THIS CACHE IS DEDICATED TO DR. EDWARD McCLEERY
WHO SAVED THE LOBO WOLVES FROM EXTINCTION
EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
Each cacher must send his/her own answers BEFORE logging a find. ... "Geocachers must complete the tasks before they log the EarthCache as found." (4.3. EarthCache logging tasks)
Enjoy the journey (learning adventure) as well as the destination (smiley earned). Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
NOTE: Answers via message -and- log signature picture are required to post a find for this cache.
1. MESSAGE …. Based on your observations of the boulders, what are the relative percentages of black and tan?
2. MESSAGE …. Based on your observations of the boulders, what is the maximum depth that the black has penetrated the boulders?
3. MESSAGE …. All the boulders came from the same quarry. So, explain why there is such a discrepancy in the depth that the black permeated the tan.
LOG …. Post a picture of you or your signature item either in front of the Kane Depot or with the Wolf. Do not include spoiler boulders in your picture. This picture is your log signature for this location.
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in finding and creating this earthcache by adding A B C to your log.
A. Visit Forest Lawn Cemetery to pay your respects to Dr. McCleery. Post a picture at the gravesite.
B. JOURNEY OF THE MIND ... Science explains what we observe. Relate (in your own words) something you found interesting in the reading. This adds to your learning adventure and your log.
C. JOURNEY OF THE HEART ... Art shares our personal experience of what we see. Share something special you found on site, and why it is special to you ... prose / story / poem / picture. This is a memorable addition to your log and will make other hearts smile.
Journeys of Heart and Mind ...
Stories to Touch the Heart and Puzzles to Challenge the Mind / Rainbow Tree Story
THANK YOU Kane Historical Socirty for the Lobo Wolf Sculpture and the McCleery Discovery Center.
THANK YOU Matt Boyer for an informative tour and sharing stories of Dr. McCleery and the wolves.
THANK YOU Ed Kojancik for donating the boulders.
THANK YOU Steve Dyne for excavating and placing the boulders.
SANDSTONE BOULDERS
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock formed by the deposition, compaction, and cementation of sand particles. Texture is coarse with grains easily seen.
The Lobo Wolf Nail Art is sitting atop a base of about 7' of sandstone boulders. All the boulders comprising the base of the sculpture were donated, excavated, and placed by local Kane residents.
WEATHERING
The boulders were originally tan and located about 20' underground in a local quarry. They were excavated about 10 years ago exposing them to weathering. As you survey the rocks, you will see black crusts on the boulders and permeating downward. These black crusts are organic causing biological (living organisms) and chemical (changes due to acids from decaying remains) weathering.
The surface crusts are predominantly weathering due to organisms (biological). Through the acids produced from life processes as well as decay, chemical weathering occurs. This can be observed by the black permeating the rock.
DR. EDWARD HEBER McCLEERY and LOBO WOLVES
A medical doctor by profession, McCleery established a wolf park nearby to breed and care for lobo wolves, a subspecies of gray wolf. Subject to a 1920s elimination program, this wolf was saved from extinction through his efforts. The park served as an education center for scientists and the public. Descendants of this pack survive in Montana and are the only bloodline of an animal that played a major role in western US ecology, history, and lore.
Dr. McCleery is the father of the Endangered Species movement. He was caretaker of lobo wolves from 1921-1961. DNA has shown the lobo wolves, saved from extinction and protected, are the only pure blood wolves in the world. In 97 years there have only been minor genetic problems in the pack (an overbite, an underbite, slightly cross-eyed).
Tribute ... Jack Lynch was pouring himself a cup of coffee when he heard all the wolves begin to howl. The wolves continued their chorus for 10-20 minutes as a final tribute to their friend who had just passed away almost 40 miles away.
Birth - 23 Jul 1867 Milton, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania
Death - 23 May 1962 (aged 94) Bradford, McKean County, Pennsylvania
Burial - Forest Lawn Cemetery Kane, McKean County, Pennsylvania
Doctor Edward Heber McCleery is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Kane. People still make trips to see the marker and leave flowers. They drop by to give a silent thanks to the man who single handedly saved the Lobo wolves from extinction.
RESOURCES
Wolf Sculpture / Kane History / McCleery Discovery Center / Black Crusts / Handcut Black Sandstone / Weathering Crusts / Iron / pdf / Lament