Lessons Learned from Atka

Lois Kral has volunteered as an educator and animal care specialist at the Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) since 2006 where she has helped raise three of the ambassador wolves and assisted the curator in taking care of Atka. Lois travelled with Atka on his roadtrips through his teaching adventures, as well as his experiences with programs at the WCC. Watching him all those years has given her a perspective that is as unique as it is rare.Lois is a retired public music educator of thirty-five years and lives with her cat, Macy Jane, and horse, Mexico.

Melissa Fischer grew up in rural New York, spending much of her youth roaming a nearby wildlife sanctuary or playing with her dogs, cats, and other pets. Through these happy hours immersed in the world of nature and animals, Melissa developed a strong love for the natural world and its inhabitants. She has sketched and painted while traveling and hiking in various regions of the United States, especially in National Parks, and has been Artist-in-Residence at Acadia National Park. Melissa particularly enjoys sketching from life and has filled many pages with sketches of Atka and other wolves at the Wolf Conservation Center.