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Neighbors howl over wolf sanctuary By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune WILLIAMS - Neighbors tired of being serenaded nightly by the residents of Howling Acres Wolf Sanctuary say the county should put a muzzle on the place. "It's literally been four or five months since I've been able to sleep through the night," said Will Eikleberry, who filed a complaint with Josephine County in February. Eikleberry alleges that the sanctuary is a tour-based business in a forest resource zone - a use incompatible with the area's zoning. He says the noise is unreasonable. Jeanine Hawk, a neighbor for seven years, filed a similar complaint in February and also complains about the zoning violation. "They're making too much noise in a rural residential area." said Hawk. "The issue is not the wolves. What I see is an escalating commercial activity and that's really troublesome." A third complaint was filed Friday by Burt Eikleberry, Will's father, expressing concern about the number of residences on the property that is listed as a single-family residence. Situated at 555 Davidson Road in Williams, Howling Acres Wolf Sanctuary is a nonprofit organization that shelters abandoned and abused wolves. Founded in 1991 by Sherrie and Charlie LaBat, the 13-acre sanctuary is now home to 28 wolves. Licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the volunteer-staffed shelter hosts tours and events for individuals and schools. "Right now we're trying to get letters of support," said Sherrie LaBat. "People are starting to send in donations because they want us to stay." But the wolves are loud, said Eikleberry, and the business generates too much traffic on the private road. Howling Acres has applied for a permit that would allow the LaBats to continue. If denied, they could no longer run the business at that address. LaBat said that until her neighbors filed a complaint, she didn't know the operation was a zoning violation. Josephine County planner John Renz said this could be the beginning of a long ordeal. "I think this is going to be a fairly complex case," said Renz. "I think because of the controversy this will end up being a public hearing before the county commissioners." He doesn't see a quick resolution. "We're probably looking at three months, minimum," he said. Eikleberry hasn't always had a problem with the sanctuary. "I've been there for about five years," said Eikleberry. The wolf population has grown and now they're closer to his property, he said. LaBat acknowledged that a new pen built in June is 400 feet from Eikleberry's property, but denied that the wolves howl as often as he claims. "They will howl at sunset and sunrise and they will howl if someone comes on the property," she said, adding that the howl lasts for 20 seconds to a minute. But Eikleberry said that the howling can be nearly every hour in the night. "And it's not quiet," he said. "I'd be happy if I'd be able to sleep through the night." LaBat said she sees this as an issue of wolf-haters versus wolf-supporters. "I have thousands of supporters from all over the world, even France," she said. "I think we're going to win." Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.