Submitted by Samantha Good
Two wolves visited the Cub Scouts of Watchung. The wolves came from Howling Woods Farms, Jackson, New Jersey. Pack 32 raised money from popcorn sales in 2017 and donated the funds to the wolf rescue.
The BEAR scouts began the evening at the Watchung Exempt Fireman’s Hall with the Scouts’ opening flag ceremony. Megan Quinn, HWF animal trainer and tour guide, and Michael Hodanish, president, and founder of Howling Woods Farm, brought Samson and Kotori, two hybrid wolves that live in the wolfdog rescue. The leaders began with a special presentation about the wolves. The Scouts learned that wolves are not dangerous; humans have more chance of being hit on the head by a coconut than being attacked by a wolf. Real wolves avoid people, are extremely shy and not confrontational. Wolves can travel 50 miles or more per day looking for food. Wolves once lived in all 50 states of U.S. and were exterminated primarily by ranchers, farmers and early settlers who feared the animals. They now exist in abundance in Alaska and Minnesota and following reintroduction, wolves now also live in Arizona, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Wolves are federally protected by the Endangered Species Act.
During the evening the Cub Scouts were able to meet Samson and Kotori, who appeared in the November issue of Vogue with Daisy Ridley (Rey from “Star Wars”). Samson is a 13-year old mix of wolf and Alaskan malamute. He is 110 pounds and in 2010 he appeared in a Disney movie, “Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” Kotori is an 8-year old white wolf-German Shepherd mix and is 90 pounds. Kotori’s name means “screech owl spirit” in Hopi. Both wolves love company and that was demonstrated by their behavior whilst the cub scouts were close to them.
For more information about Howling Woods Farm please visit website howlingwoods.org.
For information on scouting please visit website beascout.scouting.org. If any boys and girls in kindergarten through fifth grade are interested in joining the Cub Scouts of Watchung, please contact the chair of Pack 32 at pack32chair@gmail.com.
(above) Cub Scout Pack 32 with Kotori from Howling Woods Farm.
