Residents of the U.S Wolf Refuge
Click on the name for a short introduction to each animal!
Thunder
Wolf-dog, male
DOB: approximately Aug 8, 2012
Thunder came to the refuge with his mate, Lightning, in Aug 2019 when we were contacted to help after their owner had passed away. Lightning passed away in 2023.
From the day Thunder arrived, he has been very social. He is one of our ambassadors and has made several ambassador appearances over the years. He communicates by growling, and we have come to learn that there is no malice in his growl. He’s pretty laid-back but cannot be trusted in the house without supervision. He knows how to open the refrigerator and the cabinets to see if there are any tasty snacks and will unapologetically eat them…. ALL of them.
Thunder has a very large enclosure that allows him to see what volunteers are coming in to visit.
Phoenix
Wolf-dog, male
DOB: approximately 2021 / 2022
Phoenix was part of a facility in Minnesota that was shut down by authorities in 2023. There were approximately 17 wolf dogs and many other exotic animals. The wolf dogs were taken by various sanctuaries and rescues. When Phoenix arrived at the refuge in October 2023, he was pretty beat up. We weren’t sure he would be alive the next morning. At his vet visit, he had seven teeth pulled, including a canine, and was neutered. He had infections that also required antibiotics. He was cared for by a volunteer for a month as he required special care and was very feral.
Today, he resides in a large 2-acre enclosure and is still very feral. He’s curious and will sneak up behind you to sniff you. Occasionally, he will take a treat from a volunteer’s hand.
Lycan
High Content Wolf-dog, male
DOB: April 11, 2011
Lycan came to the refuge in 2014. He was well cared for and well-loved. He is a large, sweet animal that needed a more secure enclosure with some room. He has gotten along well with other dogs, wolf dogs, and volunteers.
Lycan is our most senior animal at the refuge. He is very handsome and healthy. He is curious when something is going on, likes to run the fence with his enclosure neighbors, and will come up to the fence for quick scritches and nose boops.
Kodiak
Wolf-dog, male
DOB: Feb 2012
Kodiak came to the refuge in May 2020 from a home in Concord, CA. He is very feral and living in a congested, noisy neighborhood was becoming to stressful for both him and his owner.
He currently resides in a enclosure that is about an acre and spends most of his time dozing under trees. Around 2022, he was taken to the vet to have a good size tumor removed from his side. There is no sign of it growing back and he is healthy and happy. He does not interact with any humans although he does come close for an occasional treat. He is a very feral, sweet animal.
Auroa
Wolf-dog, female
DOB: approximately 2021 / 2022
Aurora was part of a facility in Minnesota that was shut down by authorities in 2023. There were approximately 17 wolf dogs and many other exotic animals. The wolf dogs were taken by various sanctuaries and rescues.
Aurora arrived at the refuge in October 2023. She was spayed in 2024 and is a healthy petite girl. She’s extremely feral and has only allowed one of our volunteers to give her treats and a quick pet here and there.
Loki
Wolf-dog, male
DOB: approximately Mar, 2017
Loki came to the refuge in September 2018, around 18 months old. He came from Truth or Consequences, NM.
Loki is a volunteer favorite and definitely has a “favorite” volunteer. He loves to scent roll volunteers and is very social. He loves his water trough in the summer and day trips to Pyramid Lake to play in the water. He also likes playing with other female residents and stealing anything that doesn’t belong to him. He, along with several others, was a refuge favorite of Dr. Jane Goodall when she visited in March 2019.
Phelan
Wolf-dog, male
DOB: approximately Aug 2017
Phelan was originally in a foster situation for a rescue in Oregon. He was about 8 months old and was going to be euthanized because he was destructive. He was delivered to another rescue/foster in Nevada and eventually landed at the refuge in 2018 where he now resides.
Phelan is a traditional Irish name that means “wolf”. He is timid but, over time, has gained confidence and approaches most of our volunteers for some affection and play.
Phelan enjoys his large acre enclosure at the refuge and likes to chase Koda around on occasion.
Storm
Wolf-dog, male
DOB: approximately 2021 / 2022
Storm was part of a facility in Minnesota that was shut down by authorities in 2023. There were approximately 17 wolf dogs and many other exotic animals. The wolf dogs were taken by various sanctuaries and rescues.
Storm arrived at the refuge in October 2023. He proved himself to be an escape artist instantly. Fortunately, he only “escaped” into a larger enclosure and was put back into his smaller one pretty quickly. Storm was neutered shortly after arrival to the refuge.
Today, he resides in a large 2 acre enclosure, with 10’ fencing and is still very feral. Occasionally he will take a treat from a volunteer’s hand.
Mauly
Mauly
Belgian Malinois Mix, female
DOB: Approximately 2021
Mauly was picked up by one of our volunteers from a Belgian Malinois rescue in the central valley in California in 2022. She is a “no-content” wolf-dog who thinks she’s a wolf. Our volunteer was told that she was 6 months old, but it was clear that she had already had pups. We aren’t quite sure of her age but she was very much still a puppy.
She is part of the house pack at the refuge and absolutely loves everyone. She and Loki are playmates and spend lots of time together.
She will be the first to greet volunteers on arrival and holds our Curator’s heart in her paws.