Wolf Sanctuary

Deep in the heart of California’s Mojave Desert, in a small town called Lucerne Valley, Tonya Carloni lovingly tends to her family of 16 wolves.

A rocky dirt road off Highway 18 leads you into the wolf sanctuary, a 14-acre ranch in Lucerne Valley that serves as a refuge for abandoned, abused and neglected wolves.

Upon entering the desert property, you are greeted by the friendly howls of man's most legendary friend. Apache Moon, a Mackenzie Valley Wolf (also known as the Canadian Timber Wolf), stares out from his kennel with piercing amber eyes. His coat is thick and full, charcoal and white. He howls up into the sky, and then looks back.

"The wolves are welcoming you," says Carloni, an Apache Indian with flowing, long black hair. Her Indian name is Tonya Littlewolf.

As one of the few wolf sanctuaries located in the state, Wolf Mountain Sanctuary offers a rare opportunity interact, pet and feed the wolves. Littlewolf has operated the Wolf Mountain Sanctuary since she was 16. It has been located in Lucerne Valley since 1985.

Littlewolf's mother, who ran an exotic animal refuge in San Bernardino County, told Littlewolf at a young age that she ws to be "Keeper of the Wolf." Her brother was chosen to be "Keeper of the Cougar."

Since the age of 5, Littlewolf has lived, played and learned from the beautiful creatures, who the native Americans call "Spirit Brother." She was given her first wolf, Mikaia, when she was 9.

"My mother gave me her to bottle feed and take care of," says Littlewolf. "When the wolf got older, my mom said, "It's time for her to teach you. You are to learn everything about the wolf and become like the wolf.

"So as we grew up, I would go into the dens with them. I was with them at all times until I went to school. I would lay there with the mother as her cubs were born and as they grew up."

During a visit to Wolf Mountain, guests are invited to touch, hug and sing with these gentle animals. You can even bring along treats — frozen turkey drumsticks are their favorite — for each of the 16 wolves, including gray wolves, and the endangered buffalo wolf.

According to Littlewolf, the wolves also enjoy raw beef, raw chicken, fresh fruit and knucklebones.

Once common throughout North America, the wolf population has dwindled dramatically. In the United States, both the red and gray wolves are listed as endangered species. Littlewolf has owned four buffalo wolves, now extinct in the wild.

A wooden sign outside Littlewolf's kennel reads "Extinct is forever."

"There used to be 32 different species of wolves in the world," says Littlewolf. "Now, in the upper states, Canada, and Alaska, there are only 10 species left in the wild."

Fifteen different species of wolves make their home on Littlewolf's ranch. Throughout the years, her wolves have included Miosha, a female British Columbia Timber Grey, and Tumaka, an Alaskan Timber Grey. "I didn't keep them together too long because they'll consider themselves mates," she says. "They are two different species and I don't believe in interbreeding."

The wolf sanctuary business is an expensive one. On top of permit fees, Littlewolf regularly shops for red meat and chicken each week. "If I get apples, carrots and potatoes free from the grocery store, it's cool. Otherwise, I have to buy that, too."

Fruits and vegetables are important for the wolves digestive system. "In the wild, they eat berries and roots. In captivity, they eat constantly and have a scheduled diet."

To make sure the wolves get all their nutrients, Littlewolf gives them a high protein dog food with lamb, rice and chicken. They also get a fresh rabbit once a week. "They need the intestines and fur for their digestive system," says Littlewolf.

Littlewolf hopes to expand her wolf sanctuary to 100 acres, complete with buffalo, a Pow Wow area, and bed and breakfast. She also hopes to offer wolf-oriented lectures. "It takes about 6 months to learn everything about the wolves," she says. "We will have cabins so people can stay there and study. It will be a place where people can be waited on and get up and see what the wolves do all day. The wolves will be happier there."

Open to everyone ages 13 and up, the tours are offered between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.  Thursdays through Sundays. Donations are $20 for the 1-2 hour tour; $50 for half day tours and $100 for a full day at the sanctuary.

Carloni operates an online gift store to help support the wolves. Order by phone at 1-877-809-1659 or visit www.cafepress.com/wolfmountain

To book a tour, call 760-248-7818 or visit www.wolfmountain.com

• To learn more wolf facts, click here
• To learn more about the Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary, click here

• To learn more about the Cat House Exotic Feline Rescue in Rosamond, click here.
• To learn more about the Desert Tortoise sanctuary in the Mojave Desert, click here.