Almost Published: Willie the Red Wolf

 

I love our reserves and everything within, except maybe the people who do them harm or misuse them Within the reserves are bears and red wolves. The red wolves are teetering on extinction thanks to being bounty hunted early on, villainized by farmers and hunters, and having their habitat cut up by roads and developments. Truth is they want little to do with us, they like to eat small prey, and they like to stick to their own kind. We've harmed animals before. We nearly wiped out the Bald Eagle but were able to bring it back so now bald eagles are a common sight. I saw one both this morning and last week in two different locations. A friend posted pics of a nesting pair checking out an abandoned osprey nest. 

But the wolves are still fighting for their life. We have a breeding program. We check on them, fit them with collars, genetically test and nurture their young with the intention of letting them rejoin their pack. We put up road signs asking people to please watch out and not hit them. 

But even so, they get shot by poachers, hit by cars, and grow scarce.

So if anything, this is double the reason to lean in, care for them, and appreciate them.

Illustrating this book was enjoyable, not because it was going to be a published book, but because I was working focusing on a creature that I love.

I love animals. I love nature. 

The hardest thing in my life is watching the nature I love the land that I love continual abused by people.