Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center

Reviews 3

EM

Emily Pehlke

As a former staff member, please do not support this place. CWWC is not a real non-profit nor rescue. The animals are bought from breeders. Staff are instructed to present fake "rescue" stories (and told to preach against the corrupt breeding industry in the same breath). Claiming our animals were rescued from fur, hunt, photo farms-- all boldfaced lies for the purpose of PR and donations. Furthermore, we spend tours criticizing places which use animals for profit-- all while making millions doing the same. Lets do some verifiable math... CWWC gives 4-5 tours a day with up to 40+ people on each tour ($15)... a fraction of these people give further donations on the way out the door... a photography or deluxe package program is over $500 a person... they do paid commercials... have very profitable fundraising events... receive generous online donations every week... make 1,000s every month through their gift shop... dont pay taxes, receive donated food/enclosures for wolves, and most of the team are volunteers (staff are illegally paid $20-50/days for 10 hours of rigorous labor with no breaks). You do the math. In addition, the Alpha experience where one takes a photo and pets a wolf for 15 mins costs $300 a person (tour not included) has as many as 50 people sign up for this $300 experience every day in Summer... *Alphas doubled in price over the year I was there and time was cut in half. Darlene, the owner, often yelled at me for giving a group of 8 (WHO PAID THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS) 60 photos after their Alpha instead of the 10-15 she demanded. "We just put them on a USB. Happier customers at no cost to us, what is the issue?", I would ask. She would retort with some, "I dont care. Theyre just lucky to be here" megalomaniac comment. Darlene hates people, guests, and most of her volunteers. She likes canines because she can control them. She uses her program to take advantage of empaths, manipulating people through their love of those animals. Only those who suck up to her or the men who flirt with her (David) are treated with any sort of decency. When staff went for a public meeting to reintroduce a highly endangered Mexican Grey Wolf back into the ecosystem, Darlene refused, saying she doesnt waste her time getting involved in politics. THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING? She sure likes to make it look that way. Darlene Kobobel has multiple vacation homes (ask her or any staff) and takes countless vacations every year. She admitted she increased prices for her new vacation home in Australia. I saw her buy a huge lake house with acreage for her ex and a brand new car driven straight off the lot for her new boyfriend. Staff have uncovered 100s of thousands of buried donation money on her property or stashed around her giant house-- one instance, in an envelope dating back 10 years labeled "my tropical hut fund" that she forgot she even had! She takes donations to her vacation home in Central America to embezzle. Shes a con-artist who believes her own lies. That being said, please do not support CWWC nor donate. If she was using animals to make money for charity, that would be one thing. But she makes money from these animals for herself. Your money is going in her pocket, NOT to the wolves. This is especially heart breaking to me, having seen little girls who were awesome enough to save up money all year to donate "to the wolves". Dont be overwhelmed by the presentation as I once was. Think. Question. The place is beautiful in theory; gorgeous facility, friendly animals, stories to make one feel hopeful... but its a shameful farce, tainted by the owners own greed. Despite educational value and being affiliated with conservation groups, Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center is nothing more than a glorified photo farm. If you want to meet a wolf in Colorado, do it correctly. I suggest Mission:Wolf or WOLF Sanctuary. Ive worked for both in addition to CWWC. They are also in Colorado, both run by pure-hearts, and both actually rescue their animals-- and did I mention they are free?! Thank you for considering all Ive said.

SA

Sarah Petkus

I have been visiting CWWC practically since it opened in Woodland Park and Darlene(the founder) was still the one giving the tours. Ive done the Alpha tour four times and I went again for the first time in several years recently. Its hard for me to say, but I dont think I will be visiting anymore. I love the wolves, and I really believe in the education element of the tour, but after watching the tours grow ever more crowded and rushed, the price of the alpha tours continually rising to ridiculous figures while the quality of the experience goes down, and interacting with increasingly unfriendly, and cocky, staff, I feel the heart of the cause is being buried. I witnessed volunteers/staff bickering over how to conduct tours in the lobby area, one of whom even argued with the other employee that they were going to do away with the group howl at the end of the tour, which is SUCH a highlight and profound experience for guests. The entire time I felt that each employee had an "alpha" complex of their own and were not working well together. The alpha tour, now a whopping 330 dollars, was nothing like what it was when I visited in the early years when it was $75 and it was relaxed and private. Rather than going in on my own, there was a couple in the enclosure as well as two employees telling me to sit down, where to sit, how to hold my hands, when I could pet the wolves and when I could not, and that was only when Tala and Navi werent distracted by the other four people there. The actual interaction time was VERY brief and the staff photographer gives you fifteen photos(two of mine were completely blurry). To end the alpha tour, the young man gave us dog biscuits and told us how to give them to Navi. Well, it used to be that I was given meat cubes and I would hold out the treats with a flat palm, as you do when feeding a horse, so as not to get accidentally bitten, but I did what the guide said and after I had given Navi his treats and watched the other couple have their turn, I looked at my hand and saw that it was bloody. Due to the way I was told to hold the treats, sure enough, I was accidentally bitten. Because of the attitudes of these employees, I was actually afraid to say anything to them about my hand because I figured they would somehow, whether passive aggressively or not, tell me it was something I had done wrong. So I held my hand in a fist and tried to hide the injury until we left. I am sad that the magic of this place has been spoiled by absurdly high prices, cocky employees, and an overall feeling like you, as the paying visitor, are an inconvenience. I am a wildlife advocate and my lifes work revolves around that, so it is not easy to write this review, but I hope people thinking of doing the alpha tour get an idea of what they are paying for.

SA

Sasha Barajas

So happy I finally made it out!! Ive had this on my Colorado bucket list for the past 3 years! Spaces were filled over the weekend but we thankfully made it into the Tuesday morning tour group (reserve your spot online and the center will call you within a day or so to confirm/secure payment). The directions on their website are accurate and easy to follow. I would however allow extra time for your travels/check in. The winding driveway up to the parking area is a bit narrow so special caution needs to be taken when cars are traveling in opposing directions, particularly when it is snow packed. On the way into the check in you are greeted by two fine mini horses which are quite near the outdoor restroom facilities. These facilities are super clean, decorated and adorned with lit candles. The office/giftshop is just beyond colorados highest covered bridge (this bridge is for the foxes - so Iook up on your way through as there is likely one lounging up there). Our tour started right on time and our tour guide was absolutely delightful, passionate, informative and approachable. She welcomed any and all questions our large group had and provided us with tough/sensitive information in professional and accessible manner (photo farms, fur farms, History of the animals at the center, and of course Hunting laws). She also de-bunked several myths such as wolves howling at the moon and their extra large size as suggested by recent films (largest wolf ok record was a mere 175 pounds - I definitely see larger dogs than than in and around boulder, Colorado on the regular). It was amazing to see the various wolves and fox up close and of course hear their howls (our group howl inspired theres). I was happy to purchase some items from the gift store following our tour as well as sign some petitions in support of the wolves. Highly recommend visiting this center!!!

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