Last year, teams from the Museum of Life and Science and the Wolf Conservation Center in South Salem, NY, coordinated the transfer and swap of nine critically endangered Red Wolves. With the transfer of Oka, Martha, and their three pups on the horizon, we want to revisit the 2024 event and share a bit of what the day looks like!

A note on the format of this blog: During wolf “catch-ups,” or the process of safely rounding up wolves to conduct veterinary physicals, there is a person who watches the process unfold and keeps time of critical moments including start and end, and wolf captures. The notes they produce are a highly detailed minute-by-minute account of activities. We’ve replicated and expanded that idea here.

6:35 am: I arrive at the Museum at a time that is MUCH earlier than my usual ETA, but still later than Senior Director of Animal Care Sherry Samuels’ arrival time.
6:45 am: After stopping in to say good morning to both Sherry and my teammate Ro, I head upstairs to get my camera and the other equipment I’ll need for the day ahead.
6:50 am: I return to the animal care hall and see that the rest of the wolf group has gathered. This group is made up of 11 Animal Care staff and 13 other Museum staffers across departments. We each have individual assignments that range from watchers (that’s me!) to tarp holders to gate operators to crate movers.
6:58 am: Two minutes ahead of schedule, and with the team all assembled, Sherry begins her morning speech, which consists of a welcome, general thanks, reminder to place bets on a series of wolf stats (see photo below), rundown of team positions/timing, and safety reminders.

7:05 am: I hop into a Museum vehicle with Animal Care Aaron and Animal Care Kate and head to Explore the Wild: Red Wolves. It’s more than likely that you’ve never been to the Museum before the doors open to guests. At 7 am in late October, Explore the Wild is DARK. Breaking the stillness of the morning with our engine and chatter is really something. How DARK is it?

7:09 am: We arrive at Red Wolves.
7:12 am: Staff volunteers arrive at Red Wolves.
7:18 am: We’re ready to go, so I move to wolf overlook with the rest of the watch team. What are we watching for exactly? Wolves, generally, but specifically we’re watching their movements around the habitat. Red Wolves are extremely shy and will more often choose to hide and run, which means there’s a lot to keep an eye on. Watchers act as extra eyes for the people inside the habitat. We’re also watching for signs of wolf distress. Heavy panting, tongue lolling, etc. We want to minimize this as much as we can. This is a very stressful day for all involved, so the quicker and more efficient we are, the better.
7:21 am: Teams enter the wolf habitat. The goal is to round up the wolves and corral them into the fenced side enclosures. From there, it’s easier to crate each wolf and load them onto the vans to be brought to the Museum’s main building for vet checks. After a quick scan of the yard, it’s determined that all the wolves are out in the open, and none are in the dens.
7:24 am: Delighting everyone, Adeyha (2080M) self-contains in the side enclosure, so the team stops activity to ensure wolf and human safety. He’s easily identifiable because, even with grown pups, Adeyha is still EASILY the biggest wolf in the yard.
7:34–35 am: Adeyha is safely crated and loaded into the short-term holding space, and the team resumes.
7:41–44 am: Second and third wolves self-contain in the side enclosure.
7:47 am: Fourth wolf enters the den.

Animal Care Shayna uses brute strength to keep the den door secure until crating can happen after a wolf enters the den on its own.

7:48 am: Fifth wolf self-contains in the side enclosure, and the team pauses to safely crate and move those four wolves into the short-term holding area.
8:05 am: The team resumes to round up the final two wolves.
8:07 am: They contain themselves in the side enclosure! Everybody cheers! All wolves are crated and all seven wolves are loaded into the vans to be moved to the main building for physicals with our veterinary squad.

After 49 minutes, this year’s catch-up is considered a success. There’s always something to learn, but with no injured wolves or humans, this was considered top-notch! Next up, physical examinations.

8:46 am: Wolves and humans arrive at the main building, and I check in with Vet Tech Laurel! We have a little downtime before Dr. Tara Harrison and her students arrive from the NC State Vet School, so I charge my phone, check the Museum’s social media accounts, and plan for capturing the physicals with my partner in crime, David!
9:20 am: I eat one of the bagels Sherry picked up for the transfer team.
10:15 am: Dr. Harrison and her team arrive!
10:32–39 am: Adeyha’s physical. We move REALLY quick through physicals. There is no sedation involved, so the less amount of time we have each wolf on the table, the better. Time is also of the essence as we need to get this family on the road to their next home.

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