By Paige Jones
THURMONT — Wolves will soon become a permanent fixture at the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo with the addition of a wolf exhibit.
Dubbed “Wolf Woods,” the estimated 2-acre exhibit is slated to open next spring, if all goes according to plan, said Callan Hahn, one of the owners of the family-owned and- operated zoo.
Plans for the wolf exhibit include trees, foliage and a shallow pond in the animals’ habitat, four separate viewing areas for visitors to observe the wolves and an educational building with displays and graphics about the species.
“Wolf Woods” will be near the North American Small Animal Pavilion, Hahn said.
Construction has not yet begun, but the exhibit’s space has been cleared of debris in preparation for the project. The zoo is determining which company will build the exhibit, a requirement since the state awarded the zoo a $50,000 grant in April, according to Hahn.
Hahn said the allocated amount is enough to start the project, but not meet its projected $350,000 cost.
The Frederick County delegation helped the zoo obtain funding, but state Delegate David Vogt and state Sen. Michael Hough spearheaded the project, according to Hahn.
Vogt said he felt compelled to get involved because “a lot of time … and money [are] going away from older-fashioned education organizations like zoos and wildlife preservations.”
“Being one in our state that also happens to be in the district, I felt like it was worth helping to draw the extra support and get the [funds] into their program,” Vogt added.
For past projects, the zoo has “done this on what we could earn,” Hahn said, noting this is the first time the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo received state funding.
“The idea came up 20 years ago and now it’s within reach,” Hahn said.
The wolf exhibit will be completed in three phases, but more phases may be added as needed.
The first phase consists of constructing the wolves’ habitat — adding a fence around the area, creating a space for the wolves to live and installing a night shelter in case of inclement weather, Hahn said.
This, along with paths leading to the exhibit for visitors, is scheduled to be completed next spring, according to Hahn.
The second phase includes starting construction on the viewing areas and educational building, which will include information and graphics about the wolves. The third will be tying up any loose ends and putting the finishing touches on the exhibit, he said.
“We expect to be at stage three in five years,” Hahn said, noting this could change.
Hahn said he and others at the zoo are working to make the wolf exhibit “as interactive as absolutely possible, without encroaching on the wolves’ lives, as we can.”
The zoo is also looking to raise funds for the new exhibit through annual events and donations. All proceeds from the annual fundraiser Zoo-La-La on Saturday will go toward “Wolf Woods.”
The fundraiser, which combines models in the latest styles and trends from local shops, is looking to raise $12,000 this year, according to a news release.