A lost wolf pup left Boise this morning on its way to a new home and family in Virginia.
A wild wolf picked up by campers north of Ketchum is on the move again, this time traveling from his temporary home in Boise to a facility in Williamsburg, Va.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game announced Wednesday that the 7-week-old pup has found a new home there at Busch Gardens.
The facility was selected from a list compiled by staff at Zoo Boise, who determined which facilities might be able to adequately care for the animal.
Busch Gardens has several zoos that are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, though its facility in Williamsburg is not.
The wolf pup was separated from his pack prior to May 25 when campers driving into Ketchum saw it sitting by the side of the road near Frenchman's Bend on Warm Springs Road.
Suzanne Stone, spokeswoman for wolf advocacy group Defenders of Wildlife, said last week that the campers sat by the road for an hour to see if anyone would return for the pup—which they originally thought was a domestic dog.
DNA tests returned positive last week, indicating that the pup is a full-blooded wild wolf.
Stone and officials from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game searched for the wolf's pack even prior to the DNA test results in the hope of reuniting the animal with his family.
Idaho Fish and Game Magic Valley Region Supervisor Jerome Hansen said as early as June 5 that the wolf's future was likely in captivity, though Defenders of Wildlife field technicians continued searching though June 10 for the pup's original pack, using helicopters and on-the-ground searching.
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Thank the Creator that some good hearted people got involved after the parents of the pup did not come back for him/her. More people need to be like this but must remember not to interfere unless there looks like no hope for a reunion of it's natural parents. chiefruth
He's so beautiful! It's too bad he can't be in his natural habitat!
Thank god for nice people!!!!!!!!!!!God bless them.
A young Ambassador! Thank God for good people (and Defenders of Wildlife) so this little guy has a chance to teach humans...maybe just a little.
I am not "Anonymous!" One more time...
Wish I could have brought him to be with my Girlz!
A young Ambassador! Thank God for good people (and Defenders of Wildlife) so this little guy has a chance to teach humans...maybe just a little.
Yeah thats great BUT it seems the poor wee guy is going to spend the rest of his life in captivity. In zoo like surroundings? I hope not for his sake. I do hope he gets more freedom than that.
He sure is cute. Glad someone saved him. Hope he has a great life, even if it will be in captivity.
Im happy but yet again sad to think maybe he lost his parents in Idaho but they did not find him. God saved the little angel but i would have like to have seen in a conservation center with more wolves around him rather than busch gardens. He was left alive to show the people how wonderful the gray really is and to teach I hope people the true meaning of the wolf. God Bless the compassionate people who waited they were meant to be there at that time sent by the creator.
Beautiful wolf pup. I am glad he is safe. It is so sad he got separated from his family, a natural environment is always best for these animals. But I am sure he will be cared for well even if it is in captivity. So glad to see there are good people out there.