Thursday, October 1, 2026
Wolf Haven International welcomed the arrival of gray wolf brothers, Nicky and Cerberus, to its sanctuary in Tenino on Tuesday afternoon, June 30.
Wolf Haven International partnered with Greater Good Charities to safely transport the wolves via airplane from Minnesota to Olympia Regional Airport.
“We’re making sure that we’re using appropriate size crates, which keeps them comfortable and keeps them safe. We’re also making sure they are strapped down and secure for take off and landing," said Greater Good Charities Transport Director Jeremy Colborn.
"We typically aren't sedating them. By sedation, you can actually cause more problems. They are awake and able to get up and move around."
Greater Good Charities, which is a nonprofit organization based in Seattle, also helped construct more than 600 linear feet of specialized habitat fencing for the enclosure where the brothers will be living in at Wolf Haven International.
Nicky and Cerberus will become companions for fellow sanctuary residents.
The arrival of Nicky and Cerberus marks an emotional turning point in the life of Billie, an endangered gray wolf who recently lost her companion, Guy, due to old age. Billie was born into the pet trade and was in private ownership in California before she was rescued by Wolf Haven in 2021.
Nicky will be a companion to Billie, while Cerberus will be a companion to Ellie, another female wolf at the sanctuary.
“We will take the two new arriving males into Wolf Haven and each one will go to the enclosure where they’re intended to live. We’re going to get them into a separated area called a shelter pen, that is where they would be able to be safe and secure, but with a fence between their new companion,” said Wolf Haven International Executive Director Geoff Willard.
The team at Wolf Haven will monitor the behavior of the wolves to make sure they’re getting along well with each other when they meet through the fence. Once they’re satisfied with the way the wolves are interacting through the fence, the team will raise the fence to allow the wolves to engage with each other.
“We never know exactly what sort of bond they may develop. In some cases, companion animals end up bonding really closely and essentially become best friends. In other cases, they live together and they (are) kind of like roommates who get along,” Willard said.
Wolves are sociable animals that live well in organized units called packs. Living together gives wolves benefits, such as developing a strong companionship, becoming successful hunters, defending pack territory and raising pups.
According to the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, at the end of 2025, there were 270 wolves and 49 packs across the state. Of those packs, 23 of them are confirmed to be successful breeding pairs.
Wolf Haven International is a nonprofit sanctuary based in Tenino, Washington. Its mission is to conserve and protect wolves and their habitat. The nonprofit provides a lifetime home for rescued wolves and wolf dogs. Wolf Haven has taken care of more than 330 wolves since it started back in 1982. There are currently 40 wolves at the sanctuary in Tenino. Wolf Haven also provides educational programs for the community to learn more about wolves and their role in the environment.
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SecondOtter
IT is encouraging that there is a place like Wolf Haven for wolves who've been treated as "pets". Wolves (and other wild animals) don't make good pets. The people who seem to think that a 'pet' wolf is cool, or worse, they have a 'wolf-dog' (a canine from a wolf and a domesticated dog. I won't say they're hybrids, because domesticated dogs (canis familiaris) ARE wolves, DNA wise. ) are irresponsible.
Neither pure wolf or 'wolf-dog' are suitable as pets. Wolves belong in the wild. Dogs belong in your backyard.
If you want a pet canine, there are hundreds of dogs available, from all sorts of breeds.
I know that Wolf Haven will give the 'brothers' a good life. Had they been allowed to stay in the wild, they probably would have been much happier.
Thursday, July 2 Report this
wildnature
I love Wolf Haven. I'm so grateful they rescue wolves from humans, and eventually they are ready to go back in the wild, and help wild population numbers. Thank you Wolf Haven folks!
Friday, July 3 Report this
Boatyarddog
Wolf haven is an incredibly valuable asset to the community of olympia and washington in general
Friday, July 3 Report this