Sleeping Wolf (captive)

D1x/300F2.8AFS/iso125 F8 1/180th FF-2/laying on ground


Hello NatureScapers...

There is a facility in Minnesota which was originally federally funded and their mission was/is to study wolf behavior, nutrition and the basic biology of the wolf. The facility also was used to educate the public about wolves and many wolves from this center eventually were placed in the wild, some in Yellowstone when wolves were reintroduced. Injured wolves come here to be rehabilitated and hopefully to be released. Although federal funding was moved to another location in MN, this facility continues to exist based on donations from the public.

I have always had a fascination with wolves and living in MN, they are part of our state's heritage and ecosystem. I was thrilled when the opportunity developed for me to photograph the wolves at this center. I have been visiting the wolves every month since January and have made a project of photographing them over the course of an entire year in their lives.

I started out making some photographs from an observation deck. Wanting a lower perspective and a different experience, I was allowed access into the pens with a person that the wolves had experience with and trusted. These are very large pens, about the size of a city block. They were obviously wary of me in the beginning and held back. The more I visit, the less nervous the wolves have become.

On this particular day, I arrived before sunrise, knowing it was going to be a clear day. It was minus 15F that morning and my D1x batteries lasted about 15 minutes before I had to rotate them. The wolves seemed cold also and this image was made of the dominant female in the pen. She layed down in some fresh snow and tucked her nose in for a rest, always keeping an eye on me. I made this image just as the sun was clearing the trees.

Thanks for looking and any comments or suggestions..