Nocturnal animals are wide awake for Hoot ‘n’ Howl! Come meet them and their keepers during a Keeper Chat. Join us for Hoot ‘n’ Howl nights on October 18-19, and 25-26. Nightly Keeper Chats: 5:30pm – Beaver, 6:30pm – Wolves, 7:30pm – Barn owl. Hoot ‘n’ Howl Details Chip and Hudson can often be seen snuggling together in their den in the Forest & Wetlands beaver habitat. They might also be seen arranging their habitat to their liking with more sticks, branches, and foliage. Beavers are incredibly adaptable and can make most places around the United States into cozy homes. …

Our three 10-year-old gray wolves were given a clean bill of health at their triennial examinations in early November. Northwest Trek Head veterinarian Dr. Allison Case led the exams with the assistance of veterinary technician Tracy and keepers Haley, Carly, and Aynsley. On average, gray wolves weigh 75 to 110 pounds. At their exams, Canagan, the resident male wolf, weighed 103 pounds, and females Tala and Darci both weighed 83 pounds. Each wolf received a complete checkup: full physical exam, blood and urine analyses, vaccinations, X-rays, nail trims, and a dental cleaning. And, of course, Dr. Case ensured the wolves …

Once upon a time there were two wolf species: red wolves and gray wolves. Neither of them were “big and bad,” but they were often feared by humans. Over time, more and more were hunted. By 1940 gray wolves were decimated in the American wild and by the 1970s, so were red wolves. It was time for the story’s hero to step in. “Humans have a long history of blaming predators for problems, like wolves and grizzly bears,” says Marc Heinzman, zoological curator at Northwest Trek. “But scientific data shows that’s just not true in all cases.” While it’s true …