Big Bear + Wolf Santurary

We drove up to Big Bear very early to catch the sunrise and wandered around the sleepy town. The images may look warm from the first rays of light, but the frosted wood and plants reveal the cold of the morning.

The wolf sanctuary was about an hour away from the mountains so as we drove, our excitement continued to grow. We were greeted by the host and were shown around the sanctuary. The wolves are all named and we were told of each animal’s background and personality. They are well cared for and well loved by the owners.

These wolves are rescued by the movie industry, breeders / owners, and are protected here for the remainder of their lives. The sanctuary is dedicated to educating the public about wolves and is committed to helping their preservation in the wild.

At the end of the tour, we were able to interact with the wolves. Some of them are known for their aggression and are downright terrifying but others seem to act and look just like dogs. We had the chance to sit with one, and he would rub his snout on us, sniff our heads and even kiss his favorites.

These animals are highly intelligent and very intuitive. The host told us story after story of times that the wolves were able to notice an illness or when something was “off” about some of the visitors. This has lead to these individuals seeking the help they need in time for treatment. So incredible!

If you are ever around the area, I highly recommend visiting The Wolf Mountain Sanctuary. What they are doing is so important as we have eradicated the Gray Wolf in California, and the numbers of these incredible creatures continue to decline. Education is the only way to bring about change and protection, so I suggest visiting and learning in the most amazing way by supporting this organization.