THE SANCTUARY

Earthfire is a 40-acre sanctuary nestled against the Idaho side of Grand Teton National Park. Situated at the southern end of the 2000 mile long Yellowstone to Yukon Wildlife Corridor, it is part of the last great wilderness in the United States; a place where the creative force of nature still expresses itself unfettered, and from which wild life itself springs. The last wildlife corridor connecting the Grand Teton and Jedediah Smith wilderness areas to the Teton River runs through the property. The animals of Earthfire are of the land itself, representative of the land native to them.

As a society, we are familiar with dogs and cats and other companion animals, and work to save their lives and rescue them from abuse. But "wild" life is more abstract - how many of us have had the opportunity to actually see a bear, cougar, wolf, badger or fox, much less become acquainted with a particular individual member of a species? It is difficult for us to think about and save what we have not been touched by, and do not really understand.

Earthfire offers this opportunity. Each animal is known intimately as an individual, deeply loved, and comfortable with people.  Miss Clover the badger and her sense of play, Humble Bumble the learning-disabled grizzly bear, Pinkerton the legally blind lynx, Northwind the white wolf, and Stardance the black - these are just a few of the animals that touch the heart and the mind.

We are continually working to improve the facilities in order to give the animals the best possible homes. Generous contributions have helped us begin to implement our plans of improving the facility;  enlarged and landscaped bear area, a convalescent area next to the office, an outdoor story-telling circle and meeting area, and several "Wildlife Gardens" for various sizes and types of  animals.

We have completed our main Wildlife Garden, an enclosed 1.5-acre space landscaped with trees, a stream, waterfall and pools,  where the grizzly bears, black bears, and wolves can run and play safely, adding quality to their lives and joy to the people meeting them.  The Garden offers a place where humans and wild animals can meet in a way not possible in either a zoo or in the wild.

One section of the garden is being developed as "Wendy's Circle" in memory of the late Windland Smith Rice, a young mother and dedicated Advisory Board member and supporter of Earthfire. Wendy's Circle will be an intimate story-telling and conversation area adjacent to the Garden where the animals are playing.  Next to be built: the Small Animal Wildlife Garden.  

Since Earthfire is not a zoo, visiting opportunities are limited (See Visiting). To touch as many people as possible, the Institute works to reach out and give the feel of our animals through school programs, writings, workshops and film. Selected writings and news about our animals is available throughout this website.  See Animal Diaries, writing and our news sections.

Featured on this page
Wildlife Garden, Susan Eirich