Howl and Shout Out to South Pasadena Middle School 7th Graders !

Recently we did one of our wolf education programs for close to 400 7th graders at South Pasadena Middle School.  The program was a huge success! and the students, a lively, inquisitive and intelligent bunch, were enthralled with Allie, Takoda, Keme and Freedom and gained much knowledge about wolves and the need for their protection.

This is apparent in the incredibly insightful, passionate, informed and well written letters that they wrote to the CA Department of Fish and Game to support granting endangered status to wolves in California under the state's Endangered Species Act.  This to ensure protection for Journey (OR-7) and the wolves that will surely follow him migrating to California. The hearing is today.

While we await CA Fish and Game's decision, we want to give an especial Shout Out aka Howl to the students for their amazing letters and their compassion and passion for wolves- and I must add that if 7th graders are as intelligent and involved as these students, then we need not worry about the future for wolves or for ourselves. Here's the letter we sent to thank them personally:

Seventh Grade Students of SPMS

1500 Fair Oaks Ave.

South Pasadena, CA 91030

 

Dear Students,

I want to thank you all for taking the time out of your busy day at school to come to our assembly and also participating in a letter writing campaign to help put Journey and future wolves migrating to California on the California Endangered Species List. I read each and every one of your letters myself and am so impressed with your knowledge, your compassion and your  ability to express your thoughts so effectively.

So impressed ,that with your permission I would like to copy them and send them to  President Barack Obama on your behalf. As many of your letters expressed, it is never too late to do the right thing.

Please thank your teachers for their participation...Ms. Wells and the Science teachers that did a lesson on wolves for you as well. Their participation lets me know that you inquired for more knowledge about wolves and put research behind your decisions and  opinions.

I applaud you all for your commitment to this, even those who had some disagreement with us. I hope the California Fish & Game Commission sends you the information you requested. Please give yourselves and each other a hand. (I can hear you!)

As you hear my words in this letter, the Commission will be in session to hear arguments for and against the wolves being placed on the California Endangered Species List.

I am certain, all of you have made and will continue to  make a huge difference in their decision. I will continue to update you on the outcome.

Respectfully,

The Shadowland Foundation Pack,

Paul, Colette, Gwenn, Judy, Janice and especially Takoda, Alaska, Keme, Freedom and their pack mates.

So, THANK YOU All for your support of Shadowland and the wolves!

Freedom

It has been a long time since I wrote on our blog. I have been really busy following the plight of the wolves in the wild and advocating politically in the states that want to hunt them. It is more difficult than you know just to read about it, much less report about it. I have come to the conclusion that I have a passion for advocacy, but I do not have much stomach for it, especially in the political arena. Discouragement has been my closest friend of late.

On the ranch, there are so many signs that spring has sprung; the birds are nesting, the trees are blooming, the rain is falling and we have a new life...little Kiyuska...our little Freedom. Encouragement has come back to me.
Every year as in a wild pack, the new pups give a renewed sense of purpose and renewed spirit to survive and there is no difference for us here.

Freedom was born March 3rd and came to us at 17 days old. Many are concerned that he was too young to take from his mother, and so was I in the beginning. However, waiting until after they can see and hear and completely bonded to their litter mates and surroundings, it is far more traumatic , especially for wolves. He has a bottle every 3 hours (yes, all through the night) and started on puppy food at nearly 3 weeks old. He was 11" on the day we got him and is now almost 17" long. His teeth have broken through in the last week and those little fangs are as sharp as needles. His ears stood up, he can run (sort of) and he pees on his pee pad as long as I carry him there.

Ogin, Kachina and Chenoa have become his constant companions and are the best babysitters. Tehya, Cochise and Keme are a little hesitant with him, but I am sure they will adopt other roles as he grows. For us, witnessing this natural process is just exhilarating. For me...he has renewed my Spirit and purpose. My job as their caretaker, leader and advocate is to keep my consciousness clear and know that our mission is "the good fight" and focus on the life, not the death of these magnificent creatures. So I will continue to train them, introduce them and present them to as many people in the world as I can and that will be the highest good for me, our pack family, and I know that my prayers and the life energy I send to the wild ones will serve their highest good as well.

Please continue to follow our progress on this blog, and watch Freedom (both our little guy and the ranch) thrive. We implore you to share it with your family, friends and co-workers. Let's all see them running free and happy in their natural habitat, surrounded by Eco-friendly tourists with binoculars and cameras. We can make this happen!

Thank you,
Colette

SAVE THE WOLVES FROM GUNS WITH BINOCULARS AND CAMERAS

As you may know, we recently lost our beloved black wolf Shadow, who inspired and fueled our passion to save wolves. We are determined to be as committed and resilient as she was in our mission.

This past May, in an unprecedented act, Congress removed Northern Rocky gray wolves from the Endangered Species List, stripping them of their federal protections. Currently, legal action is being taken by leading environmental organizations to prove that act to be unconstitutional and an abuse of the legislative process.

The legal process is extremely time consuming, and their success will come much too late for the wolves in Wyoming or Idaho and Montana, where wolf hunting season begins in August! Two thirds of the wolves are designated targets and Idaho is preparing to enact state laws that would guarantee them the right to enact similar laws as Wyoming where just last week, wolves were delisted and Secretary of State Ken Salazar and newly appointed head of Fish & Wildlife, Dan Ashe approved the state's current management that allows wolves to be shot on site at any time.

We believe that the only way to meet the immediate need to save these wolves is to launch a campaign demonstrating how very crucial they are not only to the environment but to the local economies; to show that they are more profitable alive than dead.

Ecotourism is a billion dollar industry for the Yellowstone National Park. In 2010, close to 4 million visitors that traveled there specifically to see wildlife, especially the wolf. Research suggests that visitors to the park stay an average of 3.2 days spending $108 per day. That equals approximately $1,382,400,000 and benefits local businesses, private citizens and local governments. Significantly more than revenue collected from hunting and fishing licenses combined. In spite of this, Congress voted to protect special interests that falsely blame the wolf for their economic losses. We want the people of Wyoming, Idaho and Montana and all visitors and friends of wildlife to speak up and let it be known that the wolf is good for business.

If you have not yet planned your summer or winter vacation, we ask that you take a trip to Yellowstone National Park, by way of Idaho or Montana and shout from the rooftops that you are there to see the wolves - armed with cameras and binoculars, instead of guns.

Because this is our first introduction of this campaign idea, your feedback would be greatly appreciated. We also urge you to participate by telling your friends and booking your trip for an exciting rescue and recovery mission...the wolves need your help!