Home Page / Wolf Centre / Adopt-a-Wolf Membership / WWUK Wolves / Join Wolf Watch UK / Visiting The Sanctuary / Payments & Donations / Contact Us / Wolf Videos / Q&A / History / Wilderness Goods For Sale / Notice Board / Meet The Team / What People Have Said / Photography Days / Links / Wolf News / Loopy Files / Notes From Tony / Wolf Learning Course July 2009 Compiled by Tracey Thomas, member & volunteer Wolf pack returns to Edinburgh The wolves have returned to Edinburgh Zoo after a 16-year absence from the animal collection. The pack has three male European wolves - named Dalls, Puika and Ilknis - who have been transferred from the Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie. The remaining male at the Highland Wildlife Park has been joined by a female from the Scottish Deer Centre in Cupar and keepers hope that they will form a breeding pair. Wolves were once found across Europe but as a result of hunting, habitat loss and diseases passed onto them by domestic dogs they are now confined to small areas in Italy, Poland, France, Portugal, Russia, Scandinavia, Spain and throughout Eastern Europe. Wolves are extremely adaptable and can survive in many different types of habitats. They hunt in packs where they can use their great stamina to chase their prey over long distances. They howl mostly during twilight and when leaving and returning from a hunt. They don't, as many believe, howl when there is a full moon. Iain Valentine, head of animals, conservation & education for Edinburgh Zoo, said in a statement: "We're really pleased to welcome back the wolves to Edinburgh Zoo. "They are an iconic species and were missed by both visitors and staff when they left the collection. "We also recognised that, as they are so popular, they should also remain at the Highland Wildlife Park where our newly formed pair will hopefully contribute to the breeding programme for this species." Source - stv.tv local news, powered by Well Contented Ltd Don’t Let Dogs Become Wolf Prey: Parks Canada LONG BEACH — Parks Canada is asking dog owners to watch their pets and keep them on leashes following several wolf sightings between Tofino and Ucluelet. “A dog on a beach in a wolf’s territory will be viewed most likely as a competitor&ldots;or as prey,” said Bob Hansen, wildlife-human conflict specialist at Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. “It’s a very simple preventative measure.” Under the National Parks Act, people must keep their dogs on leashes while in the park or receive a fine, he added. Hansen said the two grey wolves, weighing between 80 and 90 pounds, appear to be travelling on beaches, trails and the highway between Tofino and Ucluelet and have been spotted several times on Florencia Beach, Wickaninnish Beach and at Schooner Cove. The last sighting was Sunday. A possible third wolf has also been spotted, he added, but not for some time. Hansen said dog owners should not tie their animals up to logs and leave them unattended while they surf or hike because doing so puts pets at risk. During one incident several weeks ago, two wolves surrounded a dog on Florencia Beach. Hansen said it appears the wolves did not see the dog’s owners, and when the owners stepped in to save their dog the wolves left. In another incident, Hansen said he came across two wolves feeding on a young bear while he was hiking with his wife during his days off. Hansen said people have a better chance of being hit by lightening than by being attacked by a wolf, but dogs suffer a greater risk. If people encounter wolves, cougars or bears in the park, they should stay away from the animals, giving them distance the respect they deserve, added Hansen. And if wolves or cougars approach, said Hansen, people should take the offensive, wave their hands and holler. “If a wolf or cougar approaches, that’s the trigger,” he added. “Most often they will flee.” Source - Keven Drews, westcoaster.ca Conservation officers watch for wolves A Winnipeg mother is warning campers and cottagers to beware of a wolf that attacked her dog at the Falcon Lake marina last week. Conservation officials say the wolf population in Whiteshell Provincial Park has exploded because deer are also experiencing a population boom, making prey plentiful for wolves. "I don't think you'd find a person in the townsite who didn't see a wolf last year," said Murray Imrie, a former wildlife biologist with the Manitoba government who now owns the Falcon Beach Ranch. "They're pretty elusive, normally. If you see two in a lifetime, you're lucky." Patricia Nero's dog -- a three-year-old bichon frise cockapoo named Baxter -- found itself up-close and personal with a wolf last Wednesday evening as the family was returning from a boat ride and heading back to their car at the marina. "The wolf just rag-dolled him," she said. "They were just a dustball." "We initially thought it was a deer, it was that huge." She is worried the large wolf could come after toddlers or small children next. "There are a lot of young families in Falcon Lake, that's the concerning thing." Baxter is recovering from deep cuts to his leg and groin. Nero says he's not the same dog he was a week ago. Nero wants Manitoba Conservation to alert campers and cottagers that there could be a dangerous wolf on the prowl. Fred Meier, assistant deputy minister at Manitoba Conservation, said the government plans to do just that. Conservation officers were on the scene shortly after the Neros fled and probably fired a few blank warning shots into the forest to scare the wolf away. "The officers are taking it quite seriously," Meier said. He said a problem wolf would likely be trapped and removed from the area. However, unless an animal has come into conflict with humans, park rangers won't interfere with the natural way of the forest. People should avoid feeding deer, which encourages them to wander into townsites and bring wolves with them. But weekend cottagers shouldn't be overly worried about a wolf attack. "Wolves traditionally just don't pray on people, or dogs for that matter," Imrie said. "It's really not something to spend much time worrying about." Source - Mary Agnes Welch, Winnipeg Free Press   Email WWUK Photography by Chris Cray / Tony Haighway © Wolf Watch UK Home Page / Wolf Centre / Adopt-a-Wolf Membership / WWUK Wolves / Join Wolf Watch UK / Visiting The Sanctuary / Payments & Donations / Contact Us / Wolf Videos / Q&A / History / Wilderness Goods For Sale / Notice Board / Meet The Team / What People Have Said / Photography Days / Links / Wolf News / Loopy Files / Notes From Tony / Wolf Learning Course