Wolf Awareness Week this year occurs during the week of October 15-21. It is a good time to reflect not only on the successful return of the wolf to some of the lower 48 states, but also to ask ourselves why we continue to pressure wild creatures to the point of extinction?
Wolf Awareness Week was first initiated in 1996 with the goal to make humans aware of the role the wolf plays in a healthy Earth. Thanks to the Endangered Species Act and special interest conservation groups, wolves have been successfully reintroduced to various parts of the USA. The Gray Wolf has been removed from protection in some states, but the Mexican Gray Wolf and the Red Wolf populations are still protected.
Timber Wolf Alliance
Here in Wisconsin we have the Timber Wolf Alliance (TWA) hosted by the Northland College in Ashland under the guidance of the Sigurd Olson Environmental Institute. The Alliance assists “21 organizations and many private individuals interested in promoting wolf recovery in Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula through public education, citizen science and volunteer activities.” The College as well as the TWA partners offer a variety of courses and workshops throughout the year to help educate the public about wolf ecology.
Wolf Awareness Poster
TWA also offer a beautiful two-sided poster every year. It’s available for free to the public except for a $7 s&h fee. This year’s wolf poster The Golden Hour was drawn by Emma Loisch. Educational materials were developed by graduate student Angela Rivera Rautmann as part of her project for TWA.
Resources
The Searching Wolf: Wolf Education Materials
The Wolf Pack of Lamar (Yellowstone Park)
International Wolf Center is in Ely, Minnesota
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