Wolf Sanctuary Formed in Minnesota and Wisconsin
WASHINGTON, DC, August 29, 2002 (ENS) The Humane Society of the United
States Wildlife Land Trust has acquired 120 acres of land to establish a
greenway for wolves in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The parcel is located near Askov, Minnesota and was purchased through a
donation of more than $100,000 from Juliana Kickert, who was inspired to
save wolves by her relationship with a wolf hybrid named Pasha.
The land – ideal wolf habitat because it is a mix of wetlands and forest –
provides a critical corridor for wolves to roam between Minnesota and
Wisconsin. It also provides a needed sanctuary for these and other wild
animals because of its prohibition on hunting, trapping, logging and
development.
The land is adjacent to wildlife management areas and forests and is close
to a state park. It will be an important stepping stone between these
habitats.
“This piece of land is an essential part of a wildlife corridor, a series
of connected habitats in which wolves and other wildlife can breed, move
about and establish their territory,” noted Jim Reed, The Wildlife Land
Trust’s director of sanctuaries. “Without connected habitats like these,
wolves and other wild animals are forced to live in pockets of territory
surrounded by land developed and used by people, making it difficult for
threatened populations to recover and stable populations to remain
healthy.”
The acreage was dedicated as the Pasha Wildlife Sanctuary in memory of the
now deceased wolf hybrid adopted by Kickert more than a decade ago.
Kickert stressed that wolves and wolf hybrids should not customarily be
kept as pets.
“When I adopted Pasha I was not aware that he was a wolf hybrid. I thought
he was a husky mix,” said Kickert. “He was a true companion to me, but the
greatest lesson he taught me was that wolves need to be free and in the
wild. That is why I helped The Wildlife Land Trust purchase this land so
that it would be a permanent part of a much larger habitat for wolves.”
The Humane Society of the United States opposes keeping wolves and wolf
hybrids as pets. While they share some characteristics with dogs, these
animals are not domesticated, and behaviors that are natural for them in
the wild pose dangers to people and other companion animals in the home.
In addition, their needs cannot be met in a home setting.
Several wolf packs have been moving through the sanctuary and some wolves
may be using it as home territory.
“We are very grateful for Ms. Kickert’s donation, which allowed us to
purchase this wolf habitat and to help us establish more wildlife friendly
sanctuaries in Minnesota,” said John Kullberg, the Trust’s executive
director.