This is a letter to all of Quadra Island, in response to an unsigned notice posted in the May 23 issue of the Hungry Eye.

The first thing I would like to say is that wolves and cougars are very different in their behaviour, habits and interactions with humans. It disturbs me to have them lumped into the same sentence with the danger/fear word: "alert".

I am happy that there are wolves on the south end. I would like to think they are the sign of a healthy, burgeoning, balanced ecosystem. But perhaps they are here because we humans are disturbing their north-end home to such an extent as to make it unlivable?

We humans are merely one of the inhabitants of the island; part of the ecosystem. Wolves must have an equal space, filling their role. Why should we fear them? Why are we being warned to contact the conservation officer? Are we planning on eliminating these wolves? Relocating them? Are they not controlling the deer population? Are the wolves a problem, or are we?

I have sighted wolves eight times since January. All of my interactions have been positive. They are quite shy and afraid of me, yet curious. They are beautiful creatures, and every time I see them I feel blessed, like a little magic just sprinkled in my day.

Our wolf, the grey wolf, is also known as the timber wolf, and varies in colour from white to black. The male is bigger then the female and the average weight is 55-139 pounds. Wolves can live up to 13 years in the wild , but the average is only six to eight years. The wolf is a very social animal who mates for life and lives in a pack of 2 - 15.

The wolves that live on Quadra Island are our wolves, it is our job to protect them against loss of habitat and persecution by humans, their greatest enemy. Did you know you have a greater chance of being killed or injured by lightning then by wolf attack?

We do not want wolves to lose their natural fear of humans, this both instinctive and learned behavior. Keep your distance, especially if the animal is feeding, stay calm, stand up straight, be confident, do not wave your arms or behave aggressively, do not stare (most animals consider this a challenge), calmly turn around and walk away. Never run.

I recommend the website www.wolfsongalaska.org, which has a section on wolves in Canada, if you would like to learn more about wolves.

I also recommend that if you are concerned for your pets, use a leash in wooded areas. If you are concerned for your livestock, lock them up at night. Do you have children playing outside? Set clear boundaries, and educate your children about how to react if they sight a wolf.

Let's learn to live with the wolves. They are here, we are here, and the other option is too painful to consider.

Howling at the moon,
Brandi Hedefine