(SitNews) Soldotna, Alaska - Responding to a report of an animal den with living occupants found in the smoldering debris of the Funny River Horse Trail Wildfire last Tuesday, Alaska Department of Fish and Game Wildlife Biologist Jeff Selinger didn’t know what to expect.

Firefighters who happened upon the scene had detected movement within, but the den was dark and the animal—or animals—inside could not be identified. Once he arrived at the fire-line site some seven miles up Funny River Road, the 6-foot-tall Selinger was unable to squeeze into the narrow, root-rimmed den. A much smaller firefighter was recruited to crawl in and five live wolf pups - three males and two females - were handed up from the shadows, their eyes squinting in the afternoon light. A sixth pup was found deceased.

Two of the rescued wolf pups at the Alaska Zoo.
Photograph by John Gomes - Alaska Zoo Photographer ©2014
Permission granted to SitNews for publication.

Wildlife Biologist Selinger determined that ongoing firefighting activity made the return of adult wolves unlikely, so with the pups’ immediate health and long-term future in mind, he contacted department staffers in Anchorage who regularly handle the care and placement of orphaned wildlife. By the time the pups arrived in Anchorage, a temporary home and veterinary care were waiting at the Alaska Zoo.

The pups continue to be in quarantine at the Alaska Zoo and their health is still being monitored. According to the ADF&G, the initial examination indicated the pups to be about five weeks old and had sustained injuries from porcupine quills.

Arrangements for permanent placement in an authorized zoo or wildlife facilities were made; ideally with the plan that the pups would stay together. By Friday, the five wolf pups removed from the massive Funny River Wildfire had found a new 'forever' home.

The Minnesota Zoo, located south of Minneapolis-St. Paul in Apple Valley, Minn., offered to accommodate the entire litter and will receive a permit to house them permanently. The pups - two females and three males - continue to receive care at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage.

“The Minnesota Zoo has an established relationship with the Alaska Zoo and has been a good partner with us in past orphaned wildlife situations,” said Cyndi Gardner, acting permitting biologist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

“The (Minnesota) facility is well-qualified and respected, and we’re confident the pups will have a good home there, ” said Gardner.

One of the rescued wolf pups at the Alaska Zoo.
Photograph by John Gomes - Alaska Zoo Photographer ©2014
Permission granted to SitNews for publication.

The pups will remain at the Alaska Zoo until veterinarians are certain the animals are old enough and healthy enough for transport. When found on Tuesday, they weighed about 2.5 pounds apiece and suffered from dehydration and punctures from porcupine quills.

“Really, their health is the driving factor behind the pups’ eventual transport,” said Pat Lampi, executive director at the Alaska Zoo.

Department and Alaska Zoo officials agree that keeping the pups together is important. The Alaska Zoo currently houses a family group of wolves from another part of the state and maintaining pack structure appears to enhance the wellbeing of the group.

“It’s the companionship,” said Lampi. “They were born together in the wild and now they can grow up together. As long as they remain together, wherever they go is home.”

Soldotna Area Wildlife Biologist Jeff Selinger was called after firefighters found the wolf pups in a den off Funny River Road. Selinger made the decision to remove the animals and arranged for their initial care with the Alaska Zoo.

In situations where young animals are not accompanied by mothers for extended periods of time, calling a state biologist to the scene is the right thing to do. Normally, mothers are nearby and will return once people leave.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

On the Web:

Minnesota Zoo
http://mnzoo.org

Source of Photographs:

©2014 John Gomes, Photographer - Alaska Zoo
http://alaskazoo.org

Source of News: 

Alaska Department of Fish & Game
www.adfg.state.ak.us

SitNews ©2014
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

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