Every so often, there's going to be an encounter that changes your world view in some capacity. North of Seattle, in Anacortes, WA is a 10 acre sanctuary that cares for cougars, foxes, exotic reptiles, hawks, and other animals. Their most famous residents however, are of the canine variety as "Predators of the Heart Sanctuary" provides a safe home for wolves and an unforgettable educational experience for its visitors.
In case you were wondering, there is a dress code! Before the tour, an email is sent to you explaining what not to wear: suede, wool, furry or feathery material, and perfume. Also don't rub raw meat all over yourself before the tour. The encounter offers an intimate setting (5-6 people) to meet, photograph, and walk ALONGSIDE wolves in the forests of northern Washington. To think that this was offered through an extension of AirBnb was kind of mind-blowing -- and at the time it was their most popular experience globally.
Boop. You may have seen the video of how the re-introduction of wolves completely changed Yellowstone National Park:
This information is a precursor to meeting the four-legged "ambassadors" of the tour. Eventually, they will lead you into pacific northwest wilderness as your host (Dave) teaches you about wolf behavior, habitats, and their role in the ecosystem. You can ask as many questions as you like -- Dave LOVES questions, and highly encourages group discussions. It becomes clear: he's passionate about educating the visitors -- after all, he's dedicated his life to rescuing and caring for these animals.
The tour, as a result, is an emotional, sensorial experience that left all of us with a newfound appreciation for these creatures. The hike isn't that bad -- it's about a mile into the woods before returning back to the sanctuary where you can meet the other animals.
Like Wilson the groundhog (perpetually hilarious).
Or this creature, who will eat your fruit snacks.
During the hike, the wolves are leashed but honestly, if one picks up the scent of a squirrel, good luck trying to get them to stop tearing through that log. We found that the older alphas of the group kept the pups in line during the tour -- as the adolescents tend to be more curious/mischievous during our walks. It was an incredible display of hierarchy and pack mentality up close.
When you get far enough away from the compound, deep into the wilderness, Dave asks that the guests howl. So we do.
The wolves we're with -- our friends now -- howl back. We're all giddy over this. And then, the other wolves (the rest of the pack) back at the sanctuary howl as well. All of us get goosebumps as the sound travels from the compound through the forests and back to us. The wolves we are with perk up, listening to home base. We're speechless, of course. I can't quite put into words how this really felt but it was a defining moment of the whole experience.
When we return to the sanctuary grounds, there were a number of British Columbia wolf pups (super young) that we had a chance to play with inside an enclosure. Being, you know, wild animal babies, some of them play rough. I remember a cub biting onto my sweater sleeve and not letting go for a long time. Dave and his team are there to supervise, so I was never concerned for my safety in that way. So again, pay attention to the dress code and don't wear anything you're trying to keep pristine and clean.
Consider this post an endorsement of the sanctuary, its owner/operator, dedicated staff, and the creatures that inhabit it.
If you have more questions or are curious about this particular trip, I'd love to answer in the comments!
If you want to check out the AirBnB Experience for yourself -- this is it: https://tinyurl.com/y9jnhokn
Cheers! Happy Travels :)
- Hussain
