International Wolf Center
  • Wolf Info
    • Learn About Wolves
      • Wolf FAQ’s
      • Types of Wolves
      • Biology and Behavior
      • Wolves and Humans
      • In-Depth Resources
      • Recommended reading
    • Wolves of the World
      • United States
      • Canada
      • Europe
      • Asia
      • Africa
    • Magazine
      • Get the Magazine
      • Magazine Archives
    • Facts vs Fiction
    • Just For Kids
      • Vocabulary
      • Fun Wolf Facts
      • Wolf Families
      • Wild Kids Articles
      • WolfQuest
  • Our Wolves
    • Meet Our Wolves
    • Exhibit Pack Log
    • Retired Pack Log
    • Wolf Cams
    • Videos
  • Visit
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Group Visits
      • Group Day Trips
      • Group Overnight Trips
  • Programs
    • Adventure Programs
    • School Programs
    • Webinars & Lectures
    • WolfLink Virtual Learning for adults & groups
    • Traveling Exhibit
    • Dr. L. David Mech Fellowship
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • Diversity Statement
    • Subscribe
    • History
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Employment
    • Contact
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Membership
    • Wolf Guardian Sponsorship
    • Howl at the Moon Gala
    • Wolf Care Auction
    • Volunteer
    • Other Ways to Help
    • Annual Report
  • Shop
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube

New exhibit, Discover Wolves!, opened in 2019

You are here: Home1 / New exhibit, Discover Wolves!, opened in 2019

Discover Wolves, a new exhibit at the International Wolf Center, opened in 2019

“As the first visitors explored exhibit, it was thrilling to see the smiles on their face,” said Krista Harrington, the interpretive center manager. “The new exhibit brings a creative spark to an educational adventure in the world of the wolf.”

Discover Wolves! was funded in part with a grant from the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, plus a major commitment from the board of directors at the Center and its donors.

“Planning for the project started four years ago, so to see the wolf den, the science lab and artifacts in place was a magical experience,” said the board’s Chairperson, Nancy jo Tubbs. “It’s more fun than I could have imagined.”

A stunning photo mural leads visitors down a ramp and into the new exhibit space. The mosaic, which looks from afar like a wolf resting, is made up of thousands of small images. The closer one gets, the less like a wolf the mural looks, as individual images reveal themselves. Once you step back, those individual images fade and the bigger picture of the wolf is again visible.

Just inside the new exhibit hall, a wolf den is built into a rocky cave. Visitors are able to step up to the den and look inside to see video footage of real wolves in a real den.

In another display, the distance covered by a wolf on a given day is highlighted on a map of the northern United States. The distance, 30 miles, is but a small track across the vast north country. That illuminated track grows considerably when visitors press the second button, showing how far a wolf can travel in a month (600 miles). The third and final track shows what 3,000 miles looks like on a map of North America—the distance wolves can travel in a year. The display also notes wolves sometimes travel much farther, up to 8,000 miles a year, if prey is scarce.

Nearby, a simulated airplane gives visitors a chance to see how researchers track wolves from the air. Once a guest takes a seat in the cockpit and pushes a button, the adventure begins. Four screens encircle the guest, making it appear as though he or she is in the cockpit of a small airplane. The plan takes off from an ice-covered lake in Ely with Shannon Barber-Meyer riding in the front seat next to the pilot. Barber-Meyer, a wolf biologist with the United States Geological Survey, explains how she uses radio telemetry to track wolves in the wild. Near the end of the adventure, Barber-Meyer and the visitor successfully find the wild pack.

Historic artifacts aim to show how important wolves were to various cultures over time. Included in the display is a stunning hand-beaded mask in the shape of a wolf’s head. The mask was donated to the Center’s founder, Dr. L. David Mech, who in turn donated it to the Center for display.

As visitors leave the exhibit, they’re encouraged to take a quick 10-question quiz about wolves to see how much they learned from the discovery adventure.

Wolf Headlines

  • Wildlife Loss Five Times Slower In Protected Areas September 28, 2023
  • A board leader calls the new Wisconsin wolf plan key to removing federal protections for the animal September 28, 2023
  • Belgian farmers call for weaker protection of wolves, as environmentalists want greater September 27, 2023
  • Pack of Wolves Casually strolls Amongst Huge Bison While Trying to Choose One to Hunt September 27, 2023
  • New research pinpoints best locations for wolves in Colorado September 26, 2023

The International Wolf Center advances the survival of wolf populations by teaching about wolves, their relationship to wildlands and the human role in their future.

© Copyright - International Wolf Center
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Subscribe
  • Employment
  • Internships
  • Media
  • About Us
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Scroll to top
Book Now