At Wolf Mountain Nature Center’s annual Honoring the Spirit of the Wolf celebration, the long-standing tradition is for the animals to receive a seasonal stuffed pumpkin treat as part of their daily behavioral enrichment. (Photo from Wolf Mountain Nature Center)

SMYRNA – The Wolf Mountain Nature Center, will host their largest annual event, the Honoring the Spirit of the Wolf Celebration, on Sunday, October 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year marks the center's 20th anniversary of both being open to the public and hosting the celebration. Admission costs $10 for ages 12 and up, $5 for ages 6-11, and is cash only at the gate, however the gift shop accepts cards. The center is located at 562 Hopkins Crandall Road in the rolling hills of Smyrna.

“The howl of the wolf is still resonating through Chenango County,” said Founder and head animal caretaker Will Pryor. “In fact, there's more,” he added.

The longstanding tradition of the Honoring the Spirit of the Wolf Celebration is for the animals to receive a seasonal stuffed pumpkin treat.

Animal Care Specialist, and Office Manager at the center, Pam Mennis, explained that these pumpkins serve as not only a festive fall treat, but also an important behavioral enrichment activity for the animals. Throughout the celebration visitors will be able to watch wolves, coyotes, and foxes interact with the pumpkins.

The celebration will also feature live music, food, and performances.

“It will be a fun time to get away from everything else going on in the world,” Pryor said. “It's a family-friendly event,” he added.

Under the tent, the Four Corners String Band performs and Magician Jim Okey perform throughout the celebration.

Programs during the day include the Wolves and Coyotes Pumpkins Program at the respective habitats, Happy Haggs Dance Troupe does a “witchy” performance near the teepees, the Foxes & Pumpkins Enrichment Program takes place at the fox habitats, a Native Drumming & Singing Presentation takes place in the teepee area, and the Wolves & Pumpkins Enrichment program at the center's Sunrise Forest and Wolf Meadows.

On-going throughout the event, Sled Dogs of Smokey Hill will offer educational demonstrations and talks featuring a rare breed of sled dog.

Food vendors include Kandi's Kitchen food truck, Genie Wood Fired Pizza, Rock N' Roll Kettle Corn, and the Five Acre Farmstand.

To mark the 20th anniversary of Wolf Mountain Nature Center, 316 Creative Woodworks has created commemorative plaques that will be for sale at the event and the center has designed 20 year commemorative t-shirts that will be for sale at the gift shop.

At the very first Honoring the Spirit of the Wolf Celebration, the center was home to just two wolves and a single enclosure. Since then, it has become home to over a dozen across several habitats designed to showcase wolves in a natural setting. Pryor describes Wolf Mountain as a place “where wolves, can be, wolves.” The center has also become home to other canid species such as coyotes and foxes.

Pryor hopes that first time visitors, who come to the annual event, decide to return during regular open hours to experience the calmer side of the preserve. Where they can “enjoy peace and quiet” and experience the “sanctuary feel.” With sprawling nature trails through the hills and habitats, on a typical day with no celebration, the center is a place where visitors can observe wildlife in a tranquil setting displaying natural behaviors. A host of native birds, plants, insects, and mammals can be spotted just walking around.

Pryor once said, “there is a different wolf each moon,” noting that at different times of the year, the same wolves can appear and act differently, changing with the season. As we approach colder weather and shorter days, the wolves are currently gaining weight and growing undercoat back, he said that they look “more wolf-like then in the summer.”

Education remains central to the center's mission which is “dedicated to the spirit of the wolf, past, present, and future.” The hope is that by inviting visitors to see wolves, and other animals, in a space where natural behaviors are possible they will foster an appreciation of the keystone species rather than fear.

“Wolves help maintain a balanced, healthy ecosystem,” Mennis said.

The wolves at Wolf Mountain Nature Center are able to hunt, forage, and develop pack dynamics within their habitats. Staff give talks and answer questions about these behaviors as visitors explore the grounds during open hours. The center also has youth specific education programming where they host field trips and provide interactive learning.

For 20 years the center has been totally volunteer run and created. Volunteers there educate visitors, maintain the grounds, and help build new enclosures. Pryor noted that past interns have gone on to careers in conservation at various agencies like U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Soil and Water Conservation, and the Department of Environmental Conservation. Many return each year for the Honoring the Spirit of the Wolf Celebration.

During the event, the center will accept donations to complete ongoing infrastructure improvements. Having recently completed a walk-in cooler that allows them to store more food for the animals, they can now focus on water exhibits, rockscaping, new vantage points, and enhanced driveway accessibility.

As the center celebrates two decades of education, growth, and preservation they invite the public to come and see the mission in action. For longtime supporters and first-time visitors alike, the annual Honoring the Spirit of the Wolf Celebration provides an opportunity to observe an enrichment activity, engage with the center's ongoing conservation work, and help support the improvements that will guide Wolf Mountain into its next 20 years.

To find out more information on the Wolf Mountain Nature Center visit the website https://www.thewolfmountainnaturecenter.org/

The center also posts regularly on social media and can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064257086899 and on Instagram @wolfmountainny.