Currently gray wolves have been removed from the Endangered Species List in several states and there is a recommendation to delist wolves nationally! It is imperative now, as much as ever, to do all we can to protect this great species and continue to provide educational programs about the need for and the importance of the wolf's role in maintaining balance in nature!
Wolf Mountain Nature Center is a non-profit, 501c3 organization and we are regulated and inspected by the DEC and USDA, however, we get NO financial support from the government! All of our funding comes from admission fees, general donations, sponsorships, and proceeds from gift shop sales, as well as an occasional small grant. In addition, the center is run entirely by educated, dedicated volunteers who are committed to advocating for wolves and their preservation.
Please consider helping us with a donation and/or sponsorship (see our 'sponsorship' link). Every dollar you give goes directly towards helping Wolf Mountain Nature Center pursue its mission! We need your help & support to allow us to continue and grow in our mission!
Wolf Mountain Nature Center is a non-profit, 501c3 organization and we are regulated and inspected by the DEC and USDA, however, we get NO financial support from the government! All of our funding comes from admission fees, general donations, sponsorships, and proceeds from gift shop sales, as well as an occasional small grant. In addition, the center is run entirely by educated, dedicated volunteers who are committed to advocating for wolves and their preservation.
Please consider helping us with a donation and/or sponsorship (see our 'sponsorship' link). Every dollar you give goes directly towards helping Wolf Mountain Nature Center pursue its mission! We need your help & support to allow us to continue and grow in our mission!
Dedicated to the spirit of the wolf, past, present, and future.
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Objective Goals:
- To conduct on-site educational programs about timely wolf, coyote, and Arctic Fox-related issues, biology, behaviors, communication, social structure, and environmental changes.
- To encourage and foster an understanding and awareness of wolf, coyote, and Arctic Fox history and the role in which these animals contribute to enhancing the ecosystem by helping to maintain balance.
- To provide a place where observation of natural behavior is possible. At the Wolf Mountain Nature Center, the animals can interact very much as they normally do in the wild, enjoying a quality of life which promotes physical and psychological health.
- To research and teach ways to reduce predation by wolves on domestic livestock.
- To promote and support the well being of wolves, coyote, and Arctic Fox in the wild.
- To improve the lives of captive animals through well designed enclosures, enrichment techniques and socialization programs designed to eliminate stress and enhance their life.
- To exhibit a model design for zoos and wildlife parks.
- To provide educational programs focusing on current environmental issues such as forest ecology, effects of climate change on habitats and wildlife, and using clean alternative energy sources including solar and wind power.
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Meet our Director:
Michelle Farningham, Director
Michelle Farningham
...brings a wealth of experience along with her super personality to the Directorship of The Wolf Mountain Nature Center. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz with a B.S. in Biology, she has years of experience working with animals at such facilities as the North Shore Animal League, Wolf Park, and here at the center. She has worked in public outreach and education, assisted with fundraising, and has extensive background knowledge in veterinary office management and animal care.
Michelle was an intern at Wolf Park in Indiana which she describes as "a life changing experience". While at Wolf Park she learned about wolf behavior, gave educational tours, administered medications to the older wolves, presented 'fox talks', and even learned to cut up deer to feed to the wolves! One of her most memorable moments at Wolf Park was having the opportunity to have dinner with the late wolf behaviorist, Erich Klinghammer.
Michelle has been an integral part of Wolf Mountain Nature Center since its beginnings in 2006. Even before the animals arrived, she assisted with fencing and enclosure building, then spent countless hours socializing the first two pups at the center. In addition to her role as a Board member-at-large, she was Chairperson of the center's fundraising committee before taking on her current role of TWMNC Director.
Michelle has learned through her experiences at both Wolf Park and Wolf Mountain that people need to learn more about wolves; however, not through the negative myths and attitudes that exist, but via real, science-based and historically accurate information. "There is a lot of misconceptions and misinformation about both wolves and coyotes", she believes. One of her goals here at Wolf Mountain is to present the wolf on a more holistic image, taking into account their habitat loss occurring around the world, primarily as a result of man's interference and climate changes.
...brings a wealth of experience along with her super personality to the Directorship of The Wolf Mountain Nature Center. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz with a B.S. in Biology, she has years of experience working with animals at such facilities as the North Shore Animal League, Wolf Park, and here at the center. She has worked in public outreach and education, assisted with fundraising, and has extensive background knowledge in veterinary office management and animal care.
Michelle was an intern at Wolf Park in Indiana which she describes as "a life changing experience". While at Wolf Park she learned about wolf behavior, gave educational tours, administered medications to the older wolves, presented 'fox talks', and even learned to cut up deer to feed to the wolves! One of her most memorable moments at Wolf Park was having the opportunity to have dinner with the late wolf behaviorist, Erich Klinghammer.
Michelle has been an integral part of Wolf Mountain Nature Center since its beginnings in 2006. Even before the animals arrived, she assisted with fencing and enclosure building, then spent countless hours socializing the first two pups at the center. In addition to her role as a Board member-at-large, she was Chairperson of the center's fundraising committee before taking on her current role of TWMNC Director.
Michelle has learned through her experiences at both Wolf Park and Wolf Mountain that people need to learn more about wolves; however, not through the negative myths and attitudes that exist, but via real, science-based and historically accurate information. "There is a lot of misconceptions and misinformation about both wolves and coyotes", she believes. One of her goals here at Wolf Mountain is to present the wolf on a more holistic image, taking into account their habitat loss occurring around the world, primarily as a result of man's interference and climate changes.
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Meet our Founder and Head Animal Curator:
 Will Pryor, Founder & Head Animal Caretaker
Okwaho & Will
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Will Pryor
...is the center's founder, head animal curator, and resident ecologist. His love of animals, and especially of wolves, began when he was a very young boy. Twice a week his mother would take him to the local zoo where Will would be most impressed by the wolves. At night he would often dream of escaping city life on a train and arriving in an area of forests and meadows where he would run with the wolves. Will says, "I have never felt as free as I did in those dreams". From a very young age he experienced a solid connection with nature and wolves. "I drew pictures of wolves and spent most of my days in school looking out the window and dreaming of that special place. As I grew older I read almost every book that I could find about wolves and nature. When asked what I wanted to be when I got older, I always responded that I wanted to live where there were lots of trees and wolves, and that I would one day have a nature center with wolves, and people could come and learn about them". Will earned a Bachelor degree in Environmental Science and a Master degree in Environmental Policy. He has studied animal behaviors for many years, attended seminars at Wolf Park on captive wolf management, and has literally thousands of hours of hands-on experience working with wolves, coyotes, and fox. Will is also a designer/builder of exceptional natural animal enclosures, creates/implements enrichment activities and educational programs, and has done much of the landscaping and fence building around the center. Truly passionate about the animals and their welfare, Will never compromises his dedication to the center. |
Teaching elementary students about alternative energy
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Tashina & Dancing Turtle walking with Will through the 9.2 acre Wolf Woods enclosure.
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Will posing with a log lean -to used by the wolves.
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Will leading a group discussion about wolf dens without the wolves of course!
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Tamarack focused on Will
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