Wednesday, April 9, 2008

On a mission with wolves

Nonprofit group uses wolves as tutorials on conservation

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Magpie will be one of the two wolf “ambassadors” at visits in the Wood River Valley next week. Photo by Tracey Ane Brooks

How many people have really looked at or interacted in a peaceful way with a wolf? Before deciding what is reality and what is mythology, perhaps getting up close and personal is a good idea.

Mission: Wolf is a wolf sanctuary located in the San Isabel National Forest in Colorado. The mission of the organization is to help people understand how wild wolves can help to keep nature healthy and balanced.

Kent Weber and Tracy Brooks, co-founders of Mission: Wolf, will discuss current wolf issues, wolf identification and safety, and seek to debunk common myths about wolves at several free programs in the Wood River Valley.

For nearly two decades, Weber has traveled across the country in support of wolves and conservation with wolf ambassadors. This year, Weber and Brooks are traveling in the "Wolf Bus" with Magpie, a 5-year-old wolf, and Abraham, a hybrid wolf-dog.

"We teach people to not be afraid because people destroy what they are afraid of," Weber said.

The Community School in Sun Valley will host Mission: Wolf at 6 p.m. Monday, April 14, in its theater. Following the initial presentation, guests are invited to gather in the gymnasium to have close contact with the wolves.

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The Community School Elementary School will be given a presentation at 8 a.m. Tuesday, April 15. Following at 11 a.m., the Community Library's Children's Library will host Mission: Wolf during children's story time, and at 1 p.m. the presentation will take place at the Hailey Elementary School with visitors from Bellevue and Woodside elementary schools.

For more information, visit missionwolf.com.