Folk singer records song in wolf sanctuary, wolves howl along

Arkansas folk musician Shawn James knew that visiting a wolf sanctuary would be a special experience, but he had no idea just how much of a hair-raising experience that visit would turn out to be.

It was winter 2013, and James was on tour in Colorado with his band, Shawn James and the Shapeshifters. The band was invited to visit a private wolf sanctuary normally closed to the public. On a bitterly cold day, the gang headed into the sanctuary with a single goal on their minds — to film a music video.

The temperatures were freezing that day, so they knew they would only get one take. James’ friend, photographer Anna Hutchinson, was with them that day, and she set up her DSLR camera and Zoom recorder outside among the evergreens as the snow fell softly.

James and his mandolin player decided to perform a cover of the A. A. Bondy song “American Hearts.”

James strums a few bars on the guitar and then starts singing the song’s opening lyrics, “We were raised by wolves, and we are still wild, and we howl when the trouble winds blow…”

He doesn’t get much further before the pack of wolves that have been pacing in the background of the shot begin to howl right along with James. It’s a pretty incredible moment, and the musicians can’t help crack a smile as the howling and occasional bark almost overtakes their performance.

They do manage to finish the tune, and then open their mouths themselves, and howl like the wild animals that pace in the snow behind them.