2011 — 2023
Grendel
Grendel and his siblings (Arrow, Nevaeh, Argus, and Linnea) were born in April of 2011 to Loki and Loki Sioux at Wolf Creek Habitat in Indiana. In early May they made their journey to Wolf Hollow.
As a youngster, Grendel was jet black, and turned to a silvery gray color as he got older. Being the largest of his littermates, Grendel was very tall and lanky. Grendel and a few of his siblings shared a dark patch on their muzzle. As they grew older, Grendel's dark muzzle was a defining feature of his!
After the passing of our dominant pair (Nina and Weeble), Grendel and his brother Arrow went back and forth in dominance, but the two brothers always had a close relationship and were fairly laid back when it came to their social structure. Grendel moved into an enclosure with his sister Nevaeh in 2018 until she passed away in 2021 at the age of 10. After that, Grendel remained in his enclosure as a lone wolf, but he didn't seem to mind the independence and solitude.
After the passing of his brother Argus in February of 2023, Grendel moved in with his sister Linnea for the last few months of his life. Linnea brought out a more light hearted side of Grendel, and we witnessed them playing together in their enclosure, and enjoying each other's company. We're happy to know that the two siblings shared fond moments with each other before Grendel passed in July of 2023.
Grendel was often the wolf that would show our visitors what a true wild wolf would act like, holding space away from visitors and observing them from a distance. Grendel was a wolf who showed affection to a select few staff members who he trusted, and he loved his peace and quiet. He was handsome and impressive, with a powerful gaze.
A tribute to Grendel, from director Z Soffron
Grendel had an amazing life and we are so happy that he got to spend his last five months back with his sister, Linnea. Grendel now joins his siblings Arrow, Nevaeh and Argus traversing the great territory in the sky.
Every loss is truly difficult for us at Wolf Hollow, and as a policy “I do not have favorites”, however it is extra difficult writing this tribute as I was the one to name Grendel and he holds an extra special place in my heart. While the terms “pack” and “alpha” are misrepresentative and even problematic, each wolf has their own unique personality and Grendel was truly a “boss”. While he liked to sometimes break the rules, he enjoyed order and made sure his siblings kept it. Additionally, Grendel was an amazing teacher and ambassador, helping educate thousands about the nature, social dynamics, and importance of wolves in our ecosystems. Grendel was very much the embodiment of what a wolf should be to many of our visitors.
Grendel also taught us about working with wolves… One of my favorite memories of him happened about eight years ago. While clearing brush in the main enclosure I stopped to tie my bootlaces, requiring me to put my machete on the ground. After tying my laces I went to pick up my machete and to my surprise, it was gone… Looking around I saw Grendel trotting off with the machete (handle) in his mouth, tail up and so proud that he once again made the humans look stupid!
Grendel was also responsible for probably my most interesting injury over the last 33 years when during sedation for what was thought to be a torn ligament in his knee, he took out my front tooth with a head butt to the face. To our delight, once sedated it was discovered that Grendel had not torn a ligament in his knee (requiring surgery and extended confinement) but rather he had sprained a ligament in one of his toes requiring only pain management medications until it had healed. My middle school students were a bit perplexed as to why I was so elated in class the next day while missing a front tooth.
Grendel is, and will be sorely missed by those who worked with him and by many of our members and visitors who came to know him. Those who knew him well, know what a remarkable animal he was in so many ways, and he generally left a very powerful impression even on those who only met him once. To reiterate, “I don't have favorites” but Grendel was very much “my boy”.
Rest well my friend and I will one day see you on the other side.