ELY — Three of the International Wolf Center’s ambassador wolves drew lots of attention on a recent day, as they took pack-order turns feeding in their enclosure, offering plenty of photo opportunities for visitors.
Boltz and Luna, the center’s two youngest wolves, waited as one of their older pack members took his turn first. Occasionally, Luna got too close and was put in her place with a snarl.
Dominance displays and rank order behaviors are just a few of the many things visitors can learn by observing the IWC’s live wolves.
While the exhibit pack members Boltz and Luna, who came to the center in 2012, and Aidan and Denali, born in 2008, may be the stars of the center, there are many other ways to learn about wolves at the IWC — some that give participants an even more intimate look at the creatures.
One of those programs — the Wild Family Rendezvous Weekend — will take place Aug. 1-2 and again Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5-6.
During the rendezvous, families partake in a variety of wolf-and northwoods-geared activities, including hikes, games such as Wolf Jeopardy, and crafts. They learn about radio tracking and wolf ecology, and observe as the wolves are fed. Families camp out in the center’s auditorium, where ceiling-to-floor windows look out to the exhibit pack’s enclosure, and participants receive their own dinner, along with breakfast in the morning.
Another chance to stay overnight at the center is during the IWC’s Wolf Watch programs, which focus on wolf ethology — interpreting wolf behaviors. The next Wolf Watch will be Aug. 6-7.Wolves – Mesabi Daily News: Local.