LAKESIDE — The White Mountain Wildlife and Nature Center will hold its annual Wolf Discovery Day on Saturday, July 20, including an ever-popular visit from the Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary. This free program begins at 10 a.m. at the Nature Center’s site at 425 S. Woodland Road in Pinetop-Lakeside.
Jean Ossario of Las Cruces, New Mexico and Billie Hughes of Alpine, White Mountain Conservation League experts and advocates on the Mexican grey wolf recovery program will make an informative and enjoyable presentation on wolf recovery efforts. Jean and Billie have been actively involved with this program for many years and are knowledgeable about the challenges the program has faced, as well as its successes. Their balanced program will address all sides of this controversial issue.
The Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary will be visiting with one of their live wolf ambassadors, and this will be the public’s opportunity to meet and photograph a life wolf up close (and learn why they do not make suitable pets). Sanctuary representatives will discuss wolf behavior and ecology and how attendees can help the Sanctuary meet its mission of educating the public and providing life-time sanctuary to the more than 60 wolves and wolf-dogs which are in residence.
One key aspect of the wolf recovery effort is the tracking of wolves and other animals in the field. Conservation League tracking expert Janice Przybyl of Quemado, New Mexico, along with Billie Hughes and Jean Ossorio will conduct a hands-on wildlife tracking workshop along the Nature Center’s trails. Participants will learn how and where to look for tracks, what clues and track characteristics help identify the species that made it, and gain experience in track identification techniques including making plaster castings of Mexican wolf and other species’ tracks.
This year’s event is timed to coincide with the Big Lake Howliday Campout Weekend running from July 19-21. Join the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project for a fun-filled weekend learning about and celebrating the return of Mexican wolves to the wild. This year marks the 15 year anniversary of the first releases of Mexican wolves back into the wild in the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area.
The weekend campout event at the Apache Trout Campground Fir Group site at Big Lake will also launch the second Paseo del Lobo hike for wolf awareness. Participation (and food) is free, but pre-registration is required at www.gcwolfrecovery.org\. Campers will need their own camping equipment and appropriate attire to partake in a full slate of fun and informative activities. .
For more information on the Nature Center and its 2013 Discovery Program series, please visit www.wmnatire.org or call (928) 358-3069.