Program Explores Facts And Myths About Wolves

Pat Tucker and Bruce Weide aren’t just a circus act with a live gray wolf.

They have a traveling mission to present facts and dispel myths so people can make rational decisions about the future of Canis lupus in its natural environment.

Although there are plenty of animal lovers in the country, Tucker and Weide stand out as naturalists with glowing letters of reference from prestigious places, such as the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.

Their non-profit organization, called Wild Sentry, the Northern Rockies Wolf Program, has made more than 400 presentations at venues across the nation, including the National Wildlife Federation’s annual conservation summit.

This week, the show, which blends photography, storytelling and demonstrations, will be presented in Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry.

The featured attraction, of course, is Koani, a five-year-old, 100-pound female gray wolf that Tucker and Weide have raised from puppyhood.

Koani was born in captivity to wolves being used for filmmaking. Tucker and Weide volunteered to take Koani from the filmmakers on the condition that the wolf be used for education.

Koani fell into the right hands.

Tucker is a nurse and wildlife biologist. Weide is a writer-photographer who’s authored books, including “Trail of the Great Bear” and “There’s a Wolf in the Classroom” as well as the Public Television documentary, “The Wolf: Real or Imagined.”

Koani had a part in the ABC /World of Discovery television special, “Return of a Legend.” in 1993.

Just as important, Koani has given intimate personal presentations to more than 50,000 people from coast to coast.

The numbers are impressive, because Wild Sentry isn’t geared to a mass audience.

“Our mission is to do programs in rural areas where wolf recovery has a potential of occurring,” Tucker said. “We feel in these areas, Koani’s presence can be informative and effective.”

Tucker emphasized that while Koani is socialized to humans, the wolf is not domesticated. Therefore, audiences are not allowed to touch the wolf.

“Koani is not a pet,” Tucker said. “Wolves don’t make good pets.”

Because captive wolves retain a highly developed predatory instinct, they are dangerous around children unless closely supervised, she said.

This is not meanness, the couple points out. It’s just that children are fast and erratic and utter high pitched squeals - much like a prey animal in trouble.

“If you were given a Bengal tiger kitten and raised it like a cat, would you expect to have a cat when it grows up?” Tucker said.

“But that’s one of the pitfalls of exhibiting wildlife. Some people can get the misconception that wild animals should be pets.

“Wolves don’t have the conscience we’ve developed in dogs.”

Wild Sentry’s “The Wolf: Real or Imagined” blends science and the humanities for fun and education.

“Our message isn’t simple, but we’re not trying to convince the public that wolves are great animals without any problems,” Tucker said. “Wolves are a native species that will sometimes create problems for us. But we need to make management decisions based on facts, not myths.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Wolf program “The Wolf: Real or Imagined,” featuring the gray wolf, Koani, will be at the following locations this week: Tuesday, Sandpoint Panida Theater, program for all ages, 7 p.m. Cost: $4 adults, $2 students. Friday, Bonners Ferry Junior High School Auditorium, youth presentation, 3:45 p.m. Student cost: $1. Friday, Bonners Ferry Junior High School, program for all ages, 7 p.m. Cost: $3 adults, $1 students.