My husband and I were finally back on the road for the last few miles of our trip to have an encounter with the wolves. We knew we would arrive about 30 minutes before our scheduled time at the preserve.
We drove until we came upon a rope stretched across the road. This is where they had told us we would need to stop and wait for someone to come and greet us. We rolled down the windows and I turned off the vehicle.
A gentle breeze blew through the trees, setting the backdrop for the birds we heard singing. It was wonderful medicine for the soul. It had been a long time since I had experienced such a deep sense of quiet and stillness. Then moving through the trees, we heard the sound of wolves beginning to howl. First, it was just one lone wolf cry, met by another, and then another. This was the most beautiful song I had ever heard. A rhythm created by the wind, accompanied by a chorus of birds and now a haunting melody of wolves communicating in their unique song. Time stood still, and for a few minutes, it felt like I had forgotten to breathe. Here we sat waiting immersed in the sounds of nature.
A vehicle finally pulled up to greet us. They opened the roped entry and led us down a dirt road to a small cabin. We met our tour guides and received instructions on what to do and not to do once we were with the wolves. My husband David then turned to me and said: “Look out the window.” Sitting looking toward us, as if waiting for us, was a very large wolf. Part of me was suddenly aware of the size and apparent strength of these magnificent animals and a bit of trepidation rose inside of me.
Soon we were leaving the comfort of the cabin and going out into our first wolf enclosure to meet Maverick, nicknamed “Mavee”, and Shilo. This would be the first of many wolf encounters that day.
Maverick was the first to come right over and begin to interact with us and I was immediately put to ease with the playfulness and gentleness of this amazing animal. Within a few seconds Shilo came over and wanted to be part of the group interaction. We pet, scratched, and rubbed their bellies. We also enjoyed moments of direct eye contact with them, which ended up being one of my favorite things. To be trusted to make eye contact felt like a soul greeting another soul.
In the second wolf pack we were able to meet 2 wolves one named Cheyenne and the other one named Freedom. They were both so beautiful and while we were bonding with our new friends one of them began to howl. This time we were just inches away as they rounded their mouths and lifted their heads upward to the sky and let out a loud and sacred howl. First, one wolf started then another and before we knew it, we were surrounded by the glorious sound of all the wolves on the preserve howling and communicating to each other.
There were 4 wolf packs we met that day and the last pack we interacted with was playfully named the “rowdies”. They were the youngest and most rambunctious of the wolves we met that day. Some of these wolves reminded me of the quintessential “Little Red Riding Hood” wolves depicted in children’s story books. They were curious and energetic, and I loved every single one of them.
Our time to say goodbye to our new friends had finally arrived. Leaving would be the hardest part of our trip, knowing we would soon be separated by hundreds of miles. We quietly went into the facilities to wash off and put on a clean change of clothes. As I removed my shirt, I saw all the “love scratches” on my arms and belly and secretly wanted them to stay as a physical reminder of this amazing experience.
We were now sitting in our car again following the guides back up the dirt road to let us out through the roped entrance which they then closed behind us as we exited. That was it, we were no longer inside the preserve. There was a deep sad silence that permeated the inside of our car. I don’t remember who broke the silence first, however we slowly began sharing our unique experiences with the wolves.
As we continued our drive home along the interstate, I could feel a long thread of energy going from my heart center back to where the wolves were. It was a strong feeling and stayed with me for the entire ride home.
We have been home now, for about 5 weeks. I still long to be with the wolves and admit there is a deep sadness and empty feeling in my heart. I hope these feelings will pass and that I will be able to reintegrate into the human world. Until then, I will be longing for the day I can go back and live among the wolves, even if only for an afternoon.
Lisa Leitl 