Algonquin Park Public Wolf Howls
Algonquin Provincial Park has been offering visitors the unique and truly Canadian experience of camping in the rugged wilderness for generations. With over 2,000 kilometres of canoe routes and close to the same number of camp sites, visitors can experience the nation’s great outdoors just over two hours from Toronto.
With tons of programming happening in the park as well, perhaps the most famous events occuring in the summer season are the Algonquin Park Public Wolf Howls.
The Algonquin Park Public Wolf Howls started in the late summer of 1959 when researcher Dr. Douglas H. Pimlott from the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests (now Ministry of Natural Resources) was studying the behaviour of wolves in the area. Using recorded wolf howls at the time to track these majestic animals, and then receiving a response from various wolf packs in return, this method developed into an event during which live wolf-howling by the public (guided by park staff) work just as well at eliciting a response as any recording.
The first time the public wolf howl was held in 1963, over 150 car loads of nature enthusiasts lined up along Highway 60 to participate. From then until 2005, there were 92 public wolf howls with 126,000 participants. Park staff have recorded an 88% success rate of hearing wolves since 1990 (with the caveat that hearing wolves respond can be weather dependent, not too mention you need the wolves to be interested in playing along!)
August Wolf Howls In Algonquin Park
The Algonquin Park Public Wolf Howls take place only on Thursdays from August 7 – 28, 2014 with weather permitting (must have minimal wind and no rain for the sound to carry through the park).
Visitors to Algonquin Park are invited to meet at the Outdoor Theatre for a presentation on the ecology of wolves. Then participants get back into their vehicles to return to Highway 60 where, led by park staff, you can park where the responding wolves are most likely to be heard.
Give It A Try: Self-Guided Wolf Howls
There’s is nothing to stop you from trying to communicate with Algonquin’s wolves on your own! Here are a few pointers:
1) Your best chances of hearing a wolf come in the months of August and September.
2) As mentioned before, wind and rain are the biggest obstacles to calling out to the wolves.
3) Wolves howl at all hours of the day but are more vocal between dusk and dawn running throughout the night.
4) Along Highway 60 is your best bet as you can move down the long road to try different locations in quicker time.
5) When giving out the call, have one person start by giving a single, long howl, waiting for 30 seconds, then repeating.
In Algonquin Provincial Park, you’ll experience the great Canadian wilderness unlike anywhere else in the nation, and with the added feature of a Public Wolf Howl, your appreciation for this iconic destination will only grow.
For more information on programming happening in Algonquin Park, click here. There are also many resorts & accommodations in Algonquin Park to create more memories of your visit to the region.
*Information and photos sourced from “Wolf Howling in Algonquin Provincial Park” – a publication of The Friends Of Algonquin Park.
