Help Birds With Your Pet´s Hair

Over the years of living in the middle of nature we have noticed how the birds collect the fluffy undercoat that our huskies shed each spring, and add it to their nest building materials.

Also, we´ve seen them use it to fill in the bird houses for the upcoming nesting time.

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Our Fox Neighbors

To those of you, who follow my blog, it is no surprise to see fox and other wildlife pictures here, and over the years, our friends have been hearing not just one story about our wild neighbors, as we call them.

Foxes are ones of the most frequent visitors of the kennel, although I seldom call the wild creatures visitors, they are more of neighbors, really, because they have been living here long before us.

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Wild Visitors

One day a strange sound made me raise my head from the computer, when I was writing at the kitchen table. The sound was very unusual for our neighborhood - after living eight years in this quiet, lonely place, you pretty much become an expert in recognizing sounds. There are simply not many of them - and this one did not belong to any of those few familiar ones.

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Night Walk

What I absolutely adore about the life in the wilderness of the great North are the possibilities and opportunities.

Where else would one get to see bear tracks, pick wild flowers under the warm sun at night and see the mountain tops during a casual walk with the dogs.

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Our Very Own Christmas Tradition

Every country, every nation has their Christmas traditions and customs. Jachym and I are both Czech, but for the past eight years, we´ve been living in Northern Sweden, with me being influenced a lot by Canadian and American habits as well. 

I am not sure if it has anything to do with the multi-national Christmas celebration ways, as a matter of fact I believe we kind of live in our own little big world in the woods, far from other people, and even more far from friends and family and that is, in fact, what I think had made us create some of our own customs and traditions.

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One of My Favorites

I just found out there is a new book on the market. It is written by a man and author I respect and admire greatly, for his work, mission, passion and compassion. 

Lately, I had also a few questions and requests for tips on good wolf books and literature covering the wolf problematic, so it got me to thinking of writing a bit about Shaun Ellis, his work and books.

Many of you might have seen the National Geographic documentary "Man Among Wolves", covering Shaun´s two years of living with a wild wolf pack. But there is a lot more about him than that, what some people call "a sensationalist" or a "fool". 

He is an experienced wolf researcher and naturalist, with over 20 years of experience, which he shares through The Wolf Centre, as well as in his wonderful books.

Shaun with his partner Helen, among wolves

The first book I came across was THE MAN WHO LIVES WITH WOLVES.

I not only learned about Shaun, his extraordinary life, the two years spent in Idaho, studying and living among wild wolf pack, but I was of course once again pulled into the fascinating life and communication of the species I have so much passion for.

I simply thought nothing beats this book, if you´re looking for true understanding of the wolves, their habits, language and importance in the ecosystem.

Until Jachym got me the second book (which I had no idea existed): THE WOLF TALK. 

The Wolf Talk added a new dimension to it all. I was always interested in the language of the dog family, and as a breeder, dog musher and someone who lives with a large pack of huskies for over 20 years, I do know a bit about behavior and the canine language. But The Wolf Talk had confirmed so much of my beliefs and philosophy of natural approach to dogs, application of their ancient language, and methods of their own kind, which they understand. This book is definitely for every dog person out there. If you want to get a dog or are already and experienced owner or trainer, The Wolf Talk will help you understand better the language of your canine friends.

Have you ever howled with the wolves (dogs)?

Yesterday, as I was putting together a list of books I recommend, which I thought to share on the blog, I realized that I might as well write a bit about one of my favorites - a man who does a lot not only for the Canis Lupus, but who´s work contributes largely to the better understanding and communication between humans and their dogs.

I found out that The Man Who Lives With Wolves came recently out in a completely new edition, now known as THE WOLF WITHIN How I Learned to Talk Dog.

And I also came across an interesting information on the Wolf Centre website, where courses covering Dog Behavior Problems are offered by Shaun and his co-workers, on how to Improve Your Relationship with Your Dog(s) without Agression, Fear and Force.

Inspired? Since weekend is on it´s way, you might find a minute to relax while reading some of the interesting links. Enjoy.

Happy Trails and Stay Safe!

Trophy Hunters

During today´s walk with Delia, Cooper and Mouse, Delia and I found this pretty big moose antler.

The question is, who really, in fact found it - if Delia sniffed it and led me to it, or if I did, because I saw it first! :)

Never mind, we shared the excitement and the antler for the rest of the walk - I carried it and Delia kept hanging onto it with her teeth :)

We both feel like successful trophy hunters!

Moose Babies

These adorable little guys are the youngest residents of Moose Garden - www.moosegarden.se

Very cute!

Spring Birds

The weather is marvelous lately. Sunny days, still enough snow to run the puppies and seniors, yet not too cold to stay out in short sleeves and photograph the birds. And they are very happy to see the spring come.

Among the first were the geese I´ve heared and saw flying low above the kennels the other day, as if to say hallo and bring greetings from faraway lands, as they returned from the south, and headed to our northern lakes to nest.

Also the first herrons start to show up and we hear their cries that echo over Vattudalen´s mighty waters.

Even the coockoo is heared and at night, the small gray owls sing their blue tunes.

The road edges are full again with grouse, who walk slowly and seemingly arogantly along side.

These guys that we managed to photograph are not really spring birds, but they sure are busy and full of life now, that spring is on it´s way.

Some don ´t mind the company

while others keep for themselves

some feel comfortable only among similarly sized buddies

and are afraid of the big guys

some prefer to eat and watch everything
from the safety of the big larch tree

while others hide on the "bird tree", which will
turn into green retreat in a month´s time

And some don´t care about the sunflower seeds at the
feeder and search for tasty worms and bugs on the ground.

Nordic Road Traffic

Trails heavily travelled

When running just one team at a time, one gets lucky to obtain a photo like this :)

While I took this blended team of mainstring racers and rookies/yearlings, out for one of the last March runs, I did some thinking on the trail.

I thought of all the dogs that entered and passed through my life. I thought of the difference between generations of our dogs and while watching the yearlings Runner and Rizey work smoothly and elegantly, I thought of all the puppies we harness broke and watched developing into strong and mature, dependable athletes. I´ve watched or assisted so many of the dogs on the team, to enter the world, took them for puppy walks, harness broke them, incorporated them into the main team and experienced some tough trainings, mountain trips and race challenges.

Many many dogs, many many hours, spent on those trails.

As I thought and smiled for myself with pleasant thoughts of the special moments, I also watched the numerous tracks that cross or follow the trails. They all tell their stories.

There was a 1 mile long fresh track of two moose. Judging from the sizes, it was most likely mother and a grown up youngster. They were feeding on the willows nearby the trail, but preffered to use the trail for travelling, instead of walking through the deep and heavy snow.

There are signs of ptarmigans, who inhibit the trail sides. Rabit tracks hopping from the woods, over the trail and into the forest on the other side. Martens and other small creatures seem to be busy all the winter as well.

Fox tracks have always something "silent" about them and they usually follow right along the trail, in a "respectful" distance.

Reindeers are the trail "hooligans". They always pee and poo on the trail. Not necessairly use it as a travel path, but rather zigzag back and forth. Thankfully, they are rather light and travel in herds, so their hoof marks are evenly spread over the trail, not creating too deep holes, which can be dangerous for the dogs, if they step in them, especially in higher speed.

Ocassionaly the iron dogs use the trails too, following Jachym´s trailbreaking tracks and thus also helping a bit to groom it.

The most recent traveller on the trails is the magical noble creature - the wolf. His or her tracks are the most valuable find for us, and there is no way of telling anyone where they were spoted! The local hunters are nuts about killing wolves and adding them into their trophy list, never mind the endangered species listing.

Together with lynx, the wolf tracks are among the most treasured sightings for us. It is really awsome to see them while travelling with the dog team - the silent, natural way.

So these are some of the thoughts that run through musher´s mind, while running dogs.

This time of the year, the amounts of sledding trips are counted extra carefully. You never know when the run you just made, will be the last sled run of the season, before the spring is definitely here. And in such state of mind, one thanks for another wonderful sled mushing season, for the adventures that the wilderness provides, and feels the apreciation for the trails, shared with and borrowed from the wild neighbours. They are, indeed, trails heavily travelled.

Fox tracks off the trail

trails used by multiple puppy feet

the silently travelled trails by Jachym´s team

Wolf tracks

Comming back from the run, with happy yearlings

The noisy signs of spring

Although we won´t have the traditionally known spring with green gras and flowers blooming yet, for qutie a while (end of May aproximately), I do see definite signs of spring.

Let me tell you how "our" spring looks like :)

First of all, the world around us wakes up from the silence. The silence of snow and darkness.
Things are extremly silent during winter time. Everything is still and frozen and just rests to be awaken by the longer daylight, some sunshine and the winds.

The winds are the first messangers, that travel thousands miles to tell us spring is on it´s way.
They bring the first of noises. Once the snow shakes off the trees, they start waking up and begin their stretching excercise of moving all their branches in different directions.

When the sun comes, the shadows in the snow
get different shapes.

Then the snow, that lays on the roofs of our house, the kennel building and the different sheds, starts to get heavy with the first rizing of temperatures. The warmer, the heavier the snow becomes. Once too heavy, it slides down the roofs, making a big "bang" sound. You can hear it extra well, when you are inside the house. You hear the first sound that frees the snow off the roof metal, then a long, but fast sliding sound and finally a loud, stormy-like "BAAANG".

When the sun is out and leans it´s rays against the windows, another noise is created. The dripping of icycles, which, once too big and too heavy, finally crack from the roof edge and hit the pile of snow underneath the window.

Then the Earth, half awaken, breathing through the wind and sunshine, motivates the birds. They get busier and busier as the days get longer. First time I´ve actually heared them sing this winter, was in February. That´s when the constant grayness of deep winter leaves for good.

The great tits prefer feeding in the air...

But at the end of March, they not only sing and get busier. They start to chit-chat and poke each other. The other day we watched two bullfinches fighting at the feeder by the kitchen window. I swear it wasn´t a real fight. It was a brotherly picking on each other. They had energy and they had good mood again.

while the bullfinches munch on sunflower seeds on the ground

The forest becomes alive again too. While the bears will sleep until about mid April (depending on how wet and warm it will get), there are numerous animal tracks ziggzagging the woods and meadows.

While the owl was calling it´s mate constantly for a week in a row in the beginning of March, the foxes are also on the "hunt" for a partner.

We haven´t seen "our" fox boy this year yet, but the past years he always came in April, so he still has time to show up :)

The fox boy outside our house, April 2008

And although the foxes leave their foot prints in the snow very silently, and the sharp smell of their markings (on just about every tree that stands close to the kennel and trail) obviously doesn´t have any sound, there is still something "noisy", full of life, about it.

Spring is definitely a loud time of the year!

New Blog dedicated to Wolves Worldwide

In the tragedy of the first days of the new year, that struck the wolf kind in Sweden (and about which you will be able to read more in detail gradually, in the new blog), I managed to actually find something positive. Something incredibly positive, as a matter of fact.
A group of people, thousands of people, actually, who stick together and fight with passion for the same cause - for our beloved species of wolves. And not just in Sweden, but around the globe.

And between the sorrow of the losses, the shock of the senseless brutal killing, and the hope that arise between wolf lovers and supporters worldwide, I found inspiration and motivation. And mainly, I´ve heared the call. The call for the mission to help open more human eyes and hearts, to correct myths that have been surrounding the wolf kind for thousands of years, creating lots of missunderstanding, about these magnificent, noble beings.

The subject and the cause is too big of a theme to be covered in this blog, through rendom posts, as well as it definitley deserves a space of it´s own. This blog is about my life in the wilderness with my beloved partner and dogs, and although it will occassionally cover and link to some of the highlighted information about wolves and the cause to help save and protect them, the main focus is on the huskies, our kennel, and the rugget lifestyle we´re living.

On the pages of the new blog, which we affectionately named the WOLF HOWL, you will find contacts to organisations that help save and protect wolves. You will also find numerous links to blogs with related topics, petition sites, newspaper articles, radio, tv and other media coverage of the wolf problematique, and more.

Please visit www.blogforwolves.blogspot.com

You will learn how you can help save and protect wolves worldwide, from taking actions, virtually adopting wolves, buying items to fundraise for science and wildlife protection, etc. We also created "DID YOU KNOW..." special educational section, with facts, statistics and information about this, one of the world´s greatest animal - the Canis Lupus (Grey Wolf). It will be updated gradually, as this blog is still a work in progress.

There is one specialty about this blog - you will often find links, comments and texts not just in English, but also in Czech and Swedish languages, as this blog is dedicated to helping wolves around the world.

We hope you will enjoy reading Wolf Howl and keep comming back. If you do like it, please spread the word and link to us or share the news with your friends. You can also share the individual blog posts on your Facebook profiles, using simple "share" links under each post. We also welcome any tips for news, links, photos and other useful information, related to helping wolves. You can use the "comment" buttons to share your thoughts, opinions or ideas.

Once again - welcome to The Blog for Wolves, their very own cyber space, which no human can take away from them, and where we will do all we can to justify, save and help protect their very special species!

Katerina

We shan't save all we should like to, but we shall save a great deal more than if we had never tried. -- Sir Peter Scott (1909-1989), WWF founder

Lighting a Candle for Swedish Wolves

Besides the brutal 3day slaughter of 30 wolves, during the hunt, legalized as of January 2, 2010, on January 9, 2009 Skane Wildlife Park killed their entire wolf pack of 12, including puppies from this past summer´s litter. The reason for this shockicking act was the escape of two of the wolves from their enclosure. More information on this subject will come in the next updates.

Please, feel free to repost and share this entry, so as many people as possible, can see what is going on in Sweden and that persecution of wolves in totally global.

Of Wolves and Men

I hope many wolf hunters and those, who critize the efforts of wolf supporters, will read my story.

I am not a vegetarian and I am not against animal hunting. Hunting for food, and logical hunting, that is.
I am not an oversensitive city person, that never saw a wild animal in it´s natural surrounding.

I am an experienced breeder of working siberian huskies and I share my life with around 50 dogs, for 20 years. these dogs have very much similar behaviour and are genetically closest to the wolf.

I am also long time conservationalist. And I have never heared any such thing, that inbreeding of wolves would bring them to such extreme situation, that they would need to be shot for that. (On that note, I am really glad to have read an article on http://www.sr.se/ yesterady, called "Genetics No Reason for Wolf Hunt" which clearly confirmed, after a debate with Hans Ellegren, proffesor of evolution biology, University of Uppsala, Sweden), what I just said).

Instead, in such situations, those who really care for wolves, not those who find an easy and brutal solution, which will satisfy their trophy hunting needs, come with relocating programs, colars with electronic devices are attached to wolves so the population can be monitored and we can learn more about their living, instead of getting rid of them without even knowing them.

I wonder how many of the hunters who went out in the past days, and killed the wolves, know them, their social habbits, their way of hunting prey, their importance to the ecosystem.

People say that there is too many moose, so we need to keep their numbers down. But they forget, that it is not entirely up to us. The wolves, the coyotes, the bears and other beasts have the same rights to help keeping the numbers down and keeping the balance in nature. In fact, they are the ones who work the smarter and more "human" way than we do. They take the weakest individuals from the herds. They never go fo the leaders, for the strongest ones. But many human hunters try to go for those big, chunky, juicy ones or for those with the most majestic antlers. So where is the wisdom?

Another argument I see all the time lately, is pictures of dogs ripped apart by wolves. First of all, who gives a 100% guarantee, that all of them were killed by wolves, secondly, the interesting evidence is, that vast majority of these dogs are hunting breeds. Coincidence? I don´t think so.

The largest Swedish insurance company, Agria, which insures over 70% of Swedish dogs, provided interesting statistics of dogs being killed annually. Only a small percent of them were confirmed to be killed by wolves and those were confirmed to be hunting dogs!

An interesting number to mention is also the amount of dogs being killed by hunters annually - 135, comparing to wolves, which was about 30 in the past few years.

Regarding the small percent of companion dogs that were really killed by wolves - if people live in areas with high wolf and other wild predator population, it is their own risk and excuse my language, also stupidity, that they do not secure their animals well enough.

We live in the middle of wilderness, nearest community is 10km, nearest town with infrastructures (shops, gas station, post office) is 40km. We live right in the woods. I am always extra cautious when I go for walk in the woods with my dogs.There are eagles circulating above our kennel and house when we have small puppies, so we had to build our puppy kennels so that the big birds can´t hunt them. We never leave the dogs unattended, if they are not in their kennels.

Two years ago, I was attacked with my dog team by moose. The moose held us on place for two hours and kicked into my dogs seven times. Due to incredible amount of luck, we managed to escape the moose´s attacks with just a few minor injuries on a few dogs. Do I hate moose since then? Do I want to kill them brutally? No. I am just extra careful and I know that next time I meet one, who is wounded (like this one) or doesn´t want to leave the trail, I will turn my team around.

A man in our neighbourhood has a herd of 20+ sheep. He has them well secured. They´ve never been taken by wolf. He experienced a lynx attack once, and since then, he keeps his sheep close to the house at night. He also has several very good and sharp herding dogs.

It is us, humans, who have (or I should say should have) more brains and should make wise decisions to prevent tragedies. The planet does not belong to us exclusively. Many species were here before us. We have likvidated so many plants and animals already. And every time we feel we don´t have enough space for our comfortable living, we just go ahead and kill some more.

What would we do if the animals decided the same about us? that there´s too many of us? That we are sick, that we have many weak ones, or with genetic disorders among us, and therefore a certain quota should be killed? You would call that inhumane, right? And what we do the underpopulated, endangered species of wolves? We inhumanely and brutally planish their families and leave their children alone, in the middle of the winter, without the elders who provide food. We leave them starve to death. We proudly show off our trophies. Our easy trophies.

Almost every hunter I´ve ever met told me, that hunting is a wise thing. That animals can´t be put in disadvantage. That only certain amount of hunters can be in one group, to make it fair for the animal. Wow, so how is it possible that it was allowed for over 1200 hunters to kill 27 wolves?! That is absolutly unaceptable. And brutal and immoral. Swedish government should never consult the wolf problematic with the hunting association. None of them are experts in wolf behaviour. Conservationalist experts should have been contacted and consulted, before this tragic decision was made.

If you read the article below ("Sad News with Consequences - Tragedy for Sweden´s Wolves) I reposted yesterday, you will clearly see that the hunt of 27 animals to keep the population down, will result in a tragedy - as it was planned to decimate the wolf packs into such extend, that their species would barely recover. I also wonder, if the Swedish government knows about this plan, and if they specified what kind of animals (age, sex, etc.) should be killed. I do not want to believe that the decision makers would specifically tell to kill so many pack leaders, pupps, parents of young, dependent pupps, etc. This is a totally immoral, unacceptable act, that has to be investigated and punished. And many steps have to be taken, not to ever repeat such terrifying act that cannot be forgiven. Over one weekend of brutal killing, Sweden has lost it´s position of a leader in ecology and environmentalism. This country cannot any longer be used as a good example for other countires. But that is another story.

I could write on and on. The point is clear. Not all of us, who protect wolves and protest about this bad decision of the Swedish government, are city people and vegans who never set a foot in the woods, or anarchists that have to protest against everything. We are not driven by hate. Many of us, unlike the wolf hunters, know what we are saying. We read facts and follow stastistics. We listen to experts and to the common sence. How come the government and the hunters don´t?

With hopes and wishes that more of us will open our eyes and hearts.

Katerina

P.S. I would also like to make a clear statement, that I do not put all hunters in the same box, labeled "bad". I know quite a lot of hunters, some of which are my friends. They love and respect nature, and they follow a code of ethics. And they will not take this as an attack.

Sad News with Consequences - Tragedy for Sweden´s Wolves

This horrifying, tragical and scandal news does not let me pass by without sharing it.

This is the latest update from the group: Bevara och Skydda Vargen (Save and Protect the Wolf), posted yesterday, January 5, 2010, on the group´s Facebook page.

Posted with the permission by the author, no parts of the original text were removed, changed or added.

LATEST UPDATE:SAD NEWS, WITH CONSEQUENCES

It is now confirmed that both the alpha male and alpha female from the Amunge territory have been killed. This means that three orphaned wolf pups are now left alone out in the territory. They will probably not survive on their own, in this extremely cold winter. This makes a TOTAL of SEVEN ALPHA WOLVES KILLED - equivalent to 30% of the total number of wolves killed in the legalised "hunt". A coincidence? No! This was planned after the tracking and mapping of the wolf flocks, which made it possible for the hunters to inflict the most effective, serious damage. The alpha wolf was their number one priority; we have published evidence of this earlier on this site. The consequences of orphaned wolf pups, left alone, hunting in the "wrong way", will then be that the hunters are obliged to take "protective hunting" measures against them. Just a coincidence!? No!This is starting to look VERY suspicious!

WE DEMAND THAT THOSE RESPONSIBLE COME FORWARD!

Please, join the group, and sign petitions, listed in my blog entry Wake Up Call. Also please consider joining the Swedish Wildlife Association.

My Art Work to help Wolves - and a little contest for you

One of the ways how I found out I can help the wolves and nature in general effectively, is by supporting the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Jachym and I have been active members of this wonderful and professional organisation for a long time. On a few occassions, we´ve "adopted" the Gray Wolf.

And since te wolves need our help a little more than ever right now, when Swedish government made the irresponsible decision of legalizing a hunt of wolves, which turned into a 2 day brutal slaughter and shocked the whole world, I´ve decided for a little extra action of my own, to support these amazing creatures, whose endangered species depends on us and our help.

I´ve decided to dedicate one of my art designs to the wolves. The original drawings with motive called "THE WOLF HOWL", from the Kipp d´Amundsen Art & Design collection will have a special edition with a little text added to it, showing the support of the cause.

From now on, for the whole year 2010, I will send 70:-SEK (or 10:-USD) from each Wolf Howl framed drawing I sell, to WWF, to help protect the grey wolf.

Every time five drawings are sold, and thus 350:-SEK or 50:-USD are raised and sent to WWF, I will randomly pick three of the purchesers who will win one of the three featured prizes: Either this beautiful 12 inch plush wolf, a photo print of gray wolf, or the practical bag, all from WWF, as a gift of apreshiation of supporting the wolves.

The "Wolf Howl" framed drawing makes a unique, warm-from the heart gift for anyone, and any occasion. Belated christmas gift, birthday gift, get-well, Valentine´s, name day, fathers day, or for no special reason or ocasion. You can simply buy it to please yourself, and to help the good cause.

The original, framed drawings cost 120:-SEK (18:-USD) plus shipping.

If you want to buy the drawing, please send your inquieries either in form of a comment to this blog entry, or to my email address, which you will find on the sidebar of the blog. Please specify how many pieces you want, and leave your name and shipping address. I will get back to you with the shipping cost (which depends on your location and weight of the package) and the total of your order. I will ship your order after receiveing confirmation of your payment, which can be done through online secure method by using PayPal, which accepts all the major credit and payment cards.

Please remember, that you can help save wolves and help to stop the wolf hunt by signing petitions, such as "Stop the killing of wolves in Sweden" , and other ones, listed in my previous blog entry. You can also become members of WWF and other organisations and active groups.

I would also like to ask you to spread the word and forward my offer and message to your friends and aquaintances. You can share this blog entry on Facebook or email it to friends.

Remember, that together we can achieve a lot more, than alone. And that every single one person´s effort and action adds a huge amount of help into the full cause!

We shan't save all we should like to, but we shall save a great deal more than if we had never tried.-- Sir Peter Scott (1909-1989), WWF founder