But it was what she couldn’ t hear that alarmed her.
The loud, piercing and normally constant sound of the sanctuary’ s 50 wolves howling through the night was absent.
In fact, the only thing howling was the wind.
That’ s because the wolves of Wolf Haven were busy dodging branches, avoiding debris and trying to survive what has amounted to the largest disaster in the history of the nonprofit sanctuary and conservation facility just outside Tenino.
Saturday brought warmer weather and the realization that all but one wolf – a 16-year-old Mexican gray – had survived the storm. Wolf Haven officials believe the elderly canine died from causes unrelated to the weather.
But the new day also shed light on mounds of debris and broken enclosures throughout the facility. Total damage has not yet been tallied, but Wolf Haven executive director Diane Gallegos estimates the cost of repairs will land between $35,000 and $40,000.
“ You just heard ‘ crash, thump, thump, thump’ just nonstop, ” said Gallegos, who was at Wolf Haven during the day throughout the storm. “ Now the people are all OK here, the animals are OK. It’ s just a miracle.”
Spencer described how the wolves peered up toward the trees as their survival instincts kicked in. Two wolves escaped their main enclosures and spent the night wandering across the sanctuary.
Because the sanctuary is secured behind a system of three enclosures, none of the animals was at risk of escaping, Wolf Haven officials said.
Gallegos said she’ s happy Wolf Haven escaped with only property damage. There were times during the heavy snow and subsequent ice and wind when she felt that wouldn’ t necessarily be the case.
“ It just puts everything in perspective when you have something like this, ” she said.
Wolf Haven is traditionally closed in February for mating season, but the annual closure might be longer in light of the damaged facility.
