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Welcome to Wolf People SAYING GOOD BYE TO CASPER
(May 8, 1996 to June 30, 2010)
Crystal in photo (left) Casper in photo (right)
Casper lost his life to kidney failure, the same as Crystal; and I had him put to sleep last night. He passed away peacefully, in his territory, at 7:28pm while Mike, Cody, Patti & I were at his side. The entire pack knew what was happening; and the wolves who could see him, watched intensely. About 30 minutes after his death, Hache Hi' howled alone, telling everyone that he was their new leader and that he would take care of them. I walked over to him and petted him as I told him I was confident he would be as good an alpha as Casper was. His sad eyes told me he understood.
I got Casper from a breeder in Minnesota when he was 12 days old. He was an extremely handsome little cub; and, even at that age, he commanded attention. As we were flying home, the pilot found out he had a little wolf cub on board so Casper got to ride in the cockpit with the pilot for the entire flight. Soon after I brought him home, it came to my attention that he had a terrible case of worms which almost cost him his life. My vet had to give him a blood transfusion from his "Heinz 57" dog & that saved his life. So, at that young age, Casper proved the wolf and the dog have the same blood.
Our leader at this time was "King Cyrus" who died shortly after Casper joined our pack. He was only 4 months old, but was the first one to answer Cherish (King Cyrus's mate) as she howled mournfully over her mate's death. This told me he was our new "Alpha", and that he was. We got him for our beautiful little Crystal, who was 2 years older than he was. They bonded immediately and were our beautiful Ellesmere Island pair. He adored Crystal, who raised him with a stearn hand that taught him who the boss really was whenever push came to shove --- and it wasn't Casper! He didn't mind though & always let Crystal have her way.
Casper enjoyed meeting new people and would greet everyone with a growl, letting them know who the boss was on the ranch. No one wanted to challenge this beautiful 135 pound beast of solid muscle and found it best to just go along with him. The few people who did not hear his growl of authority, actually felt bad & deprived. He was always a "fair" alpha in that he would not scold or punish those who lived according to his law. For example, Mike always put Casper and Crystal's food over the fence in one specific place. (After age 5, Casper never allowed anyone in with him). A few winters ago, the snow got so deep that Casper was looking into Mike's eyes when he brought the food out; however, as long as Mike still put the food in the correct spot, Casper left him alone and appreciated it. He and Crystal were our leaders for 14 years and everyone flourished under their guidance/protection and control. They loved our new cubs, and we would put the cubs next to them to learn from them. The only naughty thing Casper would show them was how to steal their stuffed animal toys! He loved stuffed animals and would do anything to acquire a new one, even if it meant stealing from the babies he dearly loved! Everytime I left the property, I would say "Casper, you are in charge" as I would go by his enclosure. How he loved to hear those words!
Casper was regal and stoic, right to the end. Everyone who saw him, immediately respected and loved him. He commanded it, and he earned it. He adored his little grandson, Tikaani, who lived right next to him. Tikaani also loved his Grandpa Casper and enjoyed watching and learning from him, not to mention all the kisses. After a time to show respect to Casper and Crystal, Tikaani will be placed in their enclosure to live out his life there.
There is a silence now in the pack as we all mourn the loss of our powerful leader. My last words to him were "I love you Casper, you are in charge, go to Crystal now who is waiting for you". Casper was in charge right to the end. He and Crystal are no longer with us now; but the lessons we learned, the love we felt and the honor it was to live with them will be remembered and felt by each one of us for the rest of our lives!
Nancy Taylor
After much anticipation, our tours to the Wolf Compound are in full swing and will continue all Summer and into Fall!! Please call to reserve a spot today! Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, bring your cameras, and plan on having a "howling" good time! Meet our 20 wolves in their natural habitat! Please book ahead as our tours are limited to 20 people. We can accommodate larger groups if we have at least 5 days notice. Please call us at 208-263-1100. Prices and scheduled tour times are as follows:
PRICES Adults $8 - Children (3 to 12) $6 - Seniors (62 & up) $6 10% DISCOUNT FOR GROUPS OF 12 OR MORE! TOUR TIMES Sunday thru Friday: 10 am and 2 pm ALL CHILDREN MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT! Summer Store hours are Sunday thru Friday from 9 am-6 pm, closed on Saturday.
All proceeds from the tours go to support all 20 of our wolves. Hope to see you soon!
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