosaur. The tremendous job the foster family did in caring for the pups shows in how calm and socialized Tuva is. Her siblings have also been adopted and Bella hopefully will also have a forever home soon.

It’s sometimes shocking to hear how animals are treated by people, even owners who have supposedly taken on the guardian role. Safe Harbor Lab Rescue is a terrific organization to work with. Their love and dedication to saving labs showed in everyone I had contact with. Thank you, Safe Harbor, and all the other caring rescues and shelters, for what you do for animals.

Safe Harbor Lab Rescue • Golden, CO Hotline: 303.464.7777http://www.safeharborlabrescue.org/

Thankful for the animals that share their lives with us

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WHEN TO INTERVENE

“One of the greatest hazards to an entangled animal can be a well-meaning citizen who comes too close,” said Casey Westbrook, district wildlife manager for northeast Elbert County “People should not approach or try to help an entangled animal. Greater injury to the animal or injury to the person may result. Precaution is the preferred tool to problem-solving.”Colorado Parks and Wildlife is often called to remove objects from wildlife. However, it’s important for the public to understand that capturing and handling animals can be very stressful to them and can result in animal mortality.Because of this, Colorado Parks and Wildlife generally does not remove objects from animals unless the object is impeding the animal’s movement, has completely blocked the animal’s vision, or is around the animal’s jaw, neck or chest where constriction will affect survival. In the case of deer and elk with wire or other non-life threatening materials on the antlers, the problem usually comes in mid-winter when antlers are annually shed.However, animals which have become attached to each other because of manmade materials do need assistance, as this kind of entanglement can result in death. Call a Parks and Wildlife professional in your state for help.

Holiday Decorating with Wildlife in MindWith the holiday season rapidly approaching, Colorado Parks and Wildlife asks citizens to keep wildlife in mind as they decorate outside their homes.Outdoor lighting and decorations can pose serious hazards to wildlife, especially deer and elk. And, unfortunately, not a year goes by without wildlife officers being called to rescue animals caught in wired lights or decorations stuck on animals’ horns, antlers, heads or legs. Most of these incidents can be prevented by following a few simple tips on where and how to use decorations.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Waittoputupoutdoorlightsonposts,shrubs or small trees until after the peak of the deer rut, sometime after the first week of December.• Treeswithtrunkdiametersoftwotosixinches are most likely to be rubbed by bucks which entangle lights in their antlers - only string lights on larger diameter trees.• Usemultipleshortstrandsofwireplugged together versus one long strand so that if animals become entangled they will have less cord to deal with.•Avoidstringinglights“clothesline”styleacross areas - firmly attach lights to tree limbs, gutters, or fence posts.•Placeflagsalongwireddecorationssothatdeer can see where the wire is and avoid entanglement.

These ideas can also apply to general yard planning year-round. Wildlife can also benefit from:

• Removingvolleyballnetsfromtheirpostsduringthe winter-- don’t wrap nets around the post, as animals may still be enticed to rub their antlers on it and become entangled.•Disconnecting&storingwaterhoses,tomatocagesand other garden materials (netting, stakes, etc.) until spring.•Takingdownandstoringhammocksandswingswhen not in use.•Flaggingorremovingemptyclotheslinesuntilneeded.•Fencingyardswithanimalsinmind.

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Dancin’ with the stars

Business Organization and Management Class Picture

love the kisses

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ReCent events weRe a BIG suCCess...thanks to all who attended and volunteered

Halloween Festivities Were Howls of Fun! Our 1st bonfire in our new fire pit - This Halloween also marked our 5th anniversary at our current and permanent location in Divide, Colorado. We’re growing bigger and better every year! Thank you to all who have made it possible.

Mine!

Makah is not called

punkin face for nothing

BUFFALO HIDE TOURKim throwing the turkey over to

Keoka and Sakara

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DECEMBER events & special tours

4PM Feeding Fest

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HOLIDaY CeLeBRatIOn

10aM

4PM Feeding Fest

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FuLL MOOn tOuR4PM

CLOseDCHRIstMas

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these tours and events are in addition to our standard 10am, noon & 2pm tours

4PM Feeding Fest

tour

4PM Feeding Fest

tour

DECEMBER 10, 2011 Please be here by 4:00 pm to check in. Meet and Greet one of our wolves at 4:30 - tour starts immediately after and lasts approximately 1 hour.

• wear warm clothes and good boots• Bringacameraandaflashlight• Cocoa and coffee will be provided

aDuLts: $25 · KIDs: $15 (8-12 yrs) no kids under 8

RESERVATIONS REquIRED 719-687-9742

full moon tourRESER

VATIONS REQ

UIRED

FOR ALL TO

URS

AND SPECIA

L EVENTS

719-687-97

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All tours have limited space

and we have a no-cancellation

policy from May-October.

www.wolfeducation.org

RSVP 719-687-9742 · www.wolfeducation.orgDivide, CO 80814

Join us for a special holiday celebration Saturday, Dec. 24th10am to 11am

Festivities will include breakfast burritos with santa and the wolves.

$20 per person

Please RSVP early.Space is limited!719.687.9742

Wild Winter Christmas Celebration

Join us for a special holiday celebration saturday, Dec. 24th · 10am to 11am

Festivities will include breakfast burritos with santa and the wolves.

$20 per personPlease rsVP early · space is limited!

719·687.9742

FEEDIng FEsT TOURTUEs, WED, FRI, sAT AnD sUnDAYMeet our resident animals during the feeding tour and observe them when they are most active...feeding time! Learn about hunting, howling and hierarchy and communicate with the pack in a group howl! Adults $20 Children 12 and under $10

Thank Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott for Standing Up for Wyoming’s Wolves

As the news for Northern Rockies wolves has gone from bad to worse, there is a voice of reason for ethical and scientifically defensible wolf management.Mary Gibson Scott, Superintendent of Grand Teton National Park, recently opposed parts of Wyoming’s wolf plan - endorsed by her bosses’ boss, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar - that would allow hunting for wolves near the Park. She noted that many wolf packs in the Park spend the winter outside the Park boundary and that hunting could socially disrupt and even eliminate entire packs.Please join WildEarth Guardians in thanking Superintendent Scott for standing her ground with wolves.The state’s plan would allow wolves to be shot on sight throughout nearly 90 percent of Wyoming, including on public land!The Wyoming wolf plan would isolate and reduce wolf populations, threatening their survival and limiting their beneficial effects as ecosystem engineers.http://www.wildearthguardians.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=6361.0

Information presented on this newsletter is considered public information (unless otherwise noted) and may be distributed or copied. Use of appropriate byline/photo/image credit is requested. Some of the documents in this newsletter may contain live feed references (or pointers) to information created and maintained by other organizations. Please note that CWWC does not control and cannot guarantee the relevance, timeliness, or accuracy of these outside materials.

...conservation education preservation

“We can judge the heart

of a man by his treatment of animals.”

~ immanual Kant

For current wolf articles and to be a voice

through knowledge

beCoMe A fAn of CWWC

www.projectcoyote.org

Mexican Grey Wolveswww.mexicanwolves.org

Natural Resources Defense Councilwww.nrdc.org www.defendersofwildlife.org

WilD EaRth GuaRDiaNswww.wildearthguardians.org

www.aza.org

“An animal’s eyes have the

power to speak a great language.”

~ Martin Buber

working together to make a difference...

neWSLeTTeR BY: Melissa Macis | smallspaceorganizer@gmail.com | www.wix.com/missymacis/portfolio

As you may already know, the oil and gas industry has already written itself loopholes into the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act and many other laws. Now they’re gunning for the Endangered Species Act. The beleaguered officials at USFWS just might cave into industry’s latest demands unless we, as wildlife advocates, begin to speak up in defense of the ESA. The 2012 Interior budget (HR2584) contains some of the most destructive amendments which attack our environment like never before in modern history. For example, another “rider” shields gray wolf delistings from judicial review – (Section 119). This provision undercuts one of the most important checks and balances built into the ESA – public participation through the ability of citizens to request judicial review of delistings.We continue to receive much feedback from our supporters regarding these and other threats to the Endangered Species Act. Our Board of Directors and our Advisory Board recently gathered to discuss a variety of actions to address our collective concerns. In speaking with several environmental staffers in Washington DC in the last year, we learned that

postcards are a noticeable means by which citizens can make their voices heard because they are unique, brief and easily accepted via mail. Thus, we will be rolling out an ESA Postcard Campaign very shortly. We are encouraging our supporters across the nation to send a unique postcard, along with a brief statement in support of the ESA, from their location to a select number of pro-environmental and moderate (on-the-fence) representatives in Congress. It is our hope that as these postcards from

diverse locations trickle into DC offices, staffers and their respective representatives will take note and be reminded that ESA supporters are watching carefully. It is our hope that you will join us in this easy action plan so that more citizens can join the voice of countless citizens in opposition to deliberate measures that seek to destroy the ESA. Please let us know if you plan to participate so that we can mutually support each other’s efforts. Thank you for your consideration and interest. Respectfully, Wolfwatcher.orgMarc Cooke & Dave Hornoff, Co-Presidents

United Postcard Campaign