AWOOOOOOOO! Beautiful wolves roam and thrive at Wolf Haven International, where the wolves are first and foremost the primary focus- not humans. As one of my primary spirit animals, wolves have such a profound effect on my behavior, personality, and even appearance. My monochrome wardrobe is inspired by the gorgeous shades of color that wolves are comprised of and I even have an inclination towards the moon because of wolves. I also love the cold and perpetually embody the elegance and grace that makes these creatures so irresistible. There are so many fascinating wolf knowledge tidbits that I learned during the tour and it was incredible to see the different types of wolves and their unique traits. Wolf pack UNITE! read more

See all

Very well educated person who gave your. She had been there for years and involved with animal studies. She knew the history with out the notebook for reference. For as many acres as it says it has we only see just a few wolf / coyote being rehabilitated. Learned the difference between coyotes and wolves. read more

While looking for things to do in the Olympia / Lacey area, I stumbled across Wolf Haven International. I reserved and paid for the admission / tour, and was a little unsure about what to expect, even after some thorough browsing. When you pay for the tour, you receive a guided tour along with up to about a dozen other people. You have to stay with the group. It is a roughly 45 minute outdoor walk on a gravel path past about six moderately sized and well tended enclosures - rain or shine. There are not only wolves, but wolfdogs, and coyotes. ***Wolves may or may not be present, depending on the time of day, weather, and their personal mood.*** If a wolf is particularly stressed, or the group makes them uncomfortable, you move along and don't stay in that location. It is strongly emphasized that you are a guest in the wolf habitat, and will be removed for unruly behavior that antagonizes the wolves. The tour guide discusses the reasons for each of the wolves being there, and talks about conservation efforts in the area, and wolf behaviors. It's pretty educational, non-political, and fairly interesting. The grounds and enclosures seem well tended and our guide was very well-versed and able to address questions about wolves and behaviors. I was fortunate enough to visit on a chilly and rainy day and find that it was "wolf weather" and all the residents were out and fairly active. I heard a bit of howling, and it was very amazing to hear. Outside of the paid tour, there is a small gift shop and native nature trail loop as well. There are also volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this for small children, or people who want to "just see animals" - but as a trip for more mature audiences interested in conservation and education. read more

Wolf Haven International - guided tour area with gravel walking trail and enclosures. - Educational Services Near Me - Tenino, Washington

See all

What an amazing experience!!! So educational! The work they do with the wolves and hybrids, fantastic! So excited to find this sanctuary!!! Absolutely amazing Be aware... if you want a zoo, go to the zoo. If you don't want a guided tour, go to the zoo. If you want the animals to come out and perform for you, go to the circus... these animals are brought here to enjoy life in a Safe Place! They are not forced to do anything. If they are unsocial, it's the luck of the draw. If you have children whom can't behave, i.e.: screaming, fighting, not listening, sitting on the fences, hitting sticks while the guides are trying to educate those of us whom would love to learn, please leave them at home.... 3 children ages 7-12 were fantastic!!! Quiet, respectful, excited! And NOT DISRESPECTFUL.... to the lady's 13+ y/o blonde bratty boy doing this for a school project, your lucky I didn't drop kick him while he sat on the fence that bowed, smacked sticks while the guides were talking, and for being beyond rude... parenting at its finest on your end.... This is an educational sanctuary. Please be respectful read more

Wolf Haven International - Educational Services Near Me - Tenino, Washington

See all

This was such an amazing experience for our family. The tour taught us so much and even though it was raining, we had a blast! Our tour guide was very friendly, knowledgeable and patient with our group. Getting to witness the howling is as incredible as watching them in their habitat. The gift shop has some amazing treasures that support the Wolf Haven. The proceeds go right back into the sanctuary. Like the other reviewers say, this isn't a zoo, its a sanctuary. If you come with an open mind, you will have a lot of fun and learn a lot!. read more

My fiance and I discoverd Wolf Haven International as we were driving down the freeway and saw the sign. We were busy that day but decided to return. We went back a few days later. It's $12 to get the tour. There is a tour every hour. You get to view the wolves from outside their pens. It is so sad to think that the majority of the wolves you are seeing either came from a wolf puppy mill or were captured to be pets. These are such wild beautiful animals and it is so sad to see them caged. WHI is also a breeding facility for endangered wolves. There are some species of wolf that there are only 7 wolves in the wild. The work that they do at this place is amazing and it feels good to support their work. read more

See all

If you visit with the knowledge that this is NOT a zoo, you'll be able to appreciate the work and dedication that goes into rehabilitating these beautiful wolves. Keep in mind that the animals are in large pens and may not want to be seen 24/7, but the odds are that you will see many on your visit. Our tour lasted about an hour and the guide was very friendly-she was able to answer all questions and has extensive knowledge on the background of each wolf personally. We were very pleased with our tour and I feel good knowing that our ticket money went towards helping this cause. Wolf Haven is truly a sanctuary for these animals. read more

See all

If you are a fan of wolves, and want to see them in a natural habitat, check this place out. Staff seemed motivated to educate all the members of our group. I had a good time and it was an interesting and entertaining. Unfortunately, I wasn't blown away, and therefore Wolf Haven isn't elevated to a MUST visit. read more

Visited Wolf Haven International for the first time yesterday and what an incredible experience it was. We saw different types of wolves and even two coyotes. Marinka was our tour guide and she was absolutely amazing. We learned so much from her and she answered the many questions we all had with ease. I would recommend this experience to anyone. We are very appreciative places like this exist. This is truly a sanctuary for the animals as the animals are the priority. So happy to learn more about the conservation of these endangered creatures. read more

Wolf Haven International - Educational Services Near Me - Tenino, Washington

We found Wolf Haven through Lockwood Animal Rescue Center in Southern CA. On our trip to WA we were able to make reservations and see the sanctuary. Vic was our guide and he had alot of information and we could see his PASSION for these majestic animals. It is NOT a zoo or even a petting zoo, it is a SANCTUARY, which is where these animals will live out their lives in safety and preservation. We were blessed with hearing the wolves howl for 5 minutes straight while we were there and it was an incredible feeling. I wish there were more places like this to keep our wolves safe and build up their population. Thank you for what you do everyday! I totally recommend this place to bring awareness to the public! read more

See all

Richard and Donna are great, both are fountains of information and it's obvious they donate their time because of their passion for wolves. We heard 4 howlings during the few hours at the sanctuary, almost every wolf came up to the fence to socialize with the group during the tour. All in all it was a great experience. If you have young children please keep in mind that loud noises and fast movements can spook the wolves, scaring them off. It can be disappointing for everyone else who is taking time out of their lives to travel to the sanctuary. read more

Great place to take your kids or even a day date for a cutie that loves animals. Tour lasts around 20 minutes. Don't forget to buy a sweatshirt from the gift shop, they are surprisingly comfortable and durable and it is for a good cause. read more

Really LOVED my experience at Wolf Haven. I read some of the negative comments and thought I would explain them... People seem to think that this is a zoo, where you leisurely walk around & view animals. That is not what this "business" offers. This is not a zoo, this is an animal sanctuary. If you don't know the difference please educate yourself prior to coming. This is an amazing organization that is doing a large amount for the "wolf" community. Yes they offer lifelong homes to displaced & abused wolves & hybrids, but they also work with the government on wolf related laws, they "raise" endangered wolf litters for reintroduction into the wild etc. This is not a zoo. Your tour is guided, by a volunteer (BE APPRECIATIVE) who will discuss each of the visible wolves with you, educate you on wolf traits and characteristics, and update you on what threats wild wolf populations are facing. The tour was about an hour and we were guided through (I believe) 6 pins. Not all the wolves were visible. People on occasion seemed bored... this is educational. So if you don't like learning, just don't come. But if you do - COME it was a great experience and I left feeling thankful for the organization and the work they are trying to accomplish. I hope you do too! Also, considering adopting a wolf, it's a great cause. I adopted London. If you're curious about the major threat facing wild wolf populations, watch Cowspiracy & consider reducing your meat consumption. Your tax dollars are funding the death of our country's predators, all while subsidizing the cattle industry. read more

On a recent road trip down to Olympia to see hippies in their natural habitat, my friend discovered information about Wolf Haven International. We decided to take the tour since it was a beautiful spring day. It was amazing! The Volunteer tour guide was very informative and we all learned a lot about wolves, their endangerment, etc. It's sad to know that most of the wolves that were there were because they were endangered, or because people seemed to think keeping a wolf as a pet seemed like a good idea(people, it's not). All of the wolves were beautiful though, and a lot of them seemed fairly happy(as happy as you can be being locked up). The best part was as soon as we got there one of the wolves started to howl, so in turn ALL of them started to howl, which was a pretty amazing experience. If you happen to be in the area, or are very interested in wolves, I think it would be a great stop, but it's just an hour tour, so it's not really worth going out of your way for. They have quite a few Grey Wolves, a few Red Wolves, a couple dog-wolf hybrids, and some Mexican Grey Wolves. read more

I love Wolf Haven. It is not a zoo. It is a sanctuary. Most of the animals will live their lives out here a few will be rehabilitated and released deep into nature to hopefully live a full life there. Each of the animals has their own story and the guide who walks you through the sanctuary huge pen by huge pen, tells you each story. One of the events, for the lack of a better way to say it, is at night time. People are invited to come out and pay to come in as they would as if it were a day tour. I'm unsure of the cost. Anyway, you sit on some bleachers and have a "howl in" with wolves. The wolves howl and you howl back. I left in tears. The wolves left me feeling so empowered and so strong. And what did I give them? I wondered...I hoped I left them with something from me! Ah of course!! the gift store. What I spend there goes to them right???? You will have to go and find out! Wolf Haven is a nice place to go and learn something about some animals with an otherwise bad wrap. Not so much a place for young children. You will be kept in your small group you started out in. No wandering around. NO MAKING EYE CONTACT WITH THE WOLVES. Remember, they do not like eye contact. You are in their home while inside the sanctuary so let's be nice and play by their rules just for the little time you are there. I enjoyed Wolf Haven. I think they come out more on cooler days. read more

Love the energy of this sanctuary. We had a wonderful tour guide that was so passionate about the wolves. She was very big on living in harmony with all creatures and I couldn't agree more! To see wolves up close, with their personalities, makes them even more lovable. You are not able to touch the wolves. They live in fenced-in areas with two per enclosure. They howled all together when we were they which was such an honor to witness. Thanks for this great experience! read more

Disclaimer: this review is based on one unfortunate experience, but I would hope the institution is better than this. We went on a warm August day. We were coming from 2 hours away so, per the suggestion on their website, I called ahead at around 10:45 that morning to make sure they weren't going to close due to high heat. I was told we were good to go. I said we were coming from 2 hours away and she could have waved us off, suggested we try another day when the wolves wouldn't be hiding out, but she didn't. Bummer, but probably just an oversight on her part. On the tour our guide spent the first 35 minutes standing us in front of the first two enclosures, devoid of wolves, talking to us as if they were there. Then she tells us that on the previous tour the animals were fed, so were active despite the heat. That's great for the tour before ours, but mentioning it to is only made our tour seem worse. Then she went on to suggest we come back for an earlier tour, or on a cooler day. By the time we got to the last three enclosures, where we could actually SEE sleeping wolves, she was telling us we needed to hurry up cuz WE spent too much time at the first enclosures. Poorly handled on her part, but I'd like to try again sometime. Another couple notes. When asked questions our guide wasn't that knowledgable, and actually told us answers that she had heard from guests on previous tours. Then, at one point, she started to tell us about a book we should read but couldn't remember the name of the author she was raving about. I looked it up on my phone for her. All in all it was quite disappointing. I probably could have overlooked all the issues with the guide had the wolves been present, but that's not entirely their fault. read more

One of a kind experience getting to really learn about wolves and the impact humans have had on them over the years. As our tour guide told us, she would be happiest if all wolves were doing well out in the wild and the sanctuary did not have to exist, and it was clear that all the staff put the animals first. Almost all the wolves came from captivity- people that thought they would make a good pet, zoos that no longer had the funding to keep them, etc, and would have had to be put down if there wasn't a place to take them in- amazing work being done here. I would highly recommend taking the tour here, but will say that young children probably will not get much out of it. You do see lots of wolves, wolf dogs, and coyotes, but a lot of the tour is talking and asking/answering questions, which may get a little boring for an active kiddo. read more

This place is awesome! I just wish they would let you spend more time look in the enclosures at the wolves. Next time I come here I will be doing the photography tour in homes of getting some better photographs with less explanation of the wolves. Great organization! read more

I've been a fan of wolves since I was little and so this place was like a dream come true. I went here this weekend on a tour with a group of people from my college. It was a cold, slightly foggy day which we were told was the wolves' favorite weather, plus it was their feeding day so the wolves were up walking around and eating big hunks of meat. As a previous viewer said, this place isn't a zoo, it's a rescue, and you will not get to roam around on your own since it can upset the wolves, and only the wolves that can tolerate humans are out front for viewing. A volunteer interpreter takes you to each wolf enclosure (two wolves to an enclosure) and you have ample time to view each pair of wolves while they tell you various things about that pair and wolves in general. I don't know if this is for all the tours they do or if it was just because we had a group tour arranged, but we also got a long presentation on wolf conservation and reintroduction that was interesting and informative. A bonus, the wolves all howled for a minute or so while we were there (seemed like a lot longer than it probably was) which was a great experience and sent chills up and down my spine even though I'm not afraid of wolves. Hearing them in person is very different than on a recording. read more

Wolf Haven International - One of the Mexican Grey Wolves. I think it thought it saw something tasty behind us or something - Educational Services Near Me - Tenino, Washington

What a great educational experience for me and my child. The tour guide was so knowledgeable about the wolves, their own individualities and stories, and wolves in general. The work that is being done at Wolf Haven International is truly amazing and I am happy to be a supporter of their good deeds. The only downfalls of Wolf Haven International are that it is geared more towards a mature audience (my child, 5 years old, was not overly impressed) and that it moves along rather quickly, leaving little time to linger at each enclosure. read more

We came all the way from California to visit this place. We were on the first tour on Sat and loved it.! They do a fantastic job caring for rescue wolf ! Must see for animals lovers! read more

This was my 2nd trip to the Sanctuary. The staff is wonderful and the tour leaves you wanting more information and of course another trip. I wish I lived closer to volunteer and attend some of the other. goings on they have through out the year. Review the website for more information: Days hours etc. Good for older kids not so much for small children. The tour is 50 mins and on gravel. Mostly standing although there are benches...enjoy Wonderful wonderful place. read more

Make sure you make a reservation! I was visiting from out of state with my 10yr old and was turned away! So sad!

We loved Wolf Haven! Our guide, Jason, did an excellent job sharing about their goals and about the wolves we saw, plus answering all the questions people had. The wolves appear to be happy and well taken care of and the enclosures are large and the wolves have space to roam in them. A great experience. We would highly recommend this as a place to go. read more

Great learning experience for the whole family. In the nearly hour we were are able to see about 10 pairs of rescued wolves (& 2 coyotes) in their enclosures. At each pair of wolves the knowledgeable guide tells you the history of those wolves & educates the group about wolves. read more

See all

Love animal conservation efforts and the volunteers who take the time to ensure the animals are well-cared for. Wolf Haven International is fun, educational, and lovely. We've been here twice and will return for another visit. read more

When I stopped by, the wolves started to howl! That was so amazing and beautiful. What I love about Wolf Haven is how educational it is. The goal is not to show people what wolves and wolf-dogs look like but what the byproduct is of trying to taming/interact with nature's creatures. The staff and volunteer's are willing to share what they know and educate the public. This is truly a great way to get out of the house and learn more about wolves and their wold-dog counterparts, read more

The tour was very boring. Lots of potential but the 4 cages we saw were defiantly not what we expected. Very sad the guide had to bring politics in as part of her speech. Not worth the time. read more

I remember going here when I was younger and I enjoyed it. My daughter was really excited to go. Unfortunately the staff wasn't very excited to see us. I am not sure if they have never seen a child under 8 before, but I doubt it. They seemed annoyed at the number of kids that were there in the gift shop and on the guided tour. If you have 10-15 kids on a guided tour it may be a good idea to interact with them. The tour guide spent the entire tour conversing with three elderly individuals, then seemed annoyed when the kids got bored with her. Needless to say don't waste your time if you plan on bringing any kids. Unless you enjoy being glared at for an hour or so... read more

Great place to visit with the kids. The tour doesn't take long and you must stay with the group. The docent was very knowledgeable and told great stories. I didn't expect to even care about the little coyotes at the end of the tour, being from California, but they had such funny personalities and kept trying to antagonize their neighbors. What a fun afternoon. read more

I have been driving two hours from Portland to visit Wolf Haven since they opened 20 + years ago. What I like about Wolf Haven is that the wolves come first. This is not a zoo, and you are not going to be petting the wolves. The wolves that are there were not caught in the wild. They are wolves that needed a home. Many of the wolves are there because people thought that they could have a wolf as a pet, but it didn't work out. On a tour you will be educated about wolves and conservation. The wolves that you see on tour are just a few of the wolves that they have. The wolves on tour are less stressed around people, so that is why they are on tour and not others. Bring your camera, but you will be taking pictures through fencing. There is a gift shop. Be sure to see the cementary where wolves are buried and the display board with the pcitures of the wolves that have passed. It's over whelming to see how many wolves have been taken care of there. Children through seniors will enjoy the tour. See their days and times of operation. Always closed on Tuesdays. read more

This experience was not at all what they make it out to be. The tour was much too short, and we were only taken to about 4 different viewing spots. Only 2 were seen the whole time we were there. You cannot walk around to look at them on your own. The staff was nice, but it didn't seem like they were really engaged, or wanted to be there. I do enjoy how the animals are cared for and everything they're doing to rehabilitate them. Just not the best place to tour. read more

I've been wanting to visit this place for a while, and on a recent trip out to Seattle, I finally got the chance. The tour is short, only an hour, and it's inexpensive ($12). You won't be bored. (I can't speak for children...there were none on our tour, but I imagine most kids don't want to stand around listening to facts, and you need to be fairly laid back and quiet if you don't want to spook the wolves.) The volunteers who do the tours are fairly knowledgeable, but it's really the wolves worth going for. You'll see seven enclosures during the hour, with two wolves in each. We saw all except the red wolves, who were hiding. We were given a lot of information about wolves in general, the wolves we were seeing in particular, and the conservation efforts taking place around the country and especially at Wolf Haven. I love the work they're doing with their wolves - there are enrichment programs, and they also have breeding programs they're taking part in with the red wolves and the Mexican grays. I also have to make note of the fact that if you're a wolf lover, the gift shop is wonderful, and you'll probably spend entirely too much money. Which is okay, since it's helping out a great cause. ^_^ A+ place, and I will definitely be back the next time I manage to visit WA. read more

What a great treasure! Stumbled upon this little jewel but what great, passionate conservators and the care they have for the beautiful, endangered wolves is amazing. A fun, enlightening tour for sure! read more

Not the place to go if you want to hoot, holler and howl like a wolf. Definitely the place to go to learn about the wolves. We experienced the wolves howling together while we were in the middle of the sanctuary....talk about surround sound! I got goosebumps. Loved the whole time and to see how timid and intelligent these creatures actually are. read more

I thought that I would be bored, but our guide, Wayne, took the time to answer all our questions, and there were plenty of them. We were in a group of about 10, only two of them children and we only saw about a dozen wolves as we only viewed the wolves that have had past human contact. Any wolves that have a chance of being released into its natural habitat are not viewed by the public and very rarely interact with their human caretakers. A must go if you're ever in the area! read more

The tour seemed to go by quick and it was raining so some of the wolves had taken shelter. It was still an awesome experience! Our tour guide was very informational and answered any questions we had. We were able to see 6 wolves and 1 coyote. Some were curious and came near the fence and others were a little shy. All were beautiful! My husband and I will probably be back in the spring or summer! read more

Very interesting place to stop at and learn about wolves. It is a lot smaller than I expected, but for an hour long tour you get to see some of the wolves and hear a lot about their natural behaviors in nature versus captivity and the facts and stories behind why these wolves are now living in a sanctuary. Very sad stories and shocking when you hear how few wolves are left from certain species. They show maps of historic wolf territoty versus present day territory and it is depressing. At least there are places like the Wolf Haven to give these wolves homes and partner with other organizarions to help educate people and improve the wolf populatrions. read more

See all

Very knowledgable staff, great animal centric facility, and one of the only places in the world you can see Mexican grey wolves. I recommend going when the temperature is cooler so the wolves are more active. I went in late November and at each enclosure the wolves walked up to our group to say hello! read more