<3 wE aLL HaVE 2 wOLvES iNSidE... ~HBW~
©2011 Susan Ogden-All Rights Reserved Images Thruthelookingglass
“A Native American grandfather talking to his young grandson tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him struggling with each other. The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other wolf is fear, greed and hatred. "Which wolf will win, grandfather?" asks the young boy. "Whichever one I feed," is the reply.” ~Native American Proverb~
(SORRY...long one today...i was too excited about this trip! This looks quite awesome in the “dark box”, BTW!)
I have this week off.....before you all get crazy and tell me how very lucky i am, keep in mind that i have from Jan 2nd until the first week of APRIL with NO BREAK from eel herding, and any one of you could find me twitching and drooling on your doorstep by the end of February!!! Thank goodness for sick days and personal days!!!
Today, in spite of a forecast for rain (apparently someone here at my house thinks we are going to need to call NOAH......long story.....but, it is not me!) for later in the day, i made plans to head out early to visit the wolves with a friend of mine who had not been there. I lust to go and pay the stupid $300.00 for a private shoot....but alas, until i begin to make $$$ in ernest with my photography, i am destined to be on the outside of the chain link looking in, for the sum of $16.05 including tax!
It was a perfect day....overcast with just a hint of glow from the sun, as long as we got there for the morning “tour” at 10:30. I am like a little kid when i head to this place....all antsy and squirmy and very excited!! I LOVE this place!! This time i did not hike to the preserve....it was cold and damp and my friend has issues with breathing ....something Asthma like, and inhaler necessary.....so we took the shuttle to the top. The wolves were active and cooperative today....as we approached the enclosures they were running to see US!!! Probably because it was snack time....chunks of venison and dog snack treats! These wolves....there are 4 packs there, in separate enclosures...even know their names and respond to the owners of the preserve. The Timber Wolves are my favorite....they remind me of big ol’ cuddly dogs!! (The Arctic Wolves are beautiful also....their coats all fluffy white and tipped with black!) There are 4 types of wolf....with about 25-30 subspecies....something that amazed me. i have been here 5 times and learn something every time i go!
These guys look SO much bigger than they do in the spring....their coats are so thick and full, that they appear to have gained about 25 pounds! in reality they are exactly the same weight now as then.....the females are between 70 and 80 lbs....the males between 80 and 100 lbs. They are amazingly docile....until a lower ranking wolf makes a stupid move....and then, watch out! the snarling and snapping that goes on is VERY scary.....i mean give you goosebumps kind of scary! (I still want to hug them...but then i say the same thing about the bears!!)
There are also Bobcat and Fox at this place and y’all know how i love cats....always wanted one of the Bobcats as a pet until i found out the temperament of a Bobcat. They are as mean as they are cute....true story. i have no time for that kind of drama with a pet!! If the Foxes were not smarter than me, i would love one of those....but i have heard some really amazing stories of how bright they are, as well as agile, and quick (35-40 MPH at a full tilt run!), so i will pass on those as well! Oh! i was told to tell you, if you are out hiking in the woods and find small toys scattered around, you can be pretty sure there is a den of foxes nearby! they LOVE to play, and have been known to observe kids and pets at play, then come back when all is quiet and STEAL the pet or kid toys and take them back to the den area!!! There is even a video on utube of foxes playing on a trampoline in someones backyard!
This place is just so much fun....i wish y’all lived nearby so i could take you there, and your inner child could SMILE big just like mine!! :D
PS. no rain until we headed back to the base camp....so we shopped in the little camp store. i wanted more very warm thick wolf socks....but they were out of them :( got fleece lined, wool, fingerless gloves for shooting (when my Irish ones have to be washed!) and a wolf shirt for Lileigh Grace, which came with a cute little wolfie stuffed toy....
(if you hear any screaming....it is just Kaileigh, because i got something else for Lileigh Grace and it is not a holiday or her birthday!!)
HAPPY WOLF BOKEH WEDNESDAY/HUMP DAY!
<3 wE aLL HaVE 2 wOLvES iNSidE... ~HBW~
©2011 Susan Ogden-All Rights Reserved Images Thruthelookingglass
“A Native American grandfather talking to his young grandson tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him struggling with each other. The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other wolf is fear, greed and hatred. "Which wolf will win, grandfather?" asks the young boy. "Whichever one I feed," is the reply.” ~Native American Proverb~
(SORRY...long one today...i was too excited about this trip! This looks quite awesome in the “dark box”, BTW!)
I have this week off.....before you all get crazy and tell me how very lucky i am, keep in mind that i have from Jan 2nd until the first week of APRIL with NO BREAK from eel herding, and any one of you could find me twitching and drooling on your doorstep by the end of February!!! Thank goodness for sick days and personal days!!!
Today, in spite of a forecast for rain (apparently someone here at my house thinks we are going to need to call NOAH......long story.....but, it is not me!) for later in the day, i made plans to head out early to visit the wolves with a friend of mine who had not been there. I lust to go and pay the stupid $300.00 for a private shoot....but alas, until i begin to make $$$ in ernest with my photography, i am destined to be on the outside of the chain link looking in, for the sum of $16.05 including tax!
It was a perfect day....overcast with just a hint of glow from the sun, as long as we got there for the morning “tour” at 10:30. I am like a little kid when i head to this place....all antsy and squirmy and very excited!! I LOVE this place!! This time i did not hike to the preserve....it was cold and damp and my friend has issues with breathing ....something Asthma like, and inhaler necessary.....so we took the shuttle to the top. The wolves were active and cooperative today....as we approached the enclosures they were running to see US!!! Probably because it was snack time....chunks of venison and dog snack treats! These wolves....there are 4 packs there, in separate enclosures...even know their names and respond to the owners of the preserve. The Timber Wolves are my favorite....they remind me of big ol’ cuddly dogs!! (The Arctic Wolves are beautiful also....their coats all fluffy white and tipped with black!) There are 4 types of wolf....with about 25-30 subspecies....something that amazed me. i have been here 5 times and learn something every time i go!
These guys look SO much bigger than they do in the spring....their coats are so thick and full, that they appear to have gained about 25 pounds! in reality they are exactly the same weight now as then.....the females are between 70 and 80 lbs....the males between 80 and 100 lbs. They are amazingly docile....until a lower ranking wolf makes a stupid move....and then, watch out! the snarling and snapping that goes on is VERY scary.....i mean give you goosebumps kind of scary! (I still want to hug them...but then i say the same thing about the bears!!)
There are also Bobcat and Fox at this place and y’all know how i love cats....always wanted one of the Bobcats as a pet until i found out the temperament of a Bobcat. They are as mean as they are cute....true story. i have no time for that kind of drama with a pet!! If the Foxes were not smarter than me, i would love one of those....but i have heard some really amazing stories of how bright they are, as well as agile, and quick (35-40 MPH at a full tilt run!), so i will pass on those as well! Oh! i was told to tell you, if you are out hiking in the woods and find small toys scattered around, you can be pretty sure there is a den of foxes nearby! they LOVE to play, and have been known to observe kids and pets at play, then come back when all is quiet and STEAL the pet or kid toys and take them back to the den area!!! There is even a video on utube of foxes playing on a trampoline in someones backyard!
This place is just so much fun....i wish y’all lived nearby so i could take you there, and your inner child could SMILE big just like mine!! :D
PS. no rain until we headed back to the base camp....so we shopped in the little camp store. i wanted more very warm thick wolf socks....but they were out of them :( got fleece lined, wool, fingerless gloves for shooting (when my Irish ones have to be washed!) and a wolf shirt for Lileigh Grace, which came with a cute little wolfie stuffed toy....
(if you hear any screaming....it is just Kaileigh, because i got something else for Lileigh Grace and it is not a holiday or her birthday!!)
HAPPY WOLF BOKEH WEDNESDAY/HUMP DAY!