Cheyenne's Howl

Printed in Mountain Messenger on Friday June 13, 1997

Wolf Fur

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I know that Spring has sprung, but where did it go? Last week was beautiful but this week has been cold and raining. I love the cold in the winter but I have a beautiful full winter fur coat that keeps me warm then. Now I don't want you animal rights extremists getting all bent out of shape, I'm supposed to have a fur coat. It comes as part of my package. It is me and I love my coat of many colors.

Of course this time of year I begin to "blow" my coat. In other words, I'm shedding and my coat doesn't look so good. Dad brushes me several times each day, sometimes to a point where I think he is brushing me bald. We save the fur and I give a tuft of it to each person who wants a reminder of me. Actually, if you have ever met and played with me, you probably took home a ton of fur attached to your clothing.

Several people put my fur in their medicine bags so that the energy and spirit of the wolf is always with them. For those of you that don't know about wolf energy, let me explain. In Native American society the belief is that all animals had lessons to teach and each person carried a stone talisman or fetish of animals they felt had healing or inspirational power. When they hold or carry a certain fetish, or meditated on its meaning, they believe they draw the special energy of the animal into themselves. The energy received from the wolf is teaching skill, loyalty, and interdependence.

Many people also weave wolf fur into yarn and make sweaters out it. Our under coat is like wool, very dense and warm, and like wool, it makes a very warm sweater. Speaking of wool, its been a long time since I had any leg of lamb. Dad, you better get me some before I sneak out the back door and get me four legs in one shot. All I have to do is threaten to do something like this and Dad will get me what ever I want. Actually, it is too much trouble to chase one of those sheep and they usually get away. I much prefer to have my lamb served to me in my dinner bowl. No I am not lazy, I just know a good thing when I see it. Believe it or not, I have sheep that come and visit me all of the time. I even have pictures of me and the sheep posing together out behind the Gallery. Isn't that something? Here is a protected herd of wild sheep posing with a wolf. This ought to blow the Little Red Riding Hood theory right out of the water.

During this time of year you can see just how many colors of fur that I have. My coloring ranges from white to black. While I looked more gray during the winter, I am now showing more of the light browns and tans. My darker color in the winter helped to keep me warmer in the winter when the sun came out and my lighter coloring in the summer keeps me cooler. My sister is solid black in color and boy does she pay the price for it in the summer. She is always looking for shade from the sun.

Well, I've got to go, see you next week..

Cheyenne