Anyone have experience with a purebred wolf?

[Gypsy Wolf]

Yes, I live in FL, and as I stated before, I would have to change my living situation in order to accomodate a wolf. If I stayed in FL, I would need a wildlife possession permit, but again, this is something further out in the future.
I disagree completely regarding your opinion that I wouldn't learn anything applicable if only interacting with one wolf. My study parameters are ethological, not traditional laboratory parameters. Many ethologists have made breakthrough studies utilizing interactions with only one or a few members of a species - one that comes to mind instantly is Alex the African Grey parrot and Irene Pepperberg - a bird that she purchased at a pet store and has now changed the idea of learning and cognition - in both birds, and in some cases her studies have been applied to early learning in children. It often takes someone with their own convictions to go ahead and just do it - rather than listen to the naysayers who end up actually benefitting from such maverick studies.
I would urge people unfamiliar with studies such as these to perhaps investigate them before passing judgment on a subject they know nothing about. If it weren't for the Pepperberg, Fossey, et al, studies - people who likely got the same (if not more) flak about their studies than I am on this topic - we would not have their enlightening and groundbreaking knowledge and the world would be a little less bright...

[yukidomari]

Originally Posted by Lunas Mom

I would urge people unfamiliar with studies such as these to perhaps investigate them before passing judgment on a subject they know nothing about. If it weren't for the Pepperberg, Fossey, et al, studies - people who likely got the same (if not more) flak about their studies than I am on this topic - we would not have their enlightening and groundbreaking knowledge and the world would be a little less bright...

I am familiar with Pepperberg's work with her African Grey.

It seems that your mind is made up anyway, so it really doesn't make sense to point out huge differences in approach when you try to compare yourself to Fossey or Pepperberg, though..

[Gypsy Wolf]

I am no Pepperberg or Fossey, my point is simply that there are people making judgments without understanding ethology studies or the parameters of said study.
It seems much of the judgment is coming from a personal and emotional views - and everyone is welcome to their opinions, of course. Much of the science we rely on today was conducted against popular views... sheesh, if it weren't for maverick scientists, we would likely still be thinking frogs spontaneously erupted out of mud in the spring and that our humors needed to be balance in order to eradicate disease.
My actual intent in starting this thread was to gather information from anyone on this board who had/has experience with pure wolves. I was looking for information on their experiences and interactions with the species - in whatever environment - whether captive or wild, so that I could begin to gather information for my future behavioral studies.
My mind is not made up regarding acquiring a wolf in the future - it may end up being too big a commitment - that remains to be seen...

[michaelundinaeichhorn]

Originally Posted by Lunas Mom

My actual intent in starting this thread was to gather information from anyone on this board who had/has experience with pure wolves. I was looking for information on their experiences and interactions with the species - in whatever environment - whether captive or wild, so that I could begin to gather information for my future behavioral studies.
My mind is not made up regarding acquiring a wolf in the future - it may end up being too big a commitment - that remains to be seen...

As I wrote before do we have experiences with pure wolves and we additional know a lot of those people doing the studies you are interested in personally, some of them became friends. And this too was the reason for our reactions, inclusive the advice considering your own safety. We also know the scientific work of those people and their opinion considering how it should be done correctly. There is also still actual research going on in several places on this matter on captive wolves. None of them is keeping only one and none would see this as necessary or right, seen from ethical points of view. As you can be a proper social partner for a dog but never a proper social partner for a wolf, no matter how good the environment is.

I also did understand your first question as where to get a wolf from and obviously I wasn´t the only one.

Ina

[buidelwolf]

Happy new year to everybody!

Lunas Mom, I've read all this topic again and I still get a strong feeling that you want to keep a real wolf, purely to fulfill a personal naive dream, legitimized by the artificially-made magic words: “ethologist” and “study purposes”. I find it bizarre that you're referring to a marginal site, where a lot of nonsense and fairytales are sold and where the animals shown, just being mixes. I see no wolf. If you have studied wolves and coyotes, one may expect a greater knowledge. As you may encounter unexpected criticism, the more you emphasize the educational aspect, this under the cloak of a proclaimed status of “ethologist”.

This all reminds me to an old topic: Looking for a nice Male CsV pup to import (roughly translated into: "where can I get a CsV as soon as possible"?), in which you were looking for a CsV as soon as possible for a friend who apparently barely knew the race. Despite various advices to better orient herself and not to act impulsively, the import followed two weeks later! I see similarities regarding the compulsive aspect herein in full. Aside: how's Pollux? Is he still at your girlfriends place or is he now under your care given the fact that you've mentioned it in your "about me section"? I see at your site that he's for sale. Was your girlfriend tired of him so fast?

I'm also very attracted to wolves and the part which is still in our CsV's. I can understand your dream somewhere but you should conclude that it is madness. Luna’s Mom, leave this egocentric idea I would say. It will become a drama and at the end, the animal will be the victim.

Robbert

[saschia]

I don't mean to give you flak as you named it, and actually I know that YOU would benefit hugely from the study of even single wolf, even we might. My concern is about the wolf, if the cost/benefit is worth it. And by cost I mean the difference of the life of that wolf with you versus in a shelter/refugee/whatever else.

[Gypsy Wolf]

I agree totally about the cost/benefit of the study vs. the quality of life for the wolf. That is one reason I have not gone out and gotten a wolf in the last 18 or so years I have wanted to do so. I want to be 100% sure I can committ totally to the animal and it's needs - for it's entire life.
On a personal level I see no difference between a refuge and any other "captive" situation like a zoo. No, it isn't like being in the wild. On the flipside, as a wildlife rehabber, many higher-intelligence animals, once raised with humans, cannot be successfully released back into the wild, so this animal would have to stay in a captive environment.
As an ethologist, part of my study would be enriching the animal's environment to preserve a happy animal. I do that with all of my own companion animals, too.

[saschia]

Well, I would consider life with a pack more interesting than life with a person, for a wolf at least. But I'll leave the counting of costs/benefits up to you, it will be, after all, your responsibility.