Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary is an animal sanctuary in Candy Kitchen, New Mexico, approximately 20 miles from Ramah. The facility is dedicated to rescuing and providing sanctuary for captive-bred wolves, wolfdogs and other canids, as well as educating the public about wolves, wolf-dogs, and other wild canids (coyotes, foxes, New Guinea Singing Dogs, etc.). It is the largest canid sanctuary in North America.
Wolves, wolfdogs, and other wild canids are inherently wild animals. Often, they don’t adapt well to life in captivity with humans, ending up in a cage or on a chain outside. Abuse and neglect is common. Additionally, wolf dogs are illegal in multiple states, leading to forced owner surrender. If they can’t be rehomed, they are euthanized or shot.
The wolves and wolfdogs at Wild Spirit are not available for adoption. This remote sanctuary in the forest of the Zuni Mountains is their home, with large, spacious enclosures and human caretakers who are very obviously attached to the animals in their care. They take the time to get to know each individual’s personality, preferences, needs, and health, adjusting care to the animal. For example, some prefer limited human contact, so they move them to enclosures at the back of the property, where human presence is limited.
Candy Kitchen Wolf and Wolfdog Rescue Ranch
Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary was founded in 1991, originally as The Candy Kitchen Wolf and Wolfdog Rescue Ranch, by the late Jacque Evans, a local artist who used the profits from the sales of her paintings to support the rescued wolves and wolfdogs. She found an ally in Barbara Berge in 1992. Barbara was rescuing wolfdogs in Albuquerque. Together, they transformed the rescue operation into a non-profit organization regulated by the USDA.
The transformation of the ranch into Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary began in 2003, with Leyton Cougar taking the helm as Executive Director. The facility evolved into an internationally renowned sanctuary, caring for coyotes, New Guinea singing dogs, and red foxes, as well as the wolves and wolfdogs.
Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary Tours
Self-Guided Tours |Available March 1st – December 31st
Enjoy the sanctuary at your own pace, with educational signs throughout the lower compound to guide you. The enclosures in this area are home to wolves, wolfdogs, foxes, and New Guinea Singing Dogs.
- Thursday through Sunday
- 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- $15 adults/$10 children 12 and under, seniors, and military veterans. Children 2 and under are free.
Guided Tours | Available March 1st – December 30th
If you want to learn more about the sanctuary’s background and the history of wolves in America, this is the ideal tour. It is offered twice a day, at noon and 3 PM. You learn about each of species at the sanctuary and have the opportunity to ask questions. 24-hour advanced reservation required.
- Thursday through Sunday
- Noon and 3:00 PM
- $15 adults/$10 children 12 and under, seniors, and military veterans. Children 2 and under are free.
Specialty Tours
Specialty tours are available throughout the year; however, reservations are required (at least) 48 hours prior to the visit.
VIP Tour | Available year-round
A private tour of the entire facility, with viewing of all of the resident species, including details on their backgrounds and history. This tour includes access to animals on the Standard Tour path, as well as the rest of the facility, including the education building, lawn games, and picnic area. Exclusive photo and video access.
- Available most Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
- 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM (you may want to allow for an additional 30 minutes, this tour can run long).
- Limited to 5 participants per event
- $175 adults/$150 children 12 and under, seniors, and military veterans.
Feeding | Available March 1st – December 30th
Assist in preparing food for the animals in the lower compound area, which includes wolves, wolfdogs, domestic dogs, foxes, and New Guinea singing dogs. At the end of the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a “Yeet-Loaf” competition (a throwing competition using imitation meat loaves) to get a feel for what the staff and interns do daily. Limited to 5 participants per event.
- Offered most Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays
- 8:30 AM to – 9:30 AM
- $75 adults/$60 children 12 and under, seniors, and military veterans
Enrichment Tour
Prepare and distribute a variety of enrichment items to select animals throughout the compound. Enrichment includes textures, scents, or treats. They are meant to hone hunting and foraging skills. This tour provides a “behind the scenes” experience, including meeting animals who aren’t accessible on tours of the lower compound. Limited to 5 participants per event.
- Fridays ONLY
- 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM
- $50 adults/$35 children 12 and under, seniors, and military veterans
Twilight Tour | Available March 1st – December 30th
An evening tour where guests learn about and experience the animals during the most active part of their day, with the opportunity to camp adjacent to the facility to enjoy the nocturnal canid caroling.
- Available most Saturdays
Photography Tours | Available year-round
With over 90 rescues on-site, guests can expect to photograph dozens of animals in a variety of unique and naturalistic habitats. Limited to 5 participants per event.
- Available most Wednesdays and Fridays
- 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
- $250 per person (13+ years old)
Keeper for a Day | Available year-round
From 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on (most) Thursdays, guests shadow staff and interns through various aspects of the day, including food prep and feeding, enclosure cleaning and maintenance, enrichment distribution, public education, as well as miscellaneous projects. This tour provides “hands on” insight into the realities of the animal care field. Limited to 5 participants per event. $250 per person (13+ years old)
Support Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary
Donations
As a non-profit organization, Wild Spirit relies heavily on donations and sponsorships to cover essential costs such as:
- Emergency veterinary care
- Rescue missions, allowing us to save more lives
- Year-round preventatives to protect against fleas, ticks, heartworms, and more
- Annual on-site veterinary care
- Daily enrichment activities to reduce stress and boredom
- General day-to-day medications, such as pain management
- enclosure maintenance and upgrades
The sanctuary accepts direct donations as U.S. currency or in the form of crypto currency. Donations of $50 or more will receive a yearly subscription to their bi-annual news magazine, The Howling Reporter, published each spring and fall.
Check out The Howling Reporter page for more information!
Meat Donations
Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary is one of the largest wolf sanctuaries in the United States, with 90+ permanent residents and daily calls regarding surrenders and rescues. They provide food for multiple species, all of which thrive on a raw meat diet. Wolves eat lean meat from large ungulate species such as deer, elk, and bison in the wild. That type of meat can be difficult to find. As a non-profit organization, the food they feed the animals is donation based. The sanctuary works diligently on developing relationships with local farmers, ranchers, hunters, community members, and visitors to provide fresh meat to their charges.
If you are interested in donating, contact the sanctuary at info@wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org or call (505) 775-3304. Any donations made to the facility are tax-deductible. They will provide a receipt for an in-kind donation that reflects the value of your donation.
Acceptable:
- Expired or freezer burnt meat
- Deceased livestock, like chickens, rabbits, goats, sheep, pigs, cows, horses
- Livestock recommended for euthanasia
- Road kill
- Hunting scraps
Unacceptable:
- Animals currently or recently on antibiotics or other medicines, though some medicines are safe. Contact Wild Spirit directly with any questions.
- Animals who were chemically euthanized
- Healthy animals who could still have a high quality of life
- Smoked, seasoned, marinated, or cooked meats
Sponsorships
The sponsorship packages are a vital way for people to help keep the sanctuary thriving. Based on average costs, it takes 15 sponsors to cover the costs associated with food, medication, dietary supplements, and veterinary care for the rescues. Currently, they need about 1400 sponsorships a year to provide for the current population. The sponsorship page includes a bio on each animal, with background information, age, and the number of other sponsors.
Internship Program
Wild Spirit’s Internship Program was developed and implemented in September of 2020 with the goal of providing interns with the knowledge and skills required to obtain a career in the field of exotic animal care. Interns are responsible for daily husbandry, diet preparation and feeding, enclosure maintenance, grounds-keeping, enrichment, assisting with medical needs, and more. 
Volunteer
Wild Spirit offers a Volunteer Program to people who may just have a couple of days or a week to lend a hand. Volunteer projects often include: landscaping, meal preparation, building and maintenance projects, campground clean-up, and assisting with outreach events. Due to safety and liability concerns, applicants must be 21 years of age or older.
Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary
378 Candy Kitchen Road
Ramah, NM 87321
(505) 775-3304
info@wildspiritwolfsanctuary.org
Gift Shop & Standard Tour Hours
Thursday through Sunday
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
CLOSED JANUARY UNTIL MARCH 1st
