SMYRNA – Wolf Mountain will host “Christmas with the Wolves,” a spectacle which promises to entertain onlookers of all age groups, from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The annual event features an active lupine pack, as the wolves are arctic creatures, and are more boisterous in the cold weather. Attendees will be asked to make $5 donation at the door to help support the canines’ ravenous appetites, with whatever is left over benefiting the construction of the new, nine-acre Wolf Woods enclosure.
“Christmas with the Wolves” also features a dulcimer player, sled dogs, and (if he can find the time in his understandably busy schedule) Santa Claus. The Wolf Mountain gift shop will be open, where free hot cocoa, coffee, and cookies will be served.
“I am always surprised at how many people come up here just for the gift shop,” said Pam Mennis, who has taken over the adminstration of the store ever since she began volunteering at Wolf Mountain in April. “I will have the wood stove jacked up Sunday so people can come in and warm their hands if they want.”
The main attraction of “Christmas with the Wolves” is the spectacle of the wolves getting their special holiday treats. Wolf Mountain volunteers will be tossing in turkeys for the wolves to devour, but the main event will be the Christmas trees with a wolfish twist. Volunteers cut down pine trees and decorate them with ornaments – only these ornaments are not of the typical variety.
“In years past we impaled hot dogs on the branches or drill holes in big dog biscuits to hang them from the tree,” said Mennis. Once a large enough crowd has gathered Sunday, Wolf Mountain volunteers will take the treat-laden Christmas trees into the enclosure. The wolves than carefully circle the trees, identifying their favorite delicacies, before pouncing on their yuletide treat.
“People always love to see the wolves gobble up their goodies,” said Mennis.
Next summer, with the aid of donations, pledges, and fundraisers, construction on the new Wolf Woods will get into full swing. Already many of the nine acre enclosure’s fence polls stand erect. Once Wolf Woods is completed, five of the canines will be placed inside of the enclosure, and a trail will circumvent it, allowing visitors to better witness the wolves in action. Visitors have the opportunity to sponsor a specific fence pole to help the construction. A plaque will be attached to the pole in honor of the sponsor.
For more information and directions, visit thewolfmountainnaturecenter.org.