Awoo! That’s how wolves say, “Pet me, hooman.” (Probably!) Are you itching to find out just how wolves talk to each other? Would you like to take a wolf for walkies in the woods? Do you want to find out just how soft these beautiful animals’ fur really is? And have you ever wanted to learn how to howl directly from a wolf? Well then, we know the perfect place for you. (Not to mention us.)
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The Predators of the Heart Sanctuary lets you have an awoosome 2-hour Wolf Encounter Experience. The animal sanctuary’s located in Anacortes in the state of Washington near Seattle and right next to Vancouver past the Canadian border. So Americans and Canadians alike have a great opportunity to go running (or cuddling) with the wild animals. Scroll down for Bored Panda's interview about wolves with Clive Wynne, Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University and author of Dog is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You.
Dear Pandas, have any of you ever gone walking with wolves before? Perhaps you live near the wolf sanctuary? If so, drop us a comment and tell us about your experiences with these adorable animals.
You can go on an awoosome tour in the woods with wolves at the Predators of the Heart Sanctuary in the state of Washington
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The wolves are incredibly friendly. Keep in mind, they only have collars on when they pose for photos
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You can pet them and scratch their bellies
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The animal rescue and preservation sanctuary only keeps animals that "find themselves without a place to live out their lives"
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According to professor Wynne from Arizona State University, most wolves do not usually act as friendly as those at the sanctuary in Washington. However, " a wild animal can, with skill and patience, be raised to be willing to react in a friendly way towards humans."
"People should always do some due diligence before taking a sanctuary’s word for it that their animals are harmless," the professor pointed out.
We also wanted to know how well the global grey wolf population is thriving currently. Wynne pointed out that "wolves do OK in parts of the world where the human population is very sparse: places like Canada, Alaska, and Siberia."
"But in most parts of the globe with a significant human population, wolves are in a difficult situation and will need continuous protection from and by people."
The animal sanctuary lies between Seattle and Vancouver
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You can’t just drop by to play with the wolves at the sanctuary. You have to book a guided tour with the wolves (don’t worry, the guide’s human… if it’s not the full moon) through Airbnb for around 200 US dollars per person. You can check the dates and the prices right here. Usually, there are 2 tours a day, 6 days a week (the wolves get Sundays off!). And there’s a waitlist. So your perfect day out with wolves will take some planning to get just right.
Image credits: Predators of the Heart
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Image credits: rachjoys
Image credits: predatorsoftheheart
Keep in mind that it’s not just wolves that live in the Predators of the Heart Sanctuary: it’s also home to foxes, cougars, reptiles, and birds of prey. Though it’s not just dangerous animals that you can meet there—you can befriend some rescued critters there as well.
You also ought to know that just like voting and driving a car, petting wolves is a strictly 18+ activity. Unfortunately, there are no exceptions to this rule. So if you’re still a minor, you’ll have to wait for your 18th birthday. But imagine celebrating becoming an adult in a forest surrounded by wolves. That’d be incredible, right?
You have to book the wolf experience in advance
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Full disclosure, the sanctuary has had a couple of safety incidents a long time ago. In one case, a hiker’s dog lost its life when it went onto the sanctuary’s private property. Also, one wolf escaped its enclosure and went onto a neighbor’s property.
The Predators of the Heart Sanctuary first opened in 1998 and encompasses 10 acres. The nonprofit organization maintains very strict standards when it comes to taking care of the animals it protects.
The sanctuary has 10 acres of land where the animals can roam
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“Our goal is to educate children about wildlife, not only to teach the facts about the animals but to use an approach that leads to an appreciation, affection, compassion and respect for these living creatures—to make it clear that an animal’s value is not determined by its similarity or services to humans,” the sanctuary explained it’s mission.
“Our purpose is to develop caring and concern for the animals. Our aim is to help open the eyes of their hearts to see that all nature is interconnected and realize that apart from it we cannot survive. We also serve as a sanctuary for animals that cannot be reintroduced to the wild and need a safe and healthy environment to live out the remainder of their lives.”
The sanctuary is full of other animals as well, including cougars, birds, and rescued wildlife
Image credits: pothwildlife
Image credits: pothwildlife
Image credits: pothwildlife