CELEBRATING NATIONAL WOLF AWARENESS WEEK: HONORING THE MAJESTY OF WOLVES- GREAT ANCESTOR OF DOGS (Updated with 2025 info, dates, etc.)
We are Re-Releasing this Article we Originally Published on October 13, 2024 in Celebration of
“ National Wolf Awareness Week” October 20-26, 2024. Last year October 2024
*We were able to go to the National History Museum of Los Angeles, view the Wolves Exhibit by Ronan Donovan National Geographic Photographer and attend the discussion on Wolves in the Western United States to meet, listen to and speak with some members of the panel including: Ronan Donovan: Photographer, Axel Hunnicutt: California Division Of Fish & Wildlife/Gray Wolf Coordinator, Dr. Kaggie Orrick: California Wolf Project, Kirk Wilbur: VP Government Affairs- California Cattlemen’s Association, and Kacey Manjarrez from WolfConnection.org * Be sure to stop in Now Thru June 2025 to see the Wolves Exhibit.
This year, October 2025- Ronan Donovan; National Geographic Wildlife Photographer and Biologist will have his latest works on Display in Lodi, Italy.* SEE PARAGRAPH BELOW WITH DETAILS and more about Ronan Donovan and his work with wolves.
If it were not for Wolves, there would be no modern day dogs. Yes, that’s right. Did you realize this?…
The Dog Goddess, being the Worldwide Compassionate Community of Dog Lovers we are, would love to share more with you about these beautiful, intelligent, family-oriented creatures and how you too can learn more and help to raise awareness about them.
Each year, during the third week of October, we celebrate National Wolf Awareness Week, a dedicated time to raise awareness about wolves, their ecological importance, and the ongoing conservation efforts aimed at protecting them. Wolves are iconic for their intelligence, social bonds, and resilience, and they play a critical role in maintaining balanced ecosystems. This week encourages us to learn about these magnificent creatures and the many ways we can support their continued survival.
Why Wolves Matter
Wolves, as apex predators, are what is referred to as a ‘keystone’ species. This means that all other species rest upon the role of wolves. Wolves regulate prey populations, such as deer and elk, allowing plants and forests to regenerate. This ecological balance fosters biodiversity—a phenomenon known as a trophic cascade. Beyond their role in nature, wolves represent wilderness and resilience, and their complex social structures continue to captivate biologists and wildlife enthusiasts.
Challenges and Conservation Efforts
Wolves have unfortunately faced centuries of persecution and deep misunderstanding. Although wolf populations in certain regions have begun to recover, they continue to face threats such as habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and debates over their legal protection. Conservation efforts rely on advocacy from individuals, organizations, and communities to ensure that wolves thrive in their natural habitats.
Wolves and Advocates in the Western U.S.
California and other Western U.S. states, including Oregon and Washington, have become focal points for wolf conservation efforts. These states, home to critical wolf populations, have seen increased interest in both protecting and coexisting with wolves. Local organizations, government agencies, and advocates are working to promote awareness and action.
California: Wolves were declared extinct in California in the 1920s, but the species made a return when OR-7, a lone wolf, crossed into the state in 2011. Since then, California has seen the emergence of small wolf packs, including the Lassen Pack. California Wolf Center, located in Julian,CA focuses on education, research, and advocacy for wolves, hosting events and webinars for the public to learn more about the species and their return to the Golden State. The California Wolf Center also actively engages with ranchers and policymakers to promote peaceful coexistence between wolves and humans.
Oregon: With the establishment of the Oregon Wolf Plan, the state has worked to balance wolf recovery with livestock protection. Oregon is home to thriving wolf populations, such as the Wenaha Pack and Rogue Pack, and efforts to ensure their continued survival include collaboration between conservationists, ranchers, and government agencies. Organizations like Oregon Wild advocate for the protection of wolves while educating the public about their critical role in ecosystems.
Washington: The Pacific Wolf Coalition, a partnership of groups throughout Washington and Oregon, focuses on wolf conservation in the Pacific Northwest. Washington’s wolf population continues to grow, particularly in the Northeastern part of the state. Conservation Northwest, one of the coalition members, works to promote coexistence between wolves and local communities while advocating for the preservation of wolves under state laws.
Image Courtesy of Getty Images
National Geographic Photographer Ronan Donovan and His Work with Wolves
Ronan Donovan, a renowned National Geographic photographer, has spent years documenting the lives of wolves, capturing their social dynamics, behaviors, and the challenges they face in the wild. His stunning photography brings the wild beauty and complexities of wolves into sharp focus, encouraging deeper empathy and understanding for these misunderstood creatures.
Donovan’s most famous work on wolves centers on the packs of Yellowstone National Park, where he spent extensive time documenting their lives in the wild. His photography has captured the intimate bonds between pack members, the importance of cooperative hunting, and the essential role wolves play in maintaining Yellowstone’s ecological balance.
Beyond Yellowstone, Donovan embarked on an extraordinary journey to Ellesmere Island in the high Arctic, where he spent months living alongside the wild Arctic white wolves—wolves that had never before encountered humans. This experience offered Donovan a rare glimpse into the lives of wolves unafraid of human presence, providing him with unparalleled insight into their behavior in one of the most remote and extreme environments on Earth.
The Arctic white wolves on Ellesmere Island are unique in that they are not habituated to humans, allowing Donovan to observe their natural behaviors without the fear or aggression that wolves in more human-populated areas sometimes exhibit. Donovan learned that these wolves are incredibly social, working together as a family unit in the harsh Arctic tundra. He also observed how they efficiently hunt muskox and hares, showcasing their adaptability and resilience in a landscape where resources are scarce.
Donovan’s work on Ellesmere Island highlighted the raw beauty and purity of wolves living in one of the last true wildernesses on Earth. His time there not only deepened his understanding of wolf behavior but also reinforced the importance of preserving wild spaces where animals can thrive without human interference.
This October 2024, during National Wolf Awareness Week, Ronan Donovan will debut his much-anticipated exhibit, “The Wild World of Wolves”, at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. This exhibit will feature some of Donovan’s most iconic wolf photography, including images from Yellowstone and his work with the Arctic wolves on Ellesmere Island. The exhibit will include a special panel discussion on October 20, 2024, where Donovan and leading wolf biologists will discuss the future of wolf conservation, the lessons learned from observing these majestic creatures, and how photography plays a critical role in raising public awareness about wolf conservation.
*The exhibit will also include a special panel discussion, where Donovan and these leading wolf biologists will discuss the future of wolf conservation, the challenges these animals face in a changing world, and the role that photography plays in driving public awareness. * Please feel free to contact the National History Museum of Los Angeles for more information. While we wish we could include some of Ronan Donovan’s Images, you’ll have to go see the Wolves Exhibit to check it out.
The above photo is Credited to Getty Images. The photos Ronan Donovan is sharing now will be on display in Lodi, Italy according to this post September 30, 2025 by Ronan Donovan on Instagram where he says: A new photo exhibit of mine - titled 'The Wolves of the High Arctic' - is now on display outdoors in Lodi Italy trough the @fotografiaetica until October 26th 2025. I have released new imagery of the Polygon Wolf Pack that has never been seen by the public. I will be there the last weekend of October 25/26 for an artist talk and other public programming. This outdoor exhibit will introduce visitors to the daily lives of wolves in the Arctic—how they hunt, play, travel, and rest in one of the harshest environments on Earth—with unparalleled intimacy.
He goes on to say:
“My work as a National Geographic Storytelling Fellow, wildlife biologist, and conservation photographer has always been to mend the rift between modern humans and the more than human world. Through visual, written and spoken stories, I strive to capture the intimate rhythms of family bonds, shared challenges, and ancient behaviors that call us back to our wild selves. My photography and film reveal that the boundaries we imagine between ourselves, and nature are illusions—reminding us, as Robin Wall Kimmerer wrote, “It has been said that people of the modern world suffer a great sadness, a “species loneliness”—estrangement from the rest of Creation. We have built this isolation with our fear, with our arrogance, and with our homes brightly lit against the night.” Before Kimmerer, Rachel Carson said that, “man’s endeavors to control nature by his powers to alter and to destroy would inevitably evolve into a war against himself, a war he would lose unless he came to terms with nature.”
I believe, as the above wisdom speaks to, that our path forward to honor and preserve both the natural systems on this planet and the health of ourselves could be to rewild ourselves in whatever ways we can. To remember that we are part of Earth, not apart from it. In doing so, I’ve felt more aliveness, more connection, more grief and love, and a felt sense of my place amongst my fellow humans.”
📍Location of the outdoor exhibit:
Public Garden, Giardini Viale IV Novembre
26900 Lodi, Province of Lodi, Italy
Thank you Mr. Ronan Donovan. * to learn more* copy/paste the link into your favorite browser https://www.instagram.com/p/DPPjxTCEvAC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
How You Can Get Involved
Mother and Baby Wolf Sleeping
During National Wolf Awareness Week, there are many ways you can support wolf conservation:
Attend Events: Join local or virtual events hosted by organizations like the International Wolf Center, Defenders of Wildlife, and regional advocacy groups. These events provide opportunities to learn more about wolves and their critical role in ecosystems.
Support Conservation Efforts: Donate to organizations that work to protect wolves, such as the California Wolf Center and Conservation Northwest. Your support helps fund research, advocacy, and education initiatives aimed at protecting wolf populations.
Raise Awareness: Share information about wolves on social media, participate in discussions about wolf conservation, and encourage others to learn more about the importance of protecting these apex predators.
Get Involved Locally: *Many states have regional wolf advocacy groups that offer opportunities for volunteers. Whether through habitat restoration, educational outreach, or wildlife monitoring, you can help make a difference.
A Future Where Wolves Thrive
National Wolf Awareness Week reminds us of the critical role wolves play in our ecosystems and the continued efforts needed to protect them. Through the dedication of advocates like Ronan Donovan, local and regional organizations, and individual supporters, we can help ensure that wolves not only survive but thrive for generations to come. Let’s use this week to engage, learn, and take action for these magnificent creatures and the wild spaces they call home.
