We have visited Wolf Haven a number of times and every time is a delight. My sons fell in love with the wolves (and coyotes) the first time they saw them -- but more importantly for me, they learned to respect the animals and to value them and their place in this world. Each year, we purchase an adoption certificate for one of the animals to try, in our small way, to help support the important work that Wolf Haven does. Wolf Haven serves so many important functions -- we are grateful and proud that it is here in Washington state where we have the opportunity to visit it and observe the work that they do.
First arriving to Wolf Haven was magical, a beautiful little set of enclosures and a main shop in a homely, welcoming and rustic scene in Washington's best example of a mid-forest prairie. I was young, probably around 13 in my first tour and it was the most amazing experience I've ever had. Seeing the wolves in their sturdy enclosures and learning what it took to keep wolves was a lot to take in. The benefits of the sanctuary as opposed to keeping these wild animals as pets impressed itself upon my mind and to this day I feel I have a stronger connection with wolves than I every would have otherwise. At the end of the tour, our group began to mimic wolf howls and the entire 'pack' at wolf haven joined in. I've never heard anything so eerie and powerful, and it still brings tears to my eyes as I think of it. At the end of the tour I decided to browse the shop and was amazed at the array of wolf merchandise. Though I haven't been able to go back for a while, I still try to donate as much as I can through the sanctuary's 'Adopt a Wolf' program. They are always prompt with the delivery of the promised goods and I treasure the wolf photos and stories I have received over the years. I absolutely recommend visiting, and supporting Wolf Haven however you can. The staff are friendly, their work in education, conservation, and preserving the local prairie is of the utmost importance, and everything I have received from their stores both online and in person have excellent quality. A must-see, whether you are a wolf addict or simply curious.
WolfHavenInternational 10/21/2013
So many people are initially introduced to Wolf Haven when they are young, like you were at 13. It's so rewarding to have an impact on someone, who then becomes a powerful advocate for wolves.Thank you for your message and ongoing support!
I remember going to Wolf Haven when I was younger. I really enjoyed the park. My daughter loves wolves so I decided we should take a trip to the park. Unfortunately, the volunteers did not seem to appreciate the children that were present in the gift shop or the tour while I was there. The guided tour had at least 15 kids in the group as it was a Saturday morning. Unfortunately the guide decided to spend the entire time interacting with three older adults and completely ignored all the children on the tour. Then to cap things off was annoyed when they got bored with her. If you don't want children to come to your park please say so on your website. As a parent I was really disappointed. Needless to say I won't return or donate again.
WolfHavenInternational 10/21/2013
I apologize for your negative experience with us. The 50-minute tour doesn't always hold the interest of younger visitors, and in fact, we are in the process of designing a shorter one for them. As soon as the shorter children's tour is available, we will post it on our website and Facebook page. Again, we are very sorry for what occurred.
WolfHavenInternational 08/06/2014
Thank you for your visits and adoptions. We're proud to be in Washington too, especially during these early days of wolf recovery in our state.