Spring has sprung and our new fencing is up!

After many months of work, Tioga and Little Girl's renovations are finally complete!

Thanks to the tireless effort and dedication of our volunteers, we were able to tear down the old enclosures and affix fresh dig-fencing to make the final addition to Tioga and Little Girl's territory wolf-ready!
Thank you also to all of our supporters and visitors who helped to make this dream possible.

Visit us for a tour to see how the wolves are enjoying the new renovations!

Special thanks to the volunteer group from GSK for taking the time to come out earlier this month to help with the finishing touches.
Little Girl and Tioga greatly appreciate it!

Spectacular Snouts

You may have heard on the tours that wolves have an excellent sense of smell.  They are often able to detect a herd that is miles away just by picking up their scent in the air!   

But how does this work exactly?

In mammals, the sense of smell depends on the function and number of olfactory receptors.  These are a little like tiny alarms that send messages to the brain.  Sometimes the messages can be about something stinky like garbage or sweet like a flower, or even something tasty!

Humans have about 5 million olfactory receptors, enabling us to pick up on a wide variety of scents.  But that's nothing compared to a wolf snout!
Wolves have 280 million olfactory receptors.  Their sense of smell plays a very important role in their ability to hunt successfully and in their general survival.  It not only helps them locate their prey, but it also helps them to detect if a member of the herd is sick, weak, or injured so that they can better choose their target.

For more information and to see their spectacular snouts in person, come visit us for a tour!  

You can also check out this website for more fun facts.

Something To Howl About!

Wolf Sanctuary of PA is always excited when children get a chance to visit and learn about the wolves.  Below is one example of a class project that was completed after a visit to our sanctuary.  Thank you to Chesterbrook Academy's 2nd Graders!  These kids rock!

Visit our website to schedule your class trip for the spring or summer now!

Tioga meets Little Girl

There have been many changes around the sanctuary over the last year!  As you may already know, we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and we do not receive federal, state, or grant funding of any kind.  We rely solely on private donations, gift shop sales, and tour fees in order to provide for our wolves. Thanks to outstanding support in recent months, we have been able to renovate the facility and provide new enclosures for many of our wolves!  One of these enclosures was set aside for two of our wolves.  Some of you may already know Tioga, but Little Girl is new around here.  Here is their story:

Tioga meets Little Girl  

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Tioga of Speedwell

Tioga is a nine year old male timber wolf.  When he and his family were rescued and brought to the sanctuary in 2006 he was just a wee pup!

He learned a lot from his family…especially his father and alpha, Merlin.

Merlin was a true alpha and ruled his pack with authority and affection.  A few months ago he became very ill but reigned strong and dominant over his pack until the end. He will always remain in our hearts.

After the loss of his father Merlin, Tioga became lonely and in need of a companion.

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Little Girl of Speedwell

Little Girl is a three year old female timber wolf.  She was rescued from Missouri.  

With her, came a sweet, quirky companion who quickly stole our hearts.  His name was Booboo.

A short time ago, Booboo became ill, and Little Girl was the first to sound the alarm, alerting whoever was near that something was wrong with her friend.  It was because of her that Booboo was given a fighting chance and rushed to the vet.  After several days, Booboo sadly lost the battle with his relentless illness.  With broken hearts, we bid him a fond farewell.

Without the presence of Booboo in an enclosure nearby, Little Girl was in need of a companion too.

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Both alone in separate enclosures … would Tioga and Little Girl perhaps make good companions?

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It was late one Sunday afternoon, and the new enclosure was finally finished!

Tioga was the first to enter and investigate.

Little Girl wondered if she might get the chance to join him.

At first she was apprehensive, but in no time at all she began to rejoice in her new freedom!

Next, it was time for Tioga to meet her...

…and the games began.

Their first meeting went...pretty well

It wasn’t long before they were happily playing and roaming their new enclosure together.

Thank you to all those who have visited us or donated time or funds to Wolf Sanctuary of PA.  The success story of Tioga and Little Girl, and the ongoing care of all of the wolves, is made possible thanks to your support.

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Who knows what the future holds in store for Tioga and Little Girl

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Farewell Merlin, A True Alpha

Merlin

Merlin came to Wolf Sanctuary of PA with his family on May 05, 2006.  It was a warm spring day.  Along with him came his mate Niksa, her sister Keisha, and a wee baby of two weeks named Tioga.  For the first few days, Merlin and his companions were afraid to leave the small area of concrete in the very front of their enclosure because they had never experienced anything larger.  It was not long, though, before they adjusted to their new, large forest home at the sanctuary, and Merlin was transformed from a fearful apprehensive animal into a loving, happy, and strong alpha wolf.  He especially enjoyed running around his territory and playing in the snow with Niksa, Keisha, and Tioga.  In the summer he enjoyed running and hiding in the tall grasses.  He finally had understood that freedom was the way of life that belongs to each and every wolf.

Merlin was a true alpha male, and through watching his behavior, the volunteers learned more than they ever thought was possible about wolf behavior and the social values of the pack.  Merlin was always seen with his tail held high in the dominant position to designate him as the alpha.  He taught his son, Tioga, to know his position in the pack.  During feedings, he always ate first, as alphas typically do, and he certainly had the appetite of a wolf, once eating over 25 lbs of deer meat in one sitting!  He was a strong and noble leader, and though he was smaller than his son, he held uncontested reign over his pack, and lead his family with authority and affection.

Merlin was a very special member of our packs and his passing will be difficult for all at the sanctuary, wolves and humans alike.  Merlin had a very special human friend and they spent hours of fun and loving times together, right until the end.  We thank God for allowing us to know Merlin and to be a part of his life here on earth. 

As winter approaches, and the wolves at the sanctuary howl to celebrate the coming frost and snow, a deep strong howl will be missing from the chorus--the howl of the one who taught us the true meaning of the word “alpha.”  We take comfort in knowing Merlin is at peace, and can once again play in the snow with his pack, Niksa and Keisha, letting out that alpha howl of his.

"Dear, dear Merlin, you spent many wonderful hours with us and for that we thank you.  You were loving with your family and you taught us so much about love and caring.  You were a strong alpha wolf who knew the value of family and love and you lived your life in a special way that will remain in our hearts forever.  You will be missed but wherever you are now, we know you are running with the wind and being more free than ever......When the snow falls we will be reminded of how much you loved trying to catch the snow flakes.  You showed us that the way of the wolf is a wonderful and exciting life and we will hear you when the wind blows and the trees rustle their branches.  We will watch for the trickling of the water as the stream flows over the stones and you will be remembered.  Farewell my wonderful friend and may you always know wherever you are that you were a shining light to brighten the earth with love.  When the sanctuary rings out with the howling of the Speedwell Wolves, we will listen for your alpha voice and we will remember!"  
~Barbara Darlington--Director, Wolf Sanctuary of PA

IN MEMORY of MERLIN of SPEEDWELL

born: 2002 / rescued: 05-05-06 / died 11-03-15

Farewell Booboo

Booboo

You never got to meet BooBoo but you would have loved him too. Our hearts must reach to infinity and beyond to lose so many pieces and continue to beat. It is a hard moment in time that we walk through as each passing day the sun still shines and we laugh and we cry and we remember. With tears in our eyes and with broken hearts we bid Booboo farewell on the evening of November 15, 2015.

With hope in our hearts we had prepared a cozy well insulated enclosure where our Booboo could recover upon his return home. He was to come home that morning, November 16. But that was not to be. The vet called with word that Booboo’s lungs had collapsed again and he immediately required another surgery.

Our dedicated vets and staff had worked long and hard to help him recover, but with each improvement to his health, a new complication would arise. After extensive testing, the only possible conclusion was that he had a form of autoimmune disease which was causing his own system to attack itself. After much consideration, and with great sadness, we made the decision to offer our companion an end to prolonged suffering.

We are so grateful for all of those who helped Booboo through this struggle. Your kindness and aid assisted in providing for Booboo’s surgeries and gave him a fighting chance. He battled hard, and though he lost the fight to his disease, he won our hearts with his vibrant quirky ways and will always be remembered as one of Speedwell’s own.

We love you Booboo. Rest easy, dear friend. 

IN MEMORY of BOOBOO of SPEEDWELL

born: (?) / rescued: 09-11-15 / died 11-15-15

Farewell Chipper

Chipper

Chipper was born here at the sanctuary on November 11, 2001.  He spent some of his happiest times sharing his days with Destiny of Speedwell.  Chipper taught Destiny that there was nothing to fear from their human caretakers and even encouraged her to come closer to the fence during tours. 

Even in his final years, he remained young in spirit and appearance, sometimes even fooling guests into thinking he was just a pup!  Because of his youthful, sunny demeanor he will always remain one of Speedwell’s most beloved wolves.

Chipper made the tours exciting for everyone, and most of the time, he would begin the howl that so many visitors longed to hear.  His voice would ring out, loud and clear, and all around the sanctuary each wolf would respond until all of their voices could be heard joining in his song.  His spirited voice will never be forgotten.  The first snow of this year will be falling soon and Chipper would have loved to be a part of it but at the same time he will be looking down and perhaps playing in a kind of snow of his own. 

"To our dear Chipper, you will be missed by all of us in the Sanctuary, wolf and human alike!  We will listen for you voice as the wind passes through the leaves and plays in the fields.  In our hearts we know you are now running free and leaping about as you did when you were very young.  We take comfort in knowing you are safe and back with your family.  We bid a loving farewell and thank you for sharing and being a part of our lives."  
~Barbara Darlington--Director, Wolf Sanctuary of PA

IN MEMORY of CHIPPER of SPEEDWELL

born: 11-11-01 died 10-24-2015