TWT-G video

I took this video on June 20, 2008 of the wolf with the severe snare injury in Denali National Park, Alaska. While this video is disturbing, it also highlights the inherent cruelty and arbitrariness of snaring (and trapping as well). It is not unusual for snares to capture other, non-targeted wildlife or even pet dogs.

This wolf was snared in the Wolf Townships (adjacent State lands to Denali National Park), managed to snap the anchoring portion of the snare with the remainder of the snare wrapped around his neck.

This wolf then returned to Denali National Park where it was periodically seen by drivers and park visitors on the pavement section of the park road.

The remaining portion of the snare embedded itself into the neck, causing this gaping wound that also lead to the swelling of the wolf's head before the snare was finally removed.

NPS wolf biologist Tom Meier along with veterinarian Denise Albert removed the snare on May 2, 2008. See: [ Ссылка ]

More information is available here: [ Ссылка ]

The following two videos deal with Canadian wolves but the same process is used on Alaskan wolves. Both of these videos will show you exactly what is involved with snaring and its inherent cruelty. If anyone is sensitive, you may wish to skip these videos.

See: Part 1: Choking to Death - Killing Canada's Wolves with Neck Snares
[ Ссылка ]

Part 2: - Choking to Death: Taxpayer Dollars, Snares & Pets
[ Ссылка ]


Kudos to then Superintendent Paul Anderson for allowing NPS to intervene, remove the snare and give antibiotics to the wolf and then releasing it.

Lastly, in the years since this video was taken, things in Alaska and in Denali have only gotten worse. Wolf viewing in Denali National Park reached an all time low in 2019, with only 1% of visitors seeing wolves. This is a marked decline from the 45% of visitors seeing wolves in 2010.

While natural mortality certainly impacts the park's wolves, our wolves do leave the park in the winter where they are legally targeted by recreational trappers and hunters. This has caused a tremendous amount of disruption within the wolf family groups, which has impacted visitor viewing.

The following link will take you to a 2014 lecture by Marybeth Holleman as she discusses her and Dr. Gordon Haber's book: Among Wolves. Dr. Haber studied Denali's wolves for 43 years before his untimely death in October of 2009 and I highly recommend his book to those who are interested in wolves. See: [ Ссылка ]

I would encourage those who are angry and upset after seeing this video, to use that energy in a positive way and become active in supporting groups who are trying to protect Denali's wolves on both State and now, Alaska National Preserve lands.

If you wish to see them, you have to protect them on Park (where they are protected), Preserve and State Lands.

See: the Alaska Wildlife Alliance - [ Ссылка ]

The Denali Citizens Council - [ Ссылка ]

Alaskans for Wildlife - [ Ссылка ]

Denali Wolves [ Ссылка ] is an educational and advocacy group site that discusses the ongoing controversy surrounding the park’s wolves as well as the reasons for the decline of wolf viewing in Denali National Park, Alaska.

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