Bays Mountain Park is sad to announce the death of one of its gray wolves, Ela.
“Ela was a special part of Bays Mountain Park and will be deeply missed by staff, volunteers, and guests who came to know her,” said Park Manager Megan Krager.
Ela had been under veterinary evaluation in recent months for a condition affecting her right eye. Back in February, Ela was seen by ophthalmologists and exotic veterinary specialists at the University of Tennessee’s Veterinary Medical Center, where she underwent multiple tests.
Additional diagnostics revealed concerning changes in her lungs, which appeared to be terminal in nature. After consultation with the Bays Mountain Park veterinarian, and continued monitoring with her animal care team, staff decided to optimize Ela’s quality of life while mitigating her suffering.
Earlier this month, Ela was brought in to our Bays Mountain Park veterinarian for further care to provide the greatest comfort approach for her continued quality of life. During anesthesia Ela’s condition declined significantly before the procedure could begin.
“At that point, it became clear that the kindest and most humane choice was to prevent further suffering,” Krager explained. “In many ways, it felt as though Ela had made that decision for us.”
Ela was born in 2014 in Minnesota and arrived at Bays Mountain Park a short time later. She was often known as the howl starter, leading the pack in howls and as a “pack princess”, waiting for her male pack mates to finish dining before gifting their food to her.
“We are grateful to the veterinary professionals who assisted in her care and to the many members of our community who loved her,” Krager said.
If you would like to make a donation to Bays Mountain Park in support of the wolves, visit www.baysmountain.com and click on “Give.”
