Wolves of the High Arctic – Research on the Arctic Wolves of Ellesmere Island

A Hike – (Day 9)
It is not possible we have been here a week, but we have. Everywhere else seems light years away both in time and distance. Dave, Nancy and Ted head out to the rock den, and I hike. I pause on a ridgeline to eat lunch and take in the view. The wind riffles the pages of my notebook, and the sun feels like a warm hand. Long feathers of cirrus clouds stream across the immense sky. Are we in for a change in the weather? I hope not. We have been so fortunate with the crystal clear days. There is no night. Dave and Nancy reflect on how chilly and dreary it can be when it rains. I can imagine wind-driven rain downpours and penetrating cold. We have not heard a forecast, nor have we picked up any world news. It’s hard to care. This is our world right now.

Brutus the Thief

We gather late for dinner as we always do. Dave, Nancy and Ted get in around midnight. The report from the field is pretty funny. It seems that Ted had his backpack nearby for easy access to the contents. Brutus roused himself from a nap and strolled over for one of his periodic inspections of the odd creatures who can find nothing better to do but sit and stare. Without preamble, Brutus grabbed the backpack and carried it triumphantly off to the meadow. He and 3 other adults opened the zipper closing and systematically removed all the contents. Nancy got some pictures of the heist. This incident clearly illustrates the personality of Brutus. He is fearless, and he does exactly what he wants to do when he wants to do it.