Wolf Haven International

09/14/2026

Today marks the anniversary of the American Red Wolf’s return to the landscape after being declared extinct in the wild in 1980. On September 14, 1987, the first American Red Wolves were released from captive breeding programs to reestablish a wild population in eastern North Carolina.

While there have been many challenges in American Red Wolf recovery over the last decades, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and our Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) partners are deeply committed to seeing America’s only endemic wolf species thrive. Annual captive releases and fostering captive-born wolf pups into wild dens continue to bolster the wild population numbers. With close to 300 American Red Wolves alive today and less than 30 American Red Wolves living in the wild, we must remain dedicated to our work to ensure this magnificent species is not lost forever.

Join Wolf Haven today in honoring the lessons learned, celebrating the successes of the past, and commending the passionate commitment of those tirelessly working to recover the American Red Wolf for the future!
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Photo of F1945 (Nash), one of the eight American Red Wolves currently residing at Wolf Haven, by Jessica Pellington.

09/13/2026

It's Trail Cam Sunday! Wolfdog brother and sister duo, Valerian and Tarragon, recently got a new platform that is over twice the size of their previous one... and it officially took them less than 15 minutes to jump right in and start playing. Enjoy this video of them exploring their new favorite spot!
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09/11/2026

It's Food for Thought Friday! Did you know that wolves in Minnesota aren't just wild carnivores, but also blueberry gardeners? 🫐🐺

New research from the in northern Minnesota shows that during peak summer months, wild blueberries can make up to 83% of a wolf's diet, and seeds digested by wolves germinate up to 27% better and a week faster! As wolves roam across vast territories, they act as long-distance seed dispersers, helping healthy blueberry patches grow and thrive across varied landscapes. This research is a great example of how interconnected natural ecosystems truly are!

Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2026.0279
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Photo courtesy of the Voyageurs Wolf Project.

09/10/2026

We are so excited to announce that Cerberus is now available for sponsorship through our Sponsor a Wolf program at shop.wolfhaven.org/products/sponsor-a-wolf!

At a young age, male gray wolf, Cerberus, and his brother, Nicky, were both donated to the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory in Minnesota. The pair lived there together for many years until the zoo began developing a plan to phase out its wolf exhibit to allow more space for their feline species. Cerberus and Nicky needed a new home to live out the rest of their lives... and it just so happened that at Wolf Haven, we had two female residents in need of companions!

Cerberus and Nicky were transferred to Wolf Haven at the end of June and now live with Ellie and Billie respectively. Since their arrival, animal care staff have been working hard to implement a specialized diet for Cerberus to help manage his chronic bladder stones. Fortunately, his condition has not stopped him from finding his favorite spots to nap, exploring his multilevel platform, and joining in on sanctuary howls! You can sponsor Cerberus today to support his specialized care and happy retirement in the sanctuary.
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Photo by Gelane Clements.

09/09/2026

It's Behind the Scenes Wednesday! M1428 (Agave) wants to make his presence known! He urinates so frequently on this same tree that animal care staff sometimes worry about the tree’s health. Whether setting boundaries or leaving updates for his neighbors, this spunky Mexican wolf is a true scent-marking artist.
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Photo by Gelane Clements.

09/08/2026

It's Tenino Tuesday! Resident wolfdog Lore is not quite ready for the long and relaxing weekend to end. Luckily, every day at Wolf Haven offers a quiet place to soak up the sun and go at your own pace. 💚
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Photo by Gelane Clements.

09/05/2026

It’s Conservation Saturday! Red-tailed hawks are permanent residents here at Wolf Haven and can often be heard screeching as they soar over the sanctuary. Typically, they are flying overhead hoping to scavenge bits of leftover meat, proudly earning the title of "opportunistic scavenger".

When they aren't patrolling above, visitors can often see a familiar pair sitting on top of the grandfather tree, a 400-year-old Douglas fir on the prairie.
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Photo by Jessica Pellington.

09/04/2026

There is a mighty movement happening just beneath the grass at Wolf Haven’s Patrick Vance Dunn Memorial Prairie! Mazama pocket gophers are tiny forces of nature, shifting 3-7 tons of soil per acre every year to construct their underground homes. These ecosystem engineers enrich the soil, boost native plant diversity, and create burrows that double as shelters for local reptiles, amphibians, and insects. Thanks to a successful translocation project that brought 193 pocket gophers to our sanctuary prairie between 2005 and 2008, our resident population has flourished into hundreds. Next time you visit, keep an eye out for their signature fan-shaped mounds dotting the landscape!

Visit our most recent blog post to read more about these tiny but mighty eco-engineers: wolfhaven.org/post/mighty-movement-underground
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This issue, recently printed in Salish Magazine, explores the life and roles of the Mazama Pocket gopher.

09/03/2026

For today’s , we’re honoring two of Wolf Haven's most beloved residents, brother and sister Lucan (1979-1994) and Clementine (1979-1996). Arriving at the sanctuary together, these two beautiful wolves spent 13 years captivating visitors from atop their enclosure's mound. As they aged, their inseparable bond was especially apparent when Clementine began losing her sight and Lucan faithfully guided her around their home. Even after Lucan's passing, Clementine kept her fiery spirit, joining in sanctuary howls and greeting visitors until she re-joined her brother in 1996. Though years have passed, these two gentle souls are forever running free together.
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09/03/2026

We are so excited to partner with the Hands On Children's Museum this Friday for Pack Power! Come visit our team to learn more about wolf conservation efforts, ask questions, and enjoy a full day of fun, family-friendly activities.

First Friday Night is this Friday, 4-8 pm! $3 admission, activities, and guests including...

🚲 Walk N Roll with Intercity Transit
🐺 Pack Power with Wolf Haven International
💕 Neurodiversity Affirming Parenting Support with Blooming with Beth
📘 Free Book with South Sound Reading Foundation

Supported by foundry10 & Inspire Olympia