Wild Class

Sparta - It was a wild evening at the Sparta Middle School on Tuesday, Feb. 28. As part of the Taking a Stand/Learning from Others project, students received the visit of Vincent Reo and his wolf Safire. Reo and his four-legged companion presented a program aimed at dismissing the common misconceptions of wolves as vicious predators, as they are often portrayed in literature. With the aid of a slide show, Reo took a humorous approach to dispelling myths and educating the audience on the biology and behavior of wolves, their environment, and the political and social factors associated with the relocation programs. “What I am trying to get across is that Little Red Riding Hood lied … wolves are not the blood-thirsty creatures the public believes they are,” said Reo to the audience composed of seventh and eighth grade students and their families. According to Reo, contrary to popular belief, “wolves do not attack humans. They are afraid of humans and will avoid them to the point of abandoning their own offspring when humans are nearby.” The highlight of the evening’s program was the appearance of Safire, a wolf Reo keeps to help him in his educational tours. “This wolf I got from a rescue shelter. When questioned about where the wolf came from, the owner claimed he didn’t remember … now who would forget where they got a wolf from?” said Reo, explaining that wild animals in captivity often end up in the wrong hands or in inappropriate environments. Reo reminded the audience that despite their similarities, dogs and wolves should not be treated the same. Reo explained that wolves’ instincts and behaviors make them unsuitable as house pets. “This is the eighth year we’ve done this presentation, and I hope we can continue it,” said teacher Michele Lloyd. “I love to see the looks on the faces of my students when the wolf enters the room, and I am delighted to have them share the learning experience with their families.”