Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

I'm excited to say that we got out and about in CO today.  We visited a 200+ acre animal preserve, a few hours south west of Denver, called Mission Wolf. 

They take care of rescued wolves and hybrids (wolf and dog mixes) as well as some horses.  Although some of the wolves have been rescued from communities (found injured on the side of the road, etc.) many have been dropped off by caring families who tried to raise them in a home environment and discovered how different a wild animal is from a domesticated one.  All domesticated dogs are actually bred from wolves (not the best specimens, either, according to wolf fans), but true wolves these days are unable to adapt to a traditional American home life; they are meant to be part of an animal pack, outdoors.

Mission Wolf is in the middle of nowhere, and has created huge enclosures for various (carefully planned) pairs and packs of wolves.  The entire place is designed to mimic the wild, "natural" environment as much as possible, so these wolves (who are unable to succeed in the real wild) can live out their lives as realistically as possible.

We took this picture from the dirt road as we left Mission Wolf.  You can barely see the buildings.

Excuse me.  Is that a fat rabbit I smell?

The staff grows their own food and uses solar power to pump their water (giving the wolves priority access if there is a water shortage).  Some of the wolves have bonded with some of the staff, but mostly the wolves keep to themselves.  To (again) mimic their "natural" environment, the wolves are fed on a famine/feast schedule, which sounds like complete hell to me but, as I think of it, is how things go in nature.  Each morning they are fed a bit of breakfast, mainly so the staff can check them out and distribute any medicine or care that may be needed.  Otherwise, they are fed a fresh (dead) animal every three days or so.  In real life, they don't catch an elk or deer every day - they do every few days, then spend their time gorging and napping.  Many of the farms around the area donate (in a gentle and humane manner) cows and horses who have passed.  These animals are processed on site and then distributed to the animals.

We watched them process a horse today and then use it for The Feed.  It was a fascinating display of using all resources to their full capacity in order to achieve a (human-affected) circle of life kind of experience.

The pack is anxious to be fed.

We even got to interact with some of the animals!  In order to introduce yourself to them, you have to sit down, get on their level, make eye contact, and - get this! - let them sniff your mouth, even lick your teeth if they want to.  Not joking.  I got licked on the mouth and chin while staring directly into the eyes of a wolf, in order to say "hi" and let her know that I'm a friend not a foe.  It was precious.  Not for everyone, I realize.  Not exactly hygienic, either, considering the fading sinus infection and the fact that the wolf was going from person to person.

So, you know.  I try not to think too much about that. 

Don't pet a wolf - or an unknown dog - on the head.  After you are introduced, stroke their chin and/or chest.

See those teeth?  They have been kissed by wolves!  They even noticed the "fur" on G's face.  Yes, that's a real tipi in the background.

It was my favorite kind of fall day!  Getting up early (meh, but necessary), stopping at Starbucks for the necessary fuel, going for a long drive and looking at the landscape, and exploring something new.  Grabbing lunch, walking around small towns, window shopping, and breaking up the long drive home with a Sonic stop.  

Does it get any better than that?  No.