Wolf (1105a)

Wolf (1105a)
Originally uploaded by Geyser Gary

Gray wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, when 14 individuals were relocated from Canada. Another 17 were added in 1996, and since then they have slowly but surely restored Nature's balance, increasing their own numbers and adjusting the imbalances that had been allowed to flourish in the absence of this top predator.

Thanks to photographer "Geyser Gary" for this lovely photo of a Yellowstone wolf. You can see more at http://www.flickr.com/photos/geysergary/

Flickring Wolves

Well, this is proving to be a very time consuming exercise. I always knew how much "stuff" was floating around out there, and how easy it is to spend hours longer than you intend exploring it all. Now that we have to venture into this wilderness with a definite "end product" in mind - i.e. Week 2 exercise #4 of Web 2.0, so we can once more be awarded the 'tick of genius' - it becomes even more wild! Whoever set 15 minutes a DAY for this as a guide has obviously been at creating this an awful lot longer than me? It's certainly fun, but when you aren't "hooked up" at home, it becomes a real challenge to take the time whilst at work. Hence I'm already falling behind, but will raise the tail and ensure the paws remain trotting to keep up.

I've found so many lovely images of wolves while trolling through flickr, it's tough deciding which/what/how/IF I'm able to use them. This may have to wait for another day for more extensive ogling - it can be frustratingly addictive because you feel like you're never finished! Currently, I am in awe of someone who has posted a heap of photos of - you guessed it - canis lupus on flickr. So many in fact I can't decide which one I like the best. Many of them were taken at a place called Wolf Park in Battle Ground, Indiana, which is somewhere new to me and yet another place I'm going to have to explore http://www.wolfpark.org/.
I'll save that for another day, and in the meantime you can view some of this photographer's amazing gallery for yourself http://www.flickr.com/photos/tberling/sets/72157603306380824/

I will keep a'huntin' and exploring - while trying to stay focused on the exercise. I'm constantly being reminded how much we now have such "easy" access to. However - I still have a few trusty books I constantly come back to on this subject, so will ponder on how I will share these...

In wildness is the preservation of the world ...

(Henry David Thoreau)

Surviving with wolves

Away in the forest all darksome and deep,

The wolves went a-hunting when men were asleep;

And the cunning old wolves were so patient and wise,

As they taught the young cubs how to see with their eyes,

How to smell with their noses and hear with their ears,

And what a wolf hunts for and what a wolf fears.

Of danger they warned: "Cubs, you mustn't go there -

It's the home of the Grizzily-izzily Bear."

Wo-o-o-o-o-ww!

(W-o-o-o-o-o-ww! by Nancy M. Hayes.)

I feel like I should call this "Surviving Blogger", as I have had several attempts at trying to make some sense of this. But - I believe I've now turned the corner! Not exactly being pulled kicking and screaming into cyberspace (do we still use that expression?), and somewhat reluctantly adding more to the vast expanse of "stuff" out there, I am nevertheless looking forward to the exploration. I have already learned how to delete your blog - I must stress it was intentional. With my new cyber "identity", over the coming weeks I hope to share stories and other tales - true and false - about a creature dear to my heart that we share our Mother Earth with - Canis lupus. So let's share the journey among the real and unreal, as I'm sure many of us often contemplate the great unknown out there in the vast ether that is the blackness of IT. No guarantees we will be wiser or happier with the outcomes - but at least we're walking the path, and librarians are certainly not afraid of this big bad wolf!