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Due to plans to evaluate upgrading our facilities, our museum, education center and museum gift shop will be closed until further notice.
Wolf and Wolf Song of Alaska related merchandise can still be purchased
through our on-line "Alaska Wolf Cache" gift shop. |
Even
today, as we begin the 21st century, ancient
myths, frightening legends from the Dark
Ages, and images from children's fairy tales
still persist, perpetuating fear and hatred
of the wolf.
The mission of Wolf Song of Alaska is simple; to educate the public about
the wolf. We seek to replace misinformation and fear with acceptance
and appreciation of the wolf.
The heart of the organization is our wolf museum and education center.
Simply put, we offer a strictly unbiased presentation of scientific information
about the wolf. Here, "experience the wolf" means "experience the truth
about the wolf".
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The
foundation of our museum is the presentation of
scientific facts about the wolf based upon the
most current research. Centuries-old portrayals
of wolves as wanton killers, werewolf legends,
and more modern stories such as "Little Red Riding
Hood" are replaced by explanations of the wolf's
behavior and the crucial role it plays in maintaining
a balance in its natural behavior. |
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walk through the museum is to be immersed in the
natural behavior of the wolf. Narratives written
in accurate and fascinating detail teach the science
not only of wolves, but of numerous species which
share their Alaskan habitat. Breathtaking photographs
capture behaviors of wild wolves rarely witnessed
by man, displays illustrate the factual presentations,
and dioramas featuring wolves and other animals
add lifelike perspective. |
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decor of the museum, like our gift shop, mirrors
the natural beauty of Alaska. The reds and greens
of the flowers and forests mingle with the deep
blue of the sky. The dioramas recreate a colorful
fall scene in the forest and a snowy winter day
on the tundra. Wolves "howling" from the background
sound system constantly remind you that you've
ventured into their territory. |
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Overall,
the museum has two main areas: the first focuses
on interactions between wolves and their prey;
the second interprets wolves' behavior and the
social structure of their packs. A myriad of
other displays provide insight into taxonomy,
pelage, radio-collar tracking, and the wolf packs
that live near Anchorage.
Your first stop on the self-guided tour is the Predator-Prey area. Here,
photography collections chronicle dramatic interactions between wolves
and two of their primary prey species in Alaska; moose and musk oxen. Dioramas
featuring wolves and other predators provide a close-up view of animals
which shy away from humans and are rarely seen in the wild. |
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Highlights
of the Predator-Prey area include:
* An imposing mature male musk ox standing in the midst of a snow-scene
diorama. On the walls beside it is a series of twenty photographs dramatically
documenting the pursuit and conclusion of a pack of white Arctic wolves
hunting musk oxen.
* The main diorama, a three-sided walk-around display dominated by a silver-gray
Alaskan wolf. The big male vividly demonstrates the considerable size difference
between the larger Gray Wolf found in Alaska and its smaller counterpart,
the Gray Wolf that inhabits Canada and the northern tier areas of the Lower
48 states such as Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and even Yellowstone
National Park. (For comparison, a brown/tan wolf representative of the
Canada / Lower 48 wolves is located in the Pack Behavior area.)
Sharing the main diorama's fall forest scene with the wolf are a wolverine
at the entrance of its den, a coyote clutching a ptarmigan in its jaws,
and a pacing lynx. |
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A second collection of photographs depicting wolves'
encounters with Dall's sheep and bears, and wolves
stalking moose. Easily the most dramatic scenes
are a chronologically narrated series of five photos,
beginning with a wolf pack moving in to kill a
large moose, and ending with virtually all of the
carcass consumed - in a span of about one hour.
* Displays offering comparisons of wolves' skulls and teeth to those of
other Alaskan animals.
* Do you know how the wolf's skull, jaws and olfactory senses differ
from those of the domestic dog? Examples and diagrams show the markedly
superior capabilities of the wolf versus the dog.
* Our popular fur table tests your knowledge of Alaska's animals. Pieces
of fur are displayed with the name of the species hidden underneath. How
many of the animals can you identify by just the appearance and feel of
their fur? Lifting each piece reveals the animal it belongs to -- some
of the answers are unexpected!
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Our
newest displays teach about the Red Wolf and the
Mexican Wolf, two of the natives of the Lower 48
states. Beautiful photos and in-depth narratives
document the near extinction of these wolves and
recent efforts to reintroduce them into portions
of their former habitats: the Red Wolf in North
Carolina and the Mexican Wolf in New Mexico and
Arizona. |
| From
the Predator-Prey area a wide door welcomes you
into Wolf Song of Alaska's education center, a
spacious multi-purpose room featuring a large center
seating area for our educational programs, meetings,
and video presentations. |
Don't
miss the fascinating displays in the Education
Center, such as:
* Wolves' pelage, including color variations and
characteristics of their fur (the Russian wolf
pelt is a "must-see")
* How wolf biologists radio-collar and track wolves in Alaska, featuring
an actual antenna and radio collar.
* While hiking in the wilderness you spot a paw print left by a canid.
Was it a wolf? A coyote? Another hiker's dog? Our display will help you
identify and compare several different tracks.
* Do wolves live close to Anchorage? Learn how many wolves inhabit the
backcountry surrounding Alaska's largest city and where the pack territories
are located.
Leaving the Education Center and the Predator-Prey area, your next stop
is our Pack Behavior room, our second major display area. Here the walls
are lined with large, close-up images of wolves "behaving like wolves".
Beneath each of the two dozen images, a narrative explains the specific
behavior shown. The beautiful photographs capture intriguing behaviors
and the narratives answer questions such as: How do wolves determine their
pack's dominance hierarchy? Why do they scent roll? What messages do they
communicate using eye contact? What are some common courtship behaviors?
These eye-catching black and white photographs are the work of Monty Sloan,
world-renowned wolf photographer, wolf behavior specialist, and generous
supporter of Wolf Song of Alaska.
Also in this room is the aforementioned brown/tan wolf representative of
the smaller Canadian and Lower 48 wolves. Situated in a diorama depicting
a dry streambed, the wolf is flanked by a beaver and river otters, two
other
species that share the Alaska wolf's habitat. Look up and you'll see another
Alaska predator -- an immature bald eagle -- soaring overhead.
Last but not least, the Pack Behavior area contains a miniature diorama
of Wolf Song of Alaska's proposed Wolf Observation Facility. The model
shows the vast scope of the multi-million dollar facility, from its wolf
habitats to its theaters, museum, on-site housing and observation towers.
The diorama also shows how the terrain and natural vegetation will be utilized
to give the illusion of barrier-free habitats for the wolves, while offering
visitors excellent opportunities to view the animals.
Throughout the wolf museum, you will also find over one hundred "factoids" about
wolves; each answering some question that you may have about wolves.
Wolf Song of Alaska gratefully acknowledges the contributions of each and
everyone of its many volunteers who have accepted the responsibilities
of research, design, construction, and maintenance of the displays in our
wolf museum and education center. All of these projects to improve and
expand these museums are ongoing.
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