Written by Mose Richards Running time 52 minutes | Produced by Jim Dutcher Initial release 27 October 1997 (USA) Screenplay Mose Richards | |
 | ||
Release date October 27, 1997 (1997-10-27) (US) Awards Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography For Nonfiction Programming Similar Wolves, Eye of the Leopard, Cry of the Wild, Genesis, The Sea Around Us | ||
Wolves at Our Door is a 1997 documentary film about the "Sawtooth Pack", a group of captive wolves in the Sawtooth Mountains in Idaho. The film was produced and directed by Jim Dutcher and first aired on The Discovery Channel. It is narrated by Richard Kiley. A two–hour sequel, Living with Wolves, was released in 2005.
Contents
Wolfdogs uk wolves at our door
Production
Since 1990 Dutcher, and later by his wife Jamie Dutcher, observed a pack of captive wolves on a fenced–in 25–acre camp in Idaho. Initially the pups were raised in captivity before being allowed to roam free within the larger encampment. The rearing by the couple provided them close access to the wolves, allowing them to close-up film and record the wolves. Using both visual and audio recordings, they were able to document the pack's hierarchy, communication ability and behavior.
Sawtooth Pack
Initially starting with one pair of adults, Makuyi and Akai, the pack grew to include:
The last remaining original of the pack, Piyip, died on July 5, 2013 (age 17).
Airing and release
The Discovery Channel first aired the film on October 27, 1997. It was the channel's most successful wildlife documentary film and would garner three Emmy Award nominations, winning two for cinematography and sound mixing. It was released on DVD on June 19, 2001.
Awards and accolades
in 1998 Wolves at Our Door was nominated for an Emmy Award in the Outstanding Nonfiction Special category. Jim Dutcher received the Emmy award for Outstanding Cinematography for Nonfiction Programming. Jamie Dutcher received the Emmy award for Outstanding Sound Mixing for Nonfiction Programming.