Sam Blake says, "People wake up one day and think how cool it would be to have a wolf. In a very short amount of time they are kicking themselves for getting one. They are expecting the wolf to act like a dog. They don't! They think the best thing to do is to drive them into the hills of California and, turn it loose. This is a death sentence for a wolf that has been born and raised in captivity. "The more I know man, the better I like wolves."

Sam owns and manages Never Cry Wolf Rescue & Adoptions (NCWRA) from his home near Antelope. Sam, a native of Oklahoma who has made his home in Sacramento, founded the organization in 1996. Although his mission of rescuing wolves started about 25 years ago when RAMBO, a large white wolf adopted him. He has been described as having "a little bit of Choctaw Indian, a little bit of stubbornness when standing up for the underdog and, a natural love of these animals." That love is apparent when you see Sam with his wolves. He has been compared to the Pied Piper of folklore, because, animals of all species gravitate to him.

Little Red Riding Hood Lied! No one has been killed by a wolf in the last 120 year. Man still thinks he is a monster.

NCWRA exists to rescue and nurture wolves and wolf-hybrids that have been abused or abandoned, and to educate the public against future poor treatment of these beautiful animals.

Sam Blake provides Native American and Wolf Educational programs to local schools and public events. Sam says his goal is to prove that "Little Red Riding Hood Lied! Wolves are not the demons of the dark. Wolves and the Native Americans were America. They did more than just live side by side, they lived in brotherhood." Sam has established a similar modern-day brotherhood with his canine charges.

NCWRA wolves and wolf-hybrids arrive from all directions and of all ages. NCWRA may get a call from Defenders of Wildlife, the SPCA, Animal Control, or directly from people who have them in captivity who can no longer care for them. "After NCWRA locates them NCWRA nurses them back to health, socialize them, they become people friendly, and NCWRA then adopt them out to private homes that can care for them," Sam Blake said. "Releasing them back into the wild is no longer a viable option; they must live in captivity or die."

Raider, the resident Alpha male, or leader of the pack, was rescued by Sam Blake about five years ago after he was shot and left to die in the foothills. A bullet was removed from his head, and he seemed to be recovering until he developed a cough. X-rays later showed a cluster of buckshot lodged in his chest cavity, which punctured a lung and caused it to collapse. Raider ultimately lost his battle to survive and passed away May 2003.

You can help

NCWRA is always in need of assistance. NCWRA survives through the generosity of donations and dedicated volunteers. NCWRA now has three trailers to transport wolves to events. You’ll find Sam Blake and volunteer staff all over the Sacramento area, including Old Sacramento, Local Petco Stores, and Special Events. In the fall you can find NCWRA at High Hill Ranch #1, Apple Hill, Camino, CA.

Did you know…

…the Grey wolf, indigenous to California, was killed over 75 years ago.

There are no more packs of wolves anywhere except in the four areas that they were just re-introduced - Great Lakes, Arizona, Rocky Mountains, and Yellow Stone. Siskiyou County, in California is under proposal for a fifth location. To make this happen, Defenders of Wildlife needs our support. Contact us and we can tell how you can help Defenders.

…a human has never been killed by a wolf in the wild in the past 120 years in the lower 48 states.

So why are we killing them?

It’s because of Little Red Riding Hood’s stories. As kids, we were told stories to scare us at bedtime. Because of the stories we were told we grew up with a phobia of wolves.

NCWRA is doing something to change this. NCWRA is forming the clay before it hardens by educating our young at local schools. Sam takes the Ambassador wolves into schools to show kids how gentle shy, and affectionate they can be. If you have a public event, grand opening, or need a speaker for your organization, please feel free to contact NCWRA ( a non-profit organization [501.C.3 Educational Program] ). For more information or to volunteer, call (916) 595-9653.