Arctic Wolf Sighting at The New Children’s Museum

WEST HARTFORD, Conn – Arctic wolves in West Hartford? Well, just one. This Saturday, June 23 at 5pm, Atka the Arctic Wolf returns to The New Children’s Museum for a special appearance, providing visitors with the unique opportunity to see this amazing animal up close.

Atka hails from the Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) and, at ten years of age, is the oldest ambassador wolf. He arrived from Minnesota when he was just 8 days old and was raised by the WCC staff, volunteers, ambassador wolves and Eno. Eno was the WCC’s resident German Shepherd and ambassador wolf nanny.

Atka lived with fellow wolves Apache, Kaila and Lukas as a member of the ambassador family until the age of three.  At this age, Atka began to challenge Apache for his leadership (alpha) position in the pack. This is natural behavior as most wild wolves disperse from their natal packs between the age or 2 and 3 years old to establish their own families.

Wild Arctic gray wolves (Canis lupus arctos) live primarily in the Arctic, the region located above 67° north latitude. The land is covered with snow and ice for most of the year, except for a brief period during the summer. Arctic wolves have adapted well to this icy environment. Atka, like his wild counterparts, has white fur, allowing him to blend into snowy surroundings. To help reduce heat loss, his ears are rounded, he has a shorter muzzle and shorter legs than other gray wolf subspecies. He also has hair between the pads of his feet and long, thick fur to keep him warm in temperatures that as low as minus 70° Fahrenheit.

According to the WCC, Atka is the only ambassador wolf who likes to travel. Atka embraces new faces and places making him a great educator and unlike most wolves. In 2010, Atka visited over 150 schools, nature centers, museums and libraries helping people learn about the importance of his wild “brothers and sisters”.  

Register now as space is limited. Tickets are $10 for nonmembers, $8 for members.  http://bit.ly/KNRAHM

The Children’s Museum features over 100 live animals, including the now famous Fennec foxes, hands-on science exhibits, out-of-this-world digital planetarium shows, and programs for younger children and families. The Children’s Museum and Roaring Brook Nature Center are the region’s premiere destinations for science and nature exploration.

The Children’s Museum is located at 950 Trout Brook Drive in West Hartford and at Roaring Brook Nature Center in Canton. More information is available at www.TheChildrensMuseumCT.org.