Shop, see wolves and help nature

Here’s an opportunity to do your holiday shopping, see wolves and help nature all in one trip.

The Endangered Wolf Center’s annual Holiday Boutique is Saturday, Dec. 7, and on that same day the Center will be offering hourly reduced-price mini-tours of the animal enclosures.

Proceeds will go toward the Center’s vital mission of preserving and reintroducing endangered Mexican gray wolves and red wolves into the wild. The Center is a non-profit organization and receives no state or federal funding.

Usually, visitors must make reservations to take a tour. But on Dec. 7, no reservations are needed for the mini-tours, which will take place at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tours that day are just $10 for everyone, reduced from the usual price of $14 for adults and $12 for children ages 4-14.

The Celeste Ruwwe Gift Shop will be open Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the gift shop is always free.

New items have been brought into the gift shop just for the sale.

Among the unique gift ideas are African painted dog sculptures made by Zimbabwean artists using wire snares confiscated from illegal poaching operations.  Under the direction of the Painted Dog Conservation group in Zimbabwe, the snare art project helps combat poaching and helps sustain the livelihood of the local artists. Dozens of the wire sculptures are available in the gift shop.

Plush animals, clothing, jewelry, sculptures, posters, Chauvin coffee, thermal mugs, children’s toys, home décor, calendars, books and videos are among the many items that will be offered at the Holiday Boutique.

The Endangered Wolf Center is located at 6750 Tyson Valley Road, on the grounds of Washington University’s Tyson Research Center in Eureka. The Center is on the north side of Interstate 44, off Exit 269 (the Beaumont-Antire Road exit.)

Information about the Center is available by calling 636-938-5900 or visiting www.endangeredwolfcenter.org. Follow the Center on Facebook and Twitter.