Gayle Lawrence organises Journeys of Discovery – Mind Body Spirit Travel Adventures, here she writes about her encounter with Wolves at Seacrest Wolf Preserve, Chipley Florida.
I sat quietly, the adult wolves were cautious, they didn’t recognize my scent. Several pairs of yellow, honey colored eyes were fixed on me, more than looking at me, they were looking into me. My role was to be submissive, to let them know I was not a threat. To sit quietly and be patient as whatever contact I was to have was entirely up to the wolves. I was now the outsider in their world as the pack sized me up.
The 2 young wolves, Liberty, not quite 2 years old and Makuee, 10 months old were the first ones to approach me. Just like any youngsters, they were curious and playful.
The adult wolves kept their distance, ever watchful, I felt their penetrating gaze observing me with the 2 young ones. I did what I call my “wolf walk” down to the pond with Wayne and Jimmy. Liberty and Makuee frolicked beside us like overgrown puppies. Several of the adult wolves followed behind us, I had not been accepted into the pack yet, I was still on their radar alert.
At the pond the adult wolves seemed to relax more and began to get a little closer to me. Utah, a big male wolf, seemed to be very interested and I could tell he wanted to approach me, but yet, he wasn’t totally comfortable getting too close. At one point while I was focused on talking to Wayne, he silently crept up behind me and sniffed my back. I sat on the log very quietly and lowered my gaze and finally he came up to me. I was allowed to touch his neck only for a few seconds and I felt very honored. Wayne said this was really amazing as Utah never lets anyone get close to him at all, but it was obvious that he wanted to connect with me and first contact was made!
Next Wayne introduced me to a younger pack of wolves that he calls the “brat pack”! There are several in this pack who are like unruly teenagers and I was fair game for playing and stalking as they practiced their wolf skills. I also got to meet Spirit Prince, a pure white Artic Wolf. Prince was elusive at first but then decided I was worth a sniff or two. He was magificent and so beautiful with jet black eyes.
I feel as if I’m being prepared to meet wolves in the wild in Yellowstone Park on the June trip. Wolves have been showing up in my dreams for the past couple of months and just a few weeks ago I heard about Seacrest Wolf Preserve here in Florida which was a big surprise. I had no idea that this place existed much less that you were allowed to go into the wolves 3 acre enclosure for a one-on-one meeting with the pack.
Another synchronicity just a few days before I was going to Seacrest to meet the wolves was a friend telling me, I just finished reading a great book called “Lone Wolf” by Jodi Piccoult. I went directly to the library and got it. The book was wonderful and helped me to feel more ready to meet the wolves at Seacrest.
Wolf is one of the Native American’s greatest teachers and wolf is revered and very sacred to them. We will be learning about “wolf medicine” from our Native guides in Yellowstone Park and Wind River in June. My day with the wolves at Seacrest was thrilling and I am eager to meet their brothers and sisters in the wild lands of Yellowstone.
There are only 3 spaces left for this one-of-a-kind journey to the sacred lands of Yellowstone Park and Wind River Country. I’d love to have you experience the wolves of Yellowstone with me. MORE ON THIS TOUR
Journeys of Discovery is just one of the tour companies featured on Women Travel the World and their tours are listed on our Women’s Tour Calendar
