A howling good time

People learn wolves aren’t so scary after all at event

By Owen Boss

WINCHENDON — Michael LeBlanc disproved some common misconceptions about wolves Saturday by welcoming residents to get up close and personal with his domesticated MacKenzie Valley timberwolf at Town Hall. There was standing room only in the Town Hall auditorium for the show, which Mr. LeBlanc said is his way of letting people know that they don’t have to be afraid of wolves. “The first thing people hear about wolves comes from fairy tales like ‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ and they way they depict wolves in that story is the farthest thing from the truth,” said Mr. LeBlanc. “There has never been a report of a healthy wolf attacking a human in America.” Using animal skins, skulls and antlers, Mr. LeBlanc explained to the audience that wolves prey on a variety of different animals, often well-equipped to fight back. . “Wolves eat red meat from caribou and white-tailed deer,” said Mr. LeBlanc. “Only one in eight attempts results in a kill, but these animals are resilient and can wait until a member of one of these herds gets weak or injured.” People oftentimes confuse coyotes for wolves, but Mr. LeBlanc said there are several distinct characteristics that separate them from dogs, including having toes. Another popular myth about wolves that Mr. LeBlanc was glad to disprove is that they howl at the moon. “Wolves do not howl at the moon,” said Mr. LeBlanc. “They simply howl to communicate. Each wolf has its own individual sound. If one pack member howls even from far away, they know who is talking and it can carry for more than 15 miles.” The most popular part of the presentation was when Mr. LeBlanc brought out his timid but friendly wolf Denahee, who was hand-raised starting as a cub by the LeBlanc family. Mr. LeBlanc said it is illegal to own a wolf as a pet, but he has permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state to keep a pack of wolves, which he and his family keep on one acre at their Gardner home. Feeding the wolves is no small task, and Mr. LeBlanc said local police bring the LeBlancs fresh deer found as roadkill from Route 2 to feed the wolves. While children were allowed to pet Denahee, Mr. LeBlanc stressed that a wild wolf would never be as calm as his domesticated pet, and children should still avoid contact with wild animals. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 10/13/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 242)