Syracuse.com - Live wolf shows at Oncenter should draw howls of delight from spectators

[HuntingNY-News]

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We can learn a lot from the wolves. They're very family oriented animals and they take care of each other."

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<p>SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The "Wolves of the World" exhibit is expected to be among the biggest attractions at this weekend's New York Sportsman's Show at the Oncenter.</p>

<p>Within minutes of the Sportsman's Show's opening at noon today, spectators began milling around the semi-circular cage where the live wolf shows will take place. They were allowed to walk inside the area where the animals are being kept in cages between acts.</p>

<div><span id="asset-14104890" title="slideshow" class="id:14104890 basename:wolves_of_the_world_show blog_id:4456 align:article"><img src="http://media.syracuse.com/post-standard/photo/2014/01/14104916-large.jpg" height="246" width="380" border="1" class="slideshow-preview entry_widget_article" alt="Gallery preview" /></span> </div>

<p><br />Sharon Sandlofer has eight Eastern timber wolves, most having "a little bit of dog in them." They range in age from one to 16 years, and are all rescued animals.</p>

<p>"They come from all different situations, We have some that came from Hurricane Katrina, one from an illegal fur farm in Minnesota and a litter of pups from West Virginia," she said. "We can learn a lot from the wolves. They're very family oriented animals and they take care of each other."</p>

<p><strong>Sandlofer noted five things that folks would be surprised to know about wolves:</strong></p>

<p>1). "Within the pack, which can be anywhere from five up to 20, only the alpha male and female will mate and have young. None of the other females will even come in heat. And when the babies are born, they all join in caring for them - to the point where the other females will start to lactate if necessary to take care of the alpha's babies.</p>

<p>2). "Wolves are one of only about three species in the world that will care for their elders in pack. If there's older ones that can't hunt, they'll bring food back to them.</p>

<p>3) A Siberian husky is the closest, DNA-wise to a wolf. All the Arctic breeds are close, with a German Shepherd being about fifth on the list. The biggest thing you'll see with these guys that gives away that they have a little bit of Arctic dog in them is the way they carry their tails. A wolf typically carries their tail down. When they hold it up and curl it down on their back, that shows that they have a little bit of an Artic dog in them.</p>

<p>4). "These guys eat about 5 pounds of raw meat every day. I feed them a lot of chicken (that's easily gotten when I'm on the road), beef and venison, which they really like. Their most favorite thing, though, is white-tailed rabbit. They're carnivores. They'll eat any meat. But I don't feed them pork. It goes right through them. Actually the best thing is a whole animal, such as a road-killed deer.</p>

<p>5). "The wolves howl, of course. But in a place like the Oncenter, they got to get used to the sound effects that it causes here. They normally howl two of three times a day. Usually it's late in the night, early in the morning."</p>

<p>Live shows with Sandlofer's wolves are set 5 and 7 p.m. tonight; 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday; and 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 4 p.m. Sunday. Folks can get close to the wolves in their cages between shows.</p>

<p>The New York Sportsman's Show runs from noon to 8 p.m. today, and continues from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $8, Children under 12 free. For more information, see the event's website at <a href="http://newyorksportsmanshow.com">newyorksportsmanshow.com</a>.<br /></p>

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog