The Wolf Conservation Center
In Their Own Words:
The Wolf Conservation Center envisions a world where wolves thrive
Our mission is to advance the survival of wolves by inspiring a global community through education, advocacy, research, and recovery.
We are driven by our values of respect, community, and passion.
Respect - We respect wolves, their complex ecological role, the landscapes they shape, the people who care about them, and the people who live among them.
Community - We are inspired by the pack. We bring people together, we nurture, we educate, we aid, we protect, we organize, and we defend. We are always stronger together.
Passion - We have a passion for wolves, for the landscapes we share, and for the work of protecting them. Our passion drives us to learn, see the big picture, and be diligent and tenacious in the long-term work of saving wolves.
The Work
Wild wolf survival is heavily dependent on public sentiment. WCC addresses this issue through various public education events and programs appropriate for grade school-age to senior citizens, including tented "howl" overnights, video libraries, Webcams, educational programs for schools, scouts, or other groups, controlled photography sessions with Ambassador Wolves, and more.
Research, advocacy, and species recovery programs round out WCC's work. The WCC Integrative Ecology and Coexistence Lab (IECL), led by Dr. Joey Hinton, Ph.D., and WCC research associate Sunny Murphy, researches the ecology, management, and conservation of mammalian carnivores, focuses on the distribution and population dynamics of carnivores, and assesses strategies used for population recovery. Managed Breeding and Reintroductions: The Wolf Conservation Center participates in the federal Species Survival Plan (SSP) recovery programs for the Mexican gray wolf and the red wolf; both species were, at one time, completely extinct in the wild. WCC is one of the three largest holding facilities for these rare species.
Note from Destination: Wildlife
Historic fear and misunderstanding brought the extinction of some wolf species, the extirpation of others, and an alarming decrease in numbers worldwide. But this apex species helps to balance ecosystems; our planet is healthier with wolves. And we can learn much from their character, including resourcefulness, teamwork, loyalty, and taking time for a good play session, no matter our age or circumstance. The Wolf Conservation Center is a leader in bringing a more correct perception of wolves to the public and helping to save this iconic species.