Magpie visits an East Greenwich classroom.

THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / Bob Breidenbach

Magpie, a 4-year-old wolf, visits the Archie Cole Middle School in East Greenwich. Magpie has been raised in captivity.

THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL / Bob Breidenbach

EAST GREENWICH — The gym of Archie R. Cole Middle School murmured with anticipation as dozens of seventh graders sat in a large square, patiently waiting for a special animal visitor.

Magpie, a 4-year-old wolf, emerged from the back door with her handler, Tracy Brooks.

Magpie paced around, carefully gazing at the students and teachers with her keen yellow eyes. She stopped in front of a peppermint-scented blue rag and rubbed her back on the floor, capturing the scent in her fur.

Kent Weber, director of Mission: Wolf, a Colorado sanctuary and education center, explained that wolves share smells on their backs as one form of communication.

“She tells a story,” Weber said.

Weber also told the students that wolves are independent thinkers.

“She doesn’t do anything you want. She says, ‘I am queen.’ ”

The students at Cole on Wednesday were among students at five Rhode Island schools that were visited by Magpie over two days. The larger story of Magpie’s visit was to educate the public about wolves and the important environmental role they play.

Wolves were once on the brink of extinction in the United States, chiefly because of hunting and loss of habitat. In 1960, only 200 wild wolves were left in the continental United States, mostly in Minnesota, Weber said.

Thanks to restoration efforts in the 1990s, they have slowly come back. In addition, wolves also migrate from Canada to northern states between Washington and Michigan. Currently, there are more than 4,000 wolves in the country, Weber said.

During the program, Weber explained that wolves play an important role in environmental management, helping to keep deer and elk populations balanced. By eating deer and elk, wolves stop the depletion of grass, plants and young trees. The trees, in turn, grow larger and revive forests. Weber dispelled many myths, such as the idea that wolves are big and bad. Magpie, who was born in captivity, weighs 81 pounds and she is gentle and strong, he said. But, despite their composed nature, wolves and wolf-hybrids are still untamed and should not be kept as pets, he said.

The program made a world of difference for Gina Stone and her son, Michael, 12, who also went to see Magpie at two other presentations.

“You can’t even put it into words. … To look at a predator in the eyes is spiritual, and to know it won’t hurt you,” said Gina, who compared Magpie to a baby.

The most exciting part for Stone, however, was her son’s reaction. Michael, who has attention deficit disorder, remained focused during the wolf discussions, and he spent an extra hour on Monday writing a wolf essay for homework.

Stone said she was so happy that she donated $100 to support four wolves at the sanctuary.

Michael said watching Magpie up close was an amazing experience. “At first you’re scared,” he said. “But when you see them and hear about them, you’re not scared anymore.”

Magpie and her handlers also visited Vincent J. Gallagher Middle School in Smithfield, Charles E. Shea Senior High School in Pawtucket, East Greenwich High School and North Kingstown High School Wednesday and Tuesday.

Kelly Greenan, the science teacher who organized the visits, said it was a wonderful chance to connect with the environment. “It’s great to see students and people so captivated by something that’s not multimedia,” she said. “It’s Mother Nature.”

For more information, visit www.missionwolf.com.