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If you have ever been out in the wilderness and heard wolves howling you know immediately that they are crooners. These guys sing. We’re talking Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Harry Connic Jr. They can hold a note. They have a soulful quality that once heard can never be forgotten.

I was shooting swans one evening down on the Yellowstone when from across the river a single wolf began to call, then another and another until the entire valley was filled with wolfsong. It was the most amazing sound I have ever heard and made my entire body break out in goose bumps. It was like hearing the best choir that could ever possibly be, only better. What do they sing about? I don’t know but whatever it is it works. You don’t need to know the words. Is it sad, or joyful or longing or wishful, yeah, the answer to that is, yeah it is.

This wolf is a resident of the Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, Mt. so his song is probably plaintive and filled with the desire to be running free, but that’s just me. It could be, where’s dinner, instead, but I doubt it. Wolves sing, Pekingese rap. I like singing.