By Justin Finneran
Upper Schuylkill Valley Park and Wildlife Center, located on Route 113 in Royersford across from Parkhouse (Montgomery County Geriatric Center) is presenting the program “Wonderful Wolves” on Sunday, October 13, from 1-3 p.m. in celebration of Wolf Awareness Week.
Not only will program participants be introduced to Hunter and Scout, the resident year-and-a-half old Gray Wolf brothers, but they will also take part in outdoor wolf fun and games. Planned activities include face painting, crafts and games.
“We will setup stations where kids can learn about wolf skills and wolf facts,” said Billy Keen, the Animal Worker at the Wildlife Center. “We’ll also have general information on wolves (such as) the different species and population numbers across North America. “We will also have games for children, like seeing if you can tell the difference between wolves, coyotes, and dogs – you’d be surprised how many people get it wrong!”
Keen described the event as being family friendly and the activities as great for “preschool through elementary school” kids. The staff of the Wildlife Center will be joined by colleagues from Mill Grove, Pottsgrove Manor and Lower Perkiomen Valley Park for the day to assist with hosting attendees.
“Hunter and Scout were born last year on Earth Day (April 22), and have been here since they were seven weeks old,” said Keen. “They currently weigh about 90 pounds and will grow to 100-120 pounds. Wolves certainly are not the vicious killers they are made out to be – they are actually scared of humans.”
He added that while wolves have been considered eradicated in Pennsylvania since the late 1800’s, they are still found in the northern United States from Wisconsin westward Washington state, and are frequently seen in Canada.
Pre-registration is not required, and there is a $2 per person suggested donation.
“We invite the public to come out, learn and have fun at the same time,” Keen said.
Unaffected by the government shutdown, the Upper Schuylkill Valley Park and Wildlife Center Park is open seven days a week (except major holidays) from 7:30 a.m. until sundown (seasonal hours). The centers latest exhibit, “Schuylkill Wilds”, houses about 30 different species that can be found in and around the Schuylkill River such as fish, snakes, turtles, frogs, a mink and a skunk. Other resident animals include the occupants of the Rabbit House, bird of prey, chickens, goats, foxes, turkeys a donkey named Julius Cesar.
The Upper Schuylkill Valley Park and Wildlife Center Park has been operated by Montgomery County since 1972
For additional information call the park at 610-948-5170 or visit http://www.montcopa.org and click on ‘Parks, Trails & Historic Sites’ near the top of the screen.
The Upper Schuylkill Valley Park and Wildlife Center Park is having their next program, the Turkey Program for Kids, in November. Groups of ten or more should register their group with the park prior to the event.