Kuma, a typical North American black bear, arrived at Big Run Wolf Ranch in March of 1999 weighing only 25 pounds and still on the bottle. Kuma was being sold illegally at a flea market in Kankakee, IL. Someone purchased him for $300.00 and took him home. Five days later he was confiscated by Will County Animal Control and donated to Big Run Wolf Ranch. He is now 7½ feet tall and approaching 450 pounds. He is very affectionate to John and loves to entertain the children on field trips. One of John’s favorite things to do is to give Kuma a good belly rub and engage in a quick wrestling match. Occasionally he will bring him his favorite treat, chocolate mint Girl Scout cookies. John says Kuma gets so excited when he sees the Girl Scout cookies that he has to feed him from outside the enclosure.

Charlie, A.K.A. Cougar, Mountain Lion, Puma, was purchased by BRWR from another federally licensed facility. John wanted a cougar for many years after watching his favorite Walt Disney episode of "Charlie, The Lonesome Cougar" in 1967. Charlie was bottle fed as a kitten by staff and volunteers, and immediately used in our education and conservation programs. Due to the tremendous support of the public, Charlie has a spectacular new enclosure, and is one of our most popular residents.

Wilson, known as a groundhog, woodchuck, or whistle pig, arrived from a breeder in Iowa. He is 3 years old and the star of the show on February 2nd, Groundhog Day! He is a favorite of the kids during our wildlife presentations, and a non-stop eater. His favorite foods are broccoli and carrots.

Bloo, a Canadian lynx of the Yukon Blue color phase, was born in May 2009. We acquired him from a facility in Utah. Bloo is very playful and enjoys doing our educational presentations. We hope to find a companion for him.

Mahala, a purebred mid-western coyote, arrived as an orphan from a nuisance trapper. The trapper relocated the parents, and brought three rescued coyote pups to BRWR. Mahala was kept because of his wonderful personality. Mahala will be working in our educational program, and will be an ambassador for changing the attitude of the public towards an animal considered to be a varmint, but is very important to the ecological balance of the region in controlling pests, such as rabbits and rodents. Mahala was named after one of our biggest supporters, Stan Michalak.

Shoka is our 1 year old, male, silver fox of the chocolate phase. He was donated to the ranch by a BRWR supporter who rescued him from a flea market sale for $80. He was cramped into a tiny cage and would have originally been bred for the fur industry.