Bay Beach wolf pack back together: Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary's pack of five wolves were reunited earlier this week and are out daily for public viewing. (Aug 29, 2013).
The wolf pack at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary has been united in the wooded wolf enclosure behind the Woodland Building August 29, 2013. Chewing a bone in the shade is one of the older females. / Jim Matthews/Press-Gazette Media
The wolf exhibit is open daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, 1660 East Shore Drive, Green Bay.
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary has its own wolf pack.
The group of five wolves, including three new additions, made their debut to a gaggle of viewers on Thursday as theylooked through a fence at the sanctuary’s wolf exhibit.
The group of wolves — ranging in age from 4 to 5-and-half months old — is still finding its collective feet as a pack, but it’s exciting for the staff to see all five living together.
“The way they are playing and running around, they’ve adjusted really well,” said Lori Bankson, curator of animals at the sanctuary. “I’ve seen the behind the scene and (now) you get to share this with the public. There’s a little bit of nervousness because as they grow older their personalities are going to change, but it’s a great time to be able to share and cherish.”
The wolves were born in captivity.
While the wolves exhibit playful characteristics, Bankson said eventually some of the playful side will fade as they get down to the business of establishing a pecking order within the pack.
“As they grow older they’re going to figure out who is the alpha male and who is the alpha female; who is going to tell everyone when it’s time to eat; when it’s time to sleep ... and with five wolves, one is going to be the low member of the pack,” Bankson said.
“Right now we see the sweet, fun puppies, but there are going to be days in the next few years they’re going to show their wild instincts and aggressiveness to try to become the alpha.”
Bringing the pack together is the culmination of months of work that started in April when the sanctuary’s remaining wolf died. The pack will play an important role in educating visitors about one of the key animals in Wisconsin’s wildlife spectrum, Bankson said.
“You don’t get to see wolves out in the wild like maybe you would songbirds or birds of prey,” she said. “Having them this young, and letting the public watch them ... and see them develop lets the public be part of their lives, too.”
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