All the wolves evacuated from the W.O.L.F. sanctuary during the devastating High Park Fire in Larimer County last month are back home but their old digs face challenges.
In all, 30 hybrid wolves were taken from the sanctuary near Bellvue when the fire broke out in early June. Some went to live on the property of a member of the sanctuary board of directors near Loveland.

Others, about 14, were taken to the 720-acre Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg. One group returned to the W.O.L.F facility on July 3 and the remaining group came back July 5, said W.O.L.F. spokeswoman Michelle Proulx.
"They were pretty happy to get out of the heat," said Proulx.

The animals, which originally came to the sanctuary after their owners couldn't provide for them, were checked out and found to have survived the fire and evacuation relatively unscathed, she said.
"Veterinarians gave them exams and found they came through with no new issues," Proulx said.
But they returned to a facility scarred by the High Park blaze. The fire burned down a caretaker cabin and two sheds as well as damaging some of the enclosures.

Then came the torrential rains in recent weeks, said W.O.L.F. executive director Frank Wendland.
The rains caused ash runoff and erosion of the fire road and main road leading the sanctuary, said Wendland. Enclosures on the northern side of the valley encircling the sanctuary have damage to the timbers securing the dig guards, erosion under the dig guards and damage to some of the gates.
The sanctuary will need to find a way to control runoff, install retaining walls, put up catch fencing to secure boulders that could roll down into the enclosures and remove trees and debris that pose potential problems, Wendland said.

Wendland, meanwhile, said in an e-mail to supporters that he is retiring after 17 years as executive director.
"I love each and every animal for whom W.O.L.F. has provided sanctuary," said Wendland. "They were my passion and it has been my very great honor to have them under my stewardship."
He said he will continue to live at the sanctuary and remain on the board of directors.
The new executive director will be Shelley Coldiron, a co-founder of three biotech companies who has extensive background in fundraising, Wendland said.

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