Today is International Wolf Day! A global celebration to honor and raise awareness about the ecological importance of wolves. As we ease ourselves back into our routine after taking medical leave, please join us in this walk down memory lane, with this post from our archives regarding the “elusive” sea wolf. Spoiler alert: they are not as hard to find as scientists think!
Maine Sea Wolves (August 14, 2017)
Scientists, what do they know? I just read an article about their discovery of “rare Sea Wolves.” Rare? Clearly these scientists need to get out more because on any given morning or evening in Maine you can find these sea loving creatures enjoying the surf and sand at the beaches. In fact, if it weren’t for the silly rules humans make to restrict their movement, you could probably find Maine Sea Wolves on beaches all day! So I really find it hard to believe the Wolves observed on Vancouver Island off the coast of British Columbia in Canada are any different than us Golden Wolves of Maine.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m sure the elusive Sea Wolves that these scientists observed on a remote island live interesting lives, and are no doubt different than inland Wolves as this study insists. However, are they really that different from us Maine Sea Wolves? For example, according to the article in National Geographic, by Susan McGrath, “In Search of the Elusive Sea Wolf Along Canada’s Rugged Coast,” (October 25, 2015), “These Wolves are beachcombers. They chew barnacles, scarf up the roe that herring lay on kelp and feast on dead whales. Swim out into the ocean and clamber nimbly up onto rocks to pounce on basking seals.” Well on any given trip to the beach, I have been known to chew clam shells, roll in seaweed, and once a friend of mine, Remy, even got to sniff a dead seagull! As for swimming great distances, I would love to swim the 10 miles out to the Isles of Shoals, but my Dad always calls me back. Also what is the big deal about Sea Wolves climbing on rocks? Asa has been known to climb up on rocks to pounce on Mom and Dad when they insist on sitting during our beach romps.
The scientists’ research also found that 90 percent of these rare Wolves’ diet comes from seafood. Well my big brother, Angel Lemmy, had all sorts of allergies, and salmon based kibble was one of the few foods he could tolerate. He’s not the only pescatarian I know. My Cousin Bear thrived on smoked herring, and my Cousin Mushu continues to enjoy the fishy treat.
In the article, “Meet the Rare Swimming Wolves,” (August 3, 2016), by Alexandria E. Petri, also published in National Geographic, scientists claim that Sea Wolves are smaller than other Wolves. Well I can state with the utmost authority that the Sea Wolves I’ve encountered in Maine come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors! Don’t believe me? Here are some photos of these not-so-rare Maine Sea Wolves taken by my Mom on the local beaches. In fact, I’m going to be so bold as to state on any given beach in this country people can find Sea Wolves!
