Tala, our 12-year-old gray wolf, recently had a special veterinary appointment at Northwest Trek, and we’re happy to share that it was a success. During Tala’s physical exam last fall, our veterinary team detected a heart murmur. Heart murmurs can be indicators that an animal has heart disease, which may require treatment. To further diagnose her heart condition, we welcomed visiting veterinary cardiologist Dr. Nadolny, who came to Northwest Trek to perform a detailed heart exam right here on site. With Tala comfortably under sedation, our animal care team, led by Head Veterinarian Dr. Kadie Anderson, worked closely with Dr. …

Brrr! You can feel the chill in the air as the temperature drops. You’re likely pulling out your winter coats, if you haven’t already! Many of the animals at the wildlife park also have their winter coats ready and are well-prepared for the colder weather. Wolverine Wolverines are made for the cold- and our wolverine Rainier is no exception. Wolverines are well-adapted for winter living, with extremely dense fur, large snowshoe-like paws that allow them to stay on top of deep snow and crampon-like claws that enable them to climb up and over steep cliffs and snow-covered peaks. Their thick …

Black cats, pumpkins, ghosts, skulls, and skeletons symbolize the Halloween season. We asked Northwest Trek’s animal care team, Head Veterinarian Dr. Kadie Anderson and Veterinary Technician Tracy Cramer, to give us an “inside” look at a few of the wildlife park’s animals and their not-so-spooky skeletons. The animal care team regularly takes radiographs (X-rays) of the animals to assess their health and care for them. Sullivan the Cougar Check out Sullivan the cougar cub’s X-rays from when he received care for a limp. This image shows the growth plates in his front legs. Since Sullivan is still growing, the growth …

This Zookeeper Week, we spent time behind the scenes with Haley, a dedicated keeper at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park. Haley cares for the incredible animals in the Canine, Cat, and Bear habitats. We asked her to share what inspired her to become a zookeeper and what working with wildlife means to her. How long have you been a zookeeper or aquarist? I have been a zookeeper since 2014. What do you wish more people knew about the species you care for? Carnivores don’t have to be feared! Bears, wolves, and cougars are animals that often provoke fear and anxiety in …

During gray wolf Canagan’s triennial examination in November, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park’s head veterinarian, Dr. Allison Case, identified an infection in one of his molars. Canagan was given antibiotics while Dr. Case consulted with a veterinary dentist. Together, they decided the tooth needed to be extracted. Wolf molars are one of the more difficult teeth to extract – they are big with two extra-large roots. Associate Veterinarian Dr. Cassidy Soehnlein was tasked with the tough job. As Dr. Soehnlein and Veterinary Technician Tracy intubated Canagan and got him settled under anesthesia, Dr. Case and keeper Haley also took the opportunity …

Will the wolves be howling at the moon? If you look to the sky on Jan. 25, you will see a full moon traditionally known as the “Wolf” Moon. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the names for full moons come from a number of places, including Native American groups, colonial Americans or other traditional North American names passed down through generations. The name of the January moon is derived from wolves, which tend to howl more often in the winter months. So why do wolves howl? To find their pack members and communicate with them in many different ways, …

February is National Dental Month and gray wolf Canagan’s story of early intervention highlights the importance of maintaining those chompers.  Our Head Veterinarian, Dr. Allison Case, examined our three wolves for a routine checkup in November. Working with our sister zoo, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Dr. Case x-rayed our male wolf Canagan’s molar for a closer look. Canagan has a minor infection and is receiving antibiotics. His pearly whites and overall health for a 10-year-old wolf are stable. Dr. Case will follow up with a veterinary dentist on the next steps for Canagan.

I had my howls all ready to go. When Northwest Trek keepers agreed I could try playing some music to our gray wolves, I was stoked. I’m primarily a writer in our marketing department – I run our websites and write blog stories, emails and more. But I’m also a classically-trained musician and have, in the last few years, developed a unique voice improvising on double bass using a looping pedal to create my own harmonies. I especially love taking this music outside, incorporating natural sounds like whalesong and birdsong. Playing music for actual wolves took this to a whole …