PETA to move gray wolf to Texas to
offer animal more room, wolves

HAMPTON VA, A 10 year old gray wolf from Blue Bird Gap Farm will move to a Texas wildlife sanctuary in a transfer arranged by the norfolk based people for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.  The group believes Sierra will be happier and healthier at the Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Inc. in San Antonio, and the people at Blue Ridge Gap agree.

Not everyone is happy for Sierra, however. Christina Powers, a Richmond sixth grader recently launched a one girl letter writing campaign to keep the wolf in Hampton.  "She's been there all her life'" Christina, an 11 year old who frequently visits Sierra while staying with her father in newport News, told the Daily Press.  "She's very happy living there. When I see her, She's walking around looking at people, not putting her head down, not moping around. I don't think she's depressed."

But Amy Rhodes, the PETA case worker who has handled Sierra's situation for the past year, says the wolfs relatively small enclosure at the farm, along with her lack of companionship with other wolves, is harmful to her physical and psychological well being. James Wilson, superintendent of the Hampton parks department, said there have been concerns about Sierra's isolation since the farms other wolf died about 5 years ago.

At the San Antonio sanctuary, Sierra will be gradually introduced to a more natural environment and to the other wolves at the sanctuary, Rhodes said. The sanctuary in San Antonio is spread across 21 acres and is designed for the comfort of the animals rather than for the convenience of human visitors. It is not open to the public, and the animals are ever put on display.

Rhodes said that Sierra's adjustment to a new home after being born and raised at Blue Bird Gap Farm is a concern, but that she is more likely to adjust well to the change than she is to be happy and healthy at the farm.  Rhodes Rhodes as PETA and the city of Hampton are working on the final details of the transfer, which they hope to accomplish in the early spring when similar temperatures in Hampton Roads and San Antonio would ease the wolf's transition between the two areas.

So even if Christina Powers efforts are in vain, she and others like her  will have a few more months to visit Sierra at Blue  Bird Gap Farm. But for some of them, that simply will not be enough. "I just love wolves so much, and there aren't many to visit are this area." Christina said.  "Sierra is a very beautiful animal, and I know if they take her away I'm going to miss her so much.