SHARE

Wolf Conservation Center Recovering From Hurricane

SOUTH SALEM, N.Y. – Staff at the Wolf Conservation Center say that the facility suffered significant damage in Hurricane Sandy; however, the wolves survived the weather without any major problems.

WCC staff work to repair fences that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

WCC staff work to repair fences that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Wolf Conservation Center

Hurricane Sandy's damaging winds raked the WCC, leaving dozens of downed trees in its wake. Staff members said it crushed fence-lines like tin foil, and toppled large trees onto roads, visitor walkways, and on top of the 10 enclosures that house the WCC's 25 wolves.

With chainsaws revving, WCC staff and volunteers have been working overtime to remove fallen trees and to erect fences, with help from Westchester's SavATree.

“We have a fair amount of tree damage and a number of trees have taken down our fencing,” said Spencer Wilhelm, WCC operations manager. "While our crew was able to handle the majority of the work, some of the impacted trees require more than our trusty tractor and a half a dozen chainsaws."

SaveATree, no strangers to the hundreds of trees that reside on the WCC's 27-plus acres, offered to come to the WCC’s aid at no cost. In return for its labor, the WCC agreed to relieve SavATree of its overabundance of wood chips. It can be costly to discard tree remnants and the wood chips will benefit the center by helping build up washed-out pathways and roads.  

Wilhelm also said that the WCC is grateful to its supporters.

“Although we still have lots to do in the coming weeks to recover from Sandy, we have been making great progress thanks to our dedicated volunteers and donors,” he said. “We consider ourselves a lucky bunch; our pack [of supporters] is bigger than we could ever hope.”

For those who’d like to contribute to the WCC’s recovery effort, donations can be made at the WCC website at www.nywolf.org.

 

to follow Daily Voice Bedford and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE