The Wolves of Fidalgo Island: A Closer Look Behind the Photos

An island of friendly wolves sounds like something somebody made up. But the photographs are real. They were taken at Predators of the Heart on Fidalgo Island, Washington, where visitors could get close enough to pet the wolves. And yes, there are wolf kisses. In one picture a wolf has its tongue right against a man's cheek; in another, two enormous animals sit beside visitors on a wooden bench. The place has had its troubles since these pictures were taken, which we'll get to. First, where exactly is this island?

Fidalgo Island, Washington

Our digital exploration of this wolf paradise begins in Seattle, Washington. From here, we’re heading north until we get to the top of Puget Sound. That is where we’ll find Fidalgo Island. Fidalgo is technically an island. However, it’s separated from the mainland by a relatively narrow waterway, so no ferry crossing is required. We can simply drive across the bridge and head to Anacortes, where we’ll find Predators of the Heart.

Inside Predators of the Heart

This lush, ten-acre wildlife preserve has been home to wolves and other exotic animals, including cougars. If the word ‘exotic’ has you thinking of Joe Exotic and his contemporaries, you're probably not alone. Predators of the Heart describes its work as rescue and education. Still, you can't judge a place on its name, or on a few happy photographs. Local residents have raised concerns about this one, and we'll cover those before going any further with our look around.

Questions Behind the Sanctuary Label

Along with the wolves, Predators of the Heart has housed sloths, reptiles and dozens of other species. So far, so good. Unfortunately, the story also includes escaped wolves and a local dog that was killed. News coverage in 2023 described the neighbors' lawsuit and the difficulties facing the facility. No humans were reported harmed in that escape, but that's hardly going to comfort someone who lost their dog. A rescue mission doesn't put an organization beyond questions about how it operates.

Living Alongside the Community

Predators of the Heart's Ashley Carr told local news station KING 5 that they wanted to ‘be an asset, not a burden’ to the community. Hopefully that's something everyone involved can agree on, even if they disagree about the way to get there. The map gives you a better idea of the location: we're around two hours north of Seattle and an hour south of the Canadian border. It's a wooded part of Fidalgo Island, but there are people living nearby, too.

A Wooded Home for the Animals

The island is a lush setting for the wolves and the sanctuary's other inhabitants, with trees and greenery all around. In this photograph, three people gather around a wolf that seems quite happy to be the center of attention. It would, of course, be a mistake to think of it as just a big dog. But you can see what draws visitors to these encounters. That's an awfully large head to have resting within arm's reach, even for someone used to big dogs.

The Tours Shown in These Photos

While you can take this digital tour any time you'd like, a real-life tour was something visitors had to book well in advance. As you can imagine, plenty of people wanted a chance to visit an island of friendly wolves, but the sanctuary could only welcome a set number of visitors at a time. Numbers were restricted, and there was a waitlist to contend with. Local reporting in 2023 described a further obstacle: tours had been suspended because of permitting problems.

Still Wild Animals

No matter how cute and tame a wolf may seem, it's crucial to remember that it will always be wild at heart. So, during a supervised encounter, you have to listen to the staff and give the animal room. The fellow in this picture looks pretty comfortable sitting on the ground with a wolf stretched out beside him. Most of us would probably be a little less relaxed! This is where knowing the individual animal counts for a lot. It isn't a scene to try recreating on your own.

Why Family Pets Don't Belong in the Picture

Unfortunately, the wolves' wild instincts kicked in, and let's just say that little pup didn't make it home. With these things in mind, we'd leave the family dog safely at home for an encounter with wolves. There's plenty to look at in this picture without adding another animal to the mix. Two wolves, paws in the air, looking for all the world as if they've flopped down after a long afternoon. It's a lovely photograph. But the neighbor's dog is a sad part of the story, too.

A Captive Encounter, Not a Wild Pack

Anyone who grew up watching The Jungle Book or George of the Jungle probably dreamed of growing up in the wilderness. While there have been plenty of stories of people being raised by wolves, those are stories, and this is a managed animal facility. The wolves at Predators of the Heart had spent time around humans. They weren't a wild pack welcoming tourists into the forest. You can still enjoy the sight of these two greeting each other among the trees. No human hug required for this photo!

Wolves Are Bigger Than You Think

One thing that may surprise you when you see a wolf beside a person is just how big it looks. You've probably encountered large dog breeds. However, the head on the animal in this photograph is something else. It almost seems to dwarf the person sitting beside it. Wolves vary in size, of course, and a thick coat adds to the impression. Still, sitting on that bench would be a rather different experience from squeezing in beside the family Labrador on the couch.

How Friendly Are Wolves?

Wolves can be friendlier than you think but not as friendly as you might hope. For example, this guy certainly seems to be getting some wolf affection, judging by the tongue on his cheek. However, that isn't a reason to try keeping a wolf as a pet. Remember, these animals were used to humans in a particular setting. That doesn't make them household dogs. Quite a greeting, though. He'll have a good story to go with the photograph, even if his face needed a wash afterward.

The Visitor Age Rule

Since the wolves on the island are so large, and since they will always be wild at heart, the visitor program placed an age restriction on encounters. The rules described in the original account were for adults aged 18 and over. The kids in your family might have been disappointed by that, but this wasn't a petting farm. It's also an older account of the tours, so it doesn't establish what might be available now. An adult handler is pictured here with one of the wolves.

How Long Has Predators of the Heart Been Open?

The sanctuary opened way back in 1998, so 2023 marked its 25-year anniversary. In that time, the wildlife workers had given a home to wolves, cougars, reptiles, sloths and many other creatures that needed somewhere to live. Sometimes, tours have to be suspended. This was the case in 2023, when local reports described the park being closed to visitors over permitting issues. Not much of an anniversary celebration, sadly, with animals to look after and no tour income coming in.

Rescuing Exotic Animals

In addition to taking in exotic animals, the park says it aims to educate people about wildlife. The idea is to teach people to appreciate wild animals in a respectful way. While it hasn't always been possible to visit the park, the animals living there have still needed care. And you can see why pictures like this have attracted so much attention. The couple seem to be enjoying their moment with the wolf, although the woman looks as if she's bracing herself for a rather wet kiss.

Learning How to Share Our Planet with Animals

Sadly, humans don't have the greatest track record when it comes to sharing the planet with other animals. Helping people do better is part of the mission described by Predators of the Heart. Ashley Carr has spoken about helping visitors ‘see that all nature is interconnected and realize that apart from it, we cannot survive.’ It's a big ambition for a place on a small island. The photographs certainly get people looking at wolves. Hopefully that interest lasts longer than the time it takes to share a picture.

How Can You Help Exotic Animals?

If you like the work a wildlife nonprofit does, volunteering or donating may be ways to help. Do some research first, though. You don't want to support an exploitative operation just because its pictures look wonderful. Find out how the animals are cared for and where the money goes. You might be asked to help with supplies or other ordinary jobs rather than meet the animals. That seems fair enough. Someone still has to pay for food and clean up when the visitors have gone home.

What to Look For Beyond Good Reviews

In the US, an animal organization may have nonprofit status, but that alone doesn't tell you how well it treats animals. Do some online searches to see if it has had controversies in the past. Reviews can be helpful, as people are often quick to complain if they see animals kept in poor conditions. Just remember that a five-star review might mean someone loved their photo opportunity. It doesn't necessarily mean they know much about looking after wolves. Read a bit further before making up your mind.

Giving Animals Freedom to Roam

The wooded setting is part of what makes these photographs so appealing. There are trees all around the wolves, and the visitors look a long way from city streets. In this picture, a man sits with a wolf across his lap. It's quite a lapful! The trees are lovely, but we'd need more than the photograph to judge the animal's living space. How much room does it have beyond the frame? Can it get away from people when it wants to? Those are reasonable things to ask.

A Photo Isn't an Endorsement

A wolf on its back in the snow, with a red-gloved hand on its belly. If you've ever had a dog who demands belly rubs, this photograph will look familiar. Maybe a little too familiar, considering the size of the animal involved! That's the attraction of so many of these pictures. For a second you forget you're looking at wolves. Of course, a photo opportunity isn't a welfare assessment, and it doesn't establish approval from an outside animal organization. We'd need more information for that.

Getting Close to Cougars

As mentioned, the facility has housed other exotic animals, including cougars like the one you see here. We're just not sure we'd want our face that close to a cougar's face. Cougars are nothing like your sweet and fluffy house cat. Even an animal familiar with a carer is still a powerful wild cat, with its own reactions and needs. The man and cougar certainly make a striking pair in the photograph. For the rest of us, admiring one from a distance seems quite close enough.

Hanging Out with Sloths

We can't imagine what kind of person would not feel their heart melting when looking at a sloth. These adorable, slow-moving creatures are the definition of cute. However, they're also sadly a target for unscrupulous people who collect exotic animals. As much as we'd all love to cuddle a sloth and perhaps even have one as a housemate, once again, these animals deserve respect and space. Rescuing and rehoming them is a positive thing so long as they're given the care and surroundings they need.

Keeping Exotic Birds Safe

Birds like the ones you see here are also targets for exotic animal collectors. Unfortunately, they're often kept in problematic conditions and treated as possessions rather than living beings with their own needs. The collection at Predators of the Heart has included birds like these on Fidalgo Island. We hope they enjoy their lives there, but a photograph isn't enough to tell us. Birds are made to move, so we'd want to know more about the space beyond this picture before deciding how we feel about the cages.

Looking at the Whole Story

The people look happy, and the wolves certainly make impressive subjects for photographs. But what do you think of the close contact? We'd like to know how much choice the animals have about joining in. Organizations like this one need funds to keep going, but visitors' enjoyment can't be the only consideration. Would you want to visit a wildlife facility and pet the wolves? Would you be prepared to donate without getting a photo opportunity? Those questions are worth sitting with, along with the concerns raised by the neighbors.