Wolf Awareness Week Events Scheduled Throughout the United States

(10/10/2001) - The week of October 14 through 20, 2001, marks the sixth annual National Wolf Awareness Week, a time educate the public as to the important role wolves play in maintaining healthy ecosystems and dispel misconceptions about these predators. "The history of the wolf in the United States has been one of misunderstanding and persecution, long shrouded by myth and superstition. This week provides an important opportunity to set the record straight," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife.

According to Schlickeisen, "Defenders of Wildlife made Wolf Awareness Week a national event in 1996, modeling it after a regional celebration by the Timber Wolf Alliance of Wisconsin. This year, 20 states have proclaimed the third week of October as Wolf Awareness Week. Our goal is to have the governors of all 50 states, as well as the President, proclaim a National Wolf Awareness Week."

Defenders of Wildlife is sponsoring regional events during the week of October 14 in many areas across the country, including Arizona, California, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington state. Activities include presentations by wolf experts, children’s activities, guided tours of wolf facilities and more.

In addition to the regional events, Defenders of Wildlife has launched a new website. Visitors can learn more about ways to get involved with wolf conservation and receive a schedule of events for the various Wolf Awareness Week activities. As part of Defenders’ Kids Planet, there also is a special link for teachers and students, which features selected activities from its new education curriculum.

Wolves historically inhabited most of the lower 48 states, until government extermination programs and unrestricted hunting killed almost all of them by the early 1900s. In recent years, wolves have made a remarkable recovery in the Greater Yellowstone, Northern Rockies, Great Lakes and Southwest regions. 

Suitable habitat remains for further wolf restoration opportunities in the Southern Rockies, California, Nevada, the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest. 

Some highlights of National Wolf Awareness Week 2001 include:

MIDWEST:

Minnesota 10/18-10/20: - Minnesota Zoo
Educational programs and activities for families.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST:

Washington 10/20-10/21: - Ramada Inn - Governor House of Olympia, Olympia, WA
3rd Annual Wolf Awareness Week Symposium.

WEST:

California 10/13: - California Wolf
Center, Julian, CA

"The Return of the Wolf to California: Challenging the Western Paradigm." A presentation featuring current updates on the wolf's biological, political and social journey from Idaho through Oregon and on to California.

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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation’s most progressive advocates for wolf recovery in the United States. With more than 470,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on endangered species issues. For more information on this issue or other Defenders of Wildlife projects, please visit www.defenders.org. For a complete list of all scheduled events, visit www.defenders.org/waw.

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Contact(s):

Cat Lazaroff, (202) 772-3270