The pens at Alligator River and the Great Smokys are 50 x 50 feet. The pens at Yellowstone for the gray wolves are nearly an acre in size. During the acclimation, human contact with the wolves is kept to a minimum. A wolf's best defense in the wild is stay away from people. Every attempt is made to keep the wolves' natural fear of human beings intact.
Biologists visit the pens a couple times a week to deliver the food and check on the wolves.
A few days before they are released the wolves are caught and given their final physical examination by the veterinarian. They are weighed, inoculated against disease, and if needed, equipped with new radio collars. On a day of the release a biologist walks up to the pen, opens the door, and walks away. Read our Privacy Policy Statement .