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Description
Wild wolf pup of Algonquin Park.

In May I was helping the Ministry of Natural Resources research team with their Eastern wolf project in Algonquin Park. They have been capturing wolf pups in order to implant transmitters to track location and mortality rates, and my dad was the vet to do the surgery, so I went with him. In order to find dens they have to track collared adults in the packs, and locate where they've settled. The hard part was going into the black fly infested brush and searching for the den, and then having to climb up the 20 foot tunnel to pull the babies out. Fortunately the adults would run away before we got there, so there would be no mother at the end of the tunnel.. well, most of the time. We got 2 packs, the first with 2 babies and the second with 6. Each pup needed surgery to implant the tubes, so we were out in the thick forest for hours. Although it was a serious task, once the pups were out we all had a photoshoot, (or "Puperazzi" as we so called it) because they are so damn cute! Overall it;s an incredible project, and this year they implanted 28 pups so far. The entire experience was amazing, and I feel so lucky to be one of so few people to get so close and personal to a wolf, an animal which I've had a rooted passion for all my life.

Description
Wild wolf pup of Algonquin Park.

In May I was helping the Ministry of Natural Resources research team with their Eastern wolf project in Algonquin Park. They have been capturing wolf pups in order to implant transmitters to track location and mortality rates, and my dad was the vet to do the surgery, so I went with him. In order to find dens they have to track collared adults in the packs, and locate where they've settled. The hard part was going into the black fly infested brush and searching for the den, and then having to climb up the 20 foot tunnel to pull the babies out. Fortunately the adults would run away before we got there, so there would be no mother at the end of the tunnel.. well, most of the time. We got 2 packs, the first with 2 babies and the second with 6. Each pup needed surgery to implant the tubes, so we were out in the thick forest for hours. Although it was a serious task, once the pups were out we all had a photoshoot, (or "Puperazzi" as we so called it) because they are so damn cute! Overall it;s an incredible project, and this year they implanted 28 pups so far. The entire experience was amazing, and I feel so lucky to be one of so few people to get so close and personal to a wolf, an animal which I've had a rooted passion for all my life.