McCleery Ranch
In 2018, Wolf Haven assumed responsibility of a second, satellite wolf sanctuary in Bridger, Montana known as McCleery Ranch. This sanctuary location is closed to the public and is home to approximately 15 captive-born wolves as well as a myriad of other wildlife. The care of these animals is overseen by Wolf Haven’s McCleery Ranch Animal Care & Property Manager.
A Forever Home
McCleery Ranch is located in south central Montana, outside of the small town of Bridger. Just like Wolf Haven’s Tenino sanctuary, animal care staff at McCleery Ranch maintain a “hands-off” sanctuary philosophy, meaning there is no socialization or contact with the wolves outside of providing them with necessary veterinary care.
Every sanctuary resident is housed with a companion, selected according to their individual needs. Each enclosure is at least one acre, and is surrounded by dozens of miles of undeveloped land in all directions.​
​
The ranch is centered between the Beartooth, Pryor, and Bighorn mountains, and is part of the Yellowstone River watershed. The property itself is approximately 55 miles from Yellowstone National Park as the crow flies (or in our case, the raven), and we sit within the boundaries of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
A Brief History
In 1920s America, there was a bounty on wolves. Edward Heber McCleery, a small-town Pennsylvania doctor with a love of wildlife and a fascination with wolves, was distressed at the wholesale effort to eradicate them. He wrote to the government, offering to pay for wolf pups to be shipped to him rather than be killed... and over the next decade, he purchased more than 20 wild wolves from the government, zoos and trappers.
For many years, Dr. McCleery’s wolves lived and bred in captivity in Kane, Pennsylvania. In time, the wolves were moved to Gardiner, Washington, then Emigrant, Montana, and finally, in 2009, to their current location in Bridger, Montana. Today, less than 20 descendants of Dr. McCleery’s wolves remain from a population that, at its highest peak, once numbered 100.
​
Interested in a more in-depth look at the history of the McCleery wolves? Read our blog post below!
Land Stewardship
​Located within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, McCleery Ranch provides a unique opportunity to uphold our mission to conserve and protect wolves and their habitat.​​
​
Our conservation initiatives at the ranch help support local flora and fauna, many of which are ecosystem specialists that require intact sagebrush habitat to survive.​ Sagebrush-steppe environments are incredibly biodiverse and are critically endangered due to land use changes, wildfires, and habitat fragmentation.
​
There are currently 380 acres of imperiled sagebrush-steppe habitat at McCleery Ranch, and the promotion of this healthy habitat remains a priority for Wolf Haven.
Wildlife Connectivity
Wolf Haven staff are currently converting two miles of traditional four-strand barbed wire fencing into wildlife-friendly designs that allow native species such as pronghorn, deer, and birds to move safely across the landscape. This effort aims to remove barriers for annual migrations and prevent birds from getting caught in wires during flight.
Improving fence infrastructure helps maintain landscape connectivity too. With this in mind, we have also been removing decommissioned barbed wire fencing across the property, which litters the landscape and can entangle local wildlife. Additionally, we are partnering with The Mule Deer Foundation for cost-share assistance on this fence project through their Private Lands Program. Learn more on our blog!
Learn More
Today, McCleery Ranch stands as both a peaceful and safe residence for the animals known as the McCleery wolves. The sanctuary signifies a living testament to over 100 years of wolf advocacy and protection.
​
To learn more about Wolf Haven's current & ongoing projects at McCleery Ranch, the history of the McCleery wolves, and interesting facts/highlights about the property, view our StoryMap below!