Final Thoughts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm3IUcvXoFQ

Ending the journey

Wolf Run Final Reflection Video

Memories

Jericho looking sweet

Halo checking Katie out

Meeshka being shy

beautiful buck

Lucy and Kenzie

Looking Back and Moving Forward

The following is the nostalgic post detailing my final thoughts about the Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge and our group project as a whole. I also look back at my favorite and most challenging parts of our visits.

Video Link: https://youtu.be/MAMd86dGQf8

The wolf dog Nibbles enjoys the attention of his visitors.

Nayeli has a keen habit of flopping on her back so people can rub her belly.
 Not that we ever complained. It is just too cute.

The refuge's chubby raccoon looks down on us from 

his perch up high.

Lucy the farm dog follows our group around as
 we complete our daily chores.

My Last Steps Into the Wild

...Or were they? This short video provides a reflection on my time volunteering at Wolf Run. It's very surreal to think that my time there is done. That being said, I don't think that it is the last time I will ever set foot there. I enjoyed the experience so much, I will definitely be back! Having it not count towards my grade is just an added bonus (:

Here are some photos and videos from my last visit to Wolf Run! We fed and watered the animals, watched some wolves howling, pulled weeds outside of the pup enclosure, played with the pups, and fed the pigs some pumpkins!

Rowdy the Raccoon, begging for strawberry pop tarts and rice crispy treats--his two favorite snacks!

Two of the pups waiting to be fed!

Journey taking a rest while the volunteers pull weeds.

Jericho enjoying some chin scratches!

Journey starting the entire population of wolf dogs at the farm howling. If you listen closely, you can hear the rest of them barking too!

Whiskey the pig enjoying some pumpkins donated by members of the community.

Final Video Reflection- Katie Bernardo

Hey everyone! Here is my final video reflection about my experience at Wolf Run.  In the video I just cover some of my favorite and least favorite aspects of my time at the refuge.  Below are some additional pictures that I was able to take during these last few months at this amazing organization.

The herd of deer, posing for a picture.

Nayeli and our group on Halloween.

One of the big cats at the refuge,
patiently waiting for food.

Halo and I getting to know each other.

A beautiful wolf-dog, greeting me at their fence.

Abuse From the Eyes of a Wolf Hybrid

Bandit

I want to talk about some very sad cases of a misunderstood animals who ended up at Wolf Run. Bandit, a wolf-hybrid who is now a permanent resident at Wolf Run, once loved people. He was not owned by anyone in particular, but acted as a kind-of mascot at a local golf course. The regular visitors knew Bandit and loved him. Bandit had no hesitation approaching people until, one day, a man who had never seen Bandit before began beating him violently with a golf club, fearing he was being attacked by a wolf when Bandit had only been trying to greet the golfer. Thankfully, before the man could beat Bandit to death, someone stopped the violence and explained to the visitor that Bandit was not a threat. Bandit was in bad shape. The man who had stopped the confrontation drove Bandit in his own car to a nearby animal hospital, where Bandit was treated for a shattered back hip. Bandit now walks with a permanent limp and trusts no human, not even the Wolf Run volunteers who have been taking care of him for quite some time now. Not once can any volunteer recall actually touching Bandit since he has arrived at the reserve.

Nibbles (left) and Meeshka (right)

Another terrifying case is that of Nibbles. Thankfully, as is pictured in my last post, Nibbles fears no one and is one of the most loving and playful wolf hybrids at Wolf Run, but he almost lost his life in the most unfortunate of circumstances. Nibbles was bred by a man who later gave Nibbles to his grandmother when Nibbles was just a puppy, but Nibbles is a cross breed of one of the largest domestic dog breeds and one of the largest wolf breeds. Therefore, he grew up to be a massive animal. The older woman grew to fear Nibbles and his immense size and would stab Nibbles with knives when he neared her. As shown in the photo to the left, Nibbles can seem pretty scary if you have never seen him be the sweet animal he is. Finally, after having enough of fearing her own pet, she tied Nibbles to a tree, called Wolf Run, and threatened to shoot him if Wolf Run would not take him. Of course, Wolf Run was there within the hour and Nibbles has been a happy resident of The Wolf Run Wildlife Reserve ever since.

These close calls vividly depict the need for an informed public with concern to exotic animals, wolf hybrids specifically. Maybe if people were more informed of wolf hybrid characteristics and resources like Wolf Run, these situations may have not gotten so out of hand.

Pulling, Petting, and Pumpkins

Today, Kenzie and I went to Wolf Run, and we had a blast.  At first, it was hard to get out of my warm bed to layer up and brave the chilly temperatures, but it ended up being very worth it.  We got to Wolf Run around 9:15 this morning.  Around this time, the staff members were just finishing up the daily feeding.  We got the chance to follow one of the staff members over to the raccoon cage to visit, Rowdy.  Rowdy may or may not have a weight issue, but he is still stuff the cutest little thing.  We were a little afraid of not being about to help out much, but ended up getting to help once a bigger group of volunteers arrived.

Rowdy, drinking from his water bucket on this
beautiful Sunday morning.

At first, we went into the yearling enclosure to socialize with the animals.  For some of the other volunteers, it was their first visit to the refuge so it was nice to see how excited they were to meet some of the wolf-dogs.  After meeting all of the wolf-dogs, we started on the task of pulling weeds from the outside of the yearling enclosure.  The weeds had started to block the enclosure so much that you couldn't even see the wolves from the outside.

Kara's sweatshirt after entering
the yearling cage with a handful
of meat.  I thought this perfect
paw print was pretty awesome.

While we were pulling weeds from the enclosure, the staff members were tending to the rest of the animals and also doing some yard work.  We spent about an hour or an and a half pulling these weed and throwing them over the fence.  Unfortunately, we weren't able to clear out all of the weeds, but we were able to make a significant dent in one area!

Nayeli loving scratches and being a goofy pup
 as always.

Before leaving the refuge, we were able to help feed the pigs.  Now, some people may think that a bunch of chubby pigs wouldn't be too cute, especially when they are eating; however, watching these pigs eat some pumpkins was probably one of the cutest things I have yet to see at Wolf Run!  Before the pumpkin feeing, I hadn't met any of the pigs.  Staff member, Kara told us that these pigs were put up for adoption at the refuge after their owners didn't want them anymore.  Of course, it was very sad to know that no one wanted to keep these sweet pigs, but I definitely think that they are enjoying their time at Wolf                                                                                      Run!

At the end of the day, no matter how hard it has been to schedule volunteer times at the refuge, I am so happy to be apart of such an amazing organization.  We are nearing the end of the semester and the end of our time at Wolf Run, but I sincerely hope to be able to come back a volunteer for many more months to come.  I have had such a positive experience with all of the staff members and animals.  Everyday, Wolf Run is becoming more and more prevalent in the Nicholasville and Lexington area.  In even more exciting news, the refuge was featured in a LEX 18 report this past Friday (11/20/15).  You can check it out by following this link: LEX 18 Wildlife Report .