Once, a long while back, I went to an animal....uh, well not quite a sanctuary, but this place owned by a man named Lee Greenly up in Sandstone, MN.
Lee Greenly kept wild animals like bears, cougars, deer, foxes, some angry badgers, a pine martin, a smelly coyote and even some wolves!

The first year I visited, I went with my advanced Wildlife class in High School, we got to see almost all his animals but we weren't able to visit Lee's wolf pack for some reason or another. I did get to meet some amazing animals though. Lee raises and trains wild animals for things like photo shoots for magazines and for acting in movies. It was here that we got to do the craziest things.

To Wrestle a Wolf
<Adventures with Animals Part 1>

So the next year that the Advanced Wildlife class went to Lee Greenly's place, I begged my teacher to be allowed to go. After a little poking and prodding and some puppy eyes he finally threw up his hands and let me join them.

Since Spring had come a bit earlier this particular year and the ground was well thawed and green was all around, we got to see alot more of Lee's place. The most notible extra was the wolves!

Since I had been denied to see my most favorite furred creature on Earth the year before, I was simply ecstatic that I would finally get to see them! I went bounding up to the huge barred gate to get my first glimpse as the rest of the class ambled along. Lee chuckled at me. <he gives the tours personally> Turns out he was actually going to not only let us see the wolves, but let us in WITH them!  /squee!

I was the first one in as Lee unbarred the gate for us. The class followed suit as I excitedly watched the few braver wolves come trotting over to see what the heck was going on. Soon most of the pack was watching us, all at least a dozen feet or so away as the alpha swung in to get the first look.

"He's the alpha" I remember Lee saying. "He's the boss, so he checks you out first and once he's given the ok, the rest of the pack might come up to meet you." He smiled as some of the kids shuffled about a bit. I wanted to meet the alpha sooooooooo badly, but he headed off amongst some of the boys in the class, so I pouted and reached out towards some of the more timid wolves, trying to make friends.

"...he can get a little rough, but he's just kinda' showing who's the leader, so don't worry really. He's really friendly." I heard Lee continue to ramble on about the alpha, who I tried to keep in the side of my vision in case he came closer. "Although gals, be careful. He likes long hair. He thinks it's a toy."
I laughed at that idea in my head a little. I was so busy trying to make friends with the other wolves, I didn't bother to turn to the alpha. Just because I felt such an affinity towards animals didn't mean they were going to just leap into my lap.
However, just as I took a step back to stand up from holding my hands out to the other wolves, the most amazing thing happend!

SNAP!!!! I could hear the click of teeth and feel the wind on the back of my neck, and even a little pain as a few stray hairs were torn from my ponytail. To this day, I will never know what possessed me to throw one arm around the neck of this new menace and my other under their arm.
Suddenly I found myself, not only face to face, but HOLDING the alpha male, like we were on a dance. He got soooooooo excited he licked my face and hopped around waggging his tail like mad. He even piddled a little on my pants leg and shoe to show I was his newest pack memeber. The class snickered. I couldn't have cared less. I was lost in the moment, staring into the eyes of a beast that had haunted my dreams and passions for my life, here in the most beautiful of embraces.

Eventually the alpha hopped down. He sorta sniffed at some other people, but remained near me for the rest of the time we were allowed in the wolf pen. It was so cute. He kept bumping gentle against me and hiding underneath my trench coat. My friend took a picture on my camera of me petting the beautiful male as he peeked out. <My mom later developed it with the caption: My wild child in her natural habitat :D >

When it was time to go, the alpha kept circling in front of me. I got the feeling he was trying to herd me back over to his pack. Suddenly I wanted nothing more then to stay there. To run and sleep and frolic with his pack, to sing to the moon and love the earth. But we had to see other animals, and I had to go back to school too eventually. I bid him a fond farewell and waved to the other pack members <who had romped around me after the alpha said it was ok>

I was the first to enter and the last to leave.

"You really like wolves, huh?" Lee chuckled to me as we walked out.
"Yes" I smiled back.

I will never forget that wolf, I still have that picture to this day. Perhaps I will post it sometime. I wonder, sometimes, if I were to go back if he would remember me, or me him. Perhaps the wolf has even passed on, or perhaps Lee's place doesn't even exsist anymore. It's ok either way.

That was a once in a lifetime chance, and I was granted it, to share a dialogue with such a magnificent creature. To show that beyond colour, beyond words, beyond SPECIES, love is the same in any language. It is the most beautiful and powerful force on the Earth.

This is one of my favorite stories I love to tell my friends, family, heck even strangers, about the time I wrestled a wolf.
It reminds me I promised to wrestle a dear friend of mine to see who is alpha sometime ^_^ And don't worry friend, I remember and I'm buffing up to trounce your butt!! /flex


Thank you, Mr. Alpha for sharing your love and time with me. I hope that in our own special way, you could feel the love, compassion and appreciation for what you shared with me that day! <3


/howls
Gavy