The Wolf Connection

Carolyn Johnson is the Founder/CEO/Mechanical Engineer of GuardUs Innovations. Their mission is to save animals, both domestic and wild. GuardUs Innovations strives to create a world where livestock are protected and our natural predators thrive. We plan to achieve this through novel and effective non-lethal predator deterrent innovations. Carolyn spoke about her background as a mechanical engineer, the livestock collar which aims to protect cattle & sheep in a non-lethal way, and promoting coexistence with wild predators. GuardUs Innovations Website@thewolfconnectionpodA Handful of Dirt - Watch on YouTube

Sami Godlove is the is the Central Oregon Field Coordinator at Oregon Wild, which works to protect and restore Oregon’s wild lands, wildlife, and waters as an enduring legacy for future generations.Sami spoke about his early influential moments in nature, the importance of the Roadless Rule, potential large environmental rollbacks, and the effects these policies have on large ecosystems, old growth forests and other natural places that they protect. Oregon Wild@oregonwild@thewolfconnectionpod

Marc Bekoff is a professor emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Marc has published over 30 books and has won many awards for his research on animal behavior, animal emotions (cognitive ethology), compassionate conservation, and animal protection. He worked closely with Jane Goodall as co-chair of the ethics committee of the Jane Goodall Institute, and is a former Guggenheim Fellow.Marc discussed his book Rewinding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence, describing ways to bring compassion back into conservation work, understanding the human impacts on rewilding, how we can shape future generations to become passionate, compassionate conservationists, and his admiration for the late Jane Goodall. Marc Bekoff WebsiteRewilding Our HeartsLove In Their Hearts (Pre-Order)

Naïma has been a professional artist for over 6 years, after her work as a graphic designer for a decade. She describes her connection through art in this way: "Each work is conceived as an intimate space, where anyone can project their own story, emotions, and memories. Over time, I’ve come to understand that this silent connection between a painting and the viewer lies at the heart of my work. It is in this resonance, often hard to explain, that the artwork truly finds its place."Naïma reflects on how her connection with wolves has shaped her path into art, sharing insight into her creative process and the deeper themes woven through her work. She explores the presence of the feminine, the wild, and the natural world in her paintings, and the lasting impact she hopes they leave with those who experience them.Naïma Fine Art @naimanamaste@thewolfconnectionpod

Cadence Truchot has been the Tribal Community Engagement Fellow with Grand Teton National Park for over a year and a half. Her work within the park helps underserved Indigenous communities reconnect with their ancestral lands in week long programmatic settings. Cadence shares her deep connection to the natural world and how those values shape the programs she leads in Grand Teton. She speaks to the vital role of tribal partners in guiding storytelling, leadership, and mentorship, and reflects on the ongoing repair and relationship-building between tribal nations and the National Park Service.@cadence_truchotGrand Teton National Park (website)Rebuilding Burned Bridges

Eric Washburn is a fifth-generation Coloradan who is a big game hunter, who is a Senior Policy Advisor for Pioneer Public Affairs. PPA works on clean energy technologies and advocacy movements to combat the climate crisis, protect natural wonders, and empower marginalized communities across America. Eric discussed many issues from affecting winter, water and wildlife in Colorado, including the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease within elk and deer herds, pushing for the reintroduction of more beavers and wolves in the state, generational knowledge and traditions within the hunting communities, and climate change. @thewolfconnectionpodColorado Politics ArticleThe Future of Winter, Water and Wildlife in Colorado@rockymtnwolf

Brianna Godberson is the host of the Find Your Wild podcast, an artist, and business owner of Femme Sauvage based in Long Island, NY. Brianna reflected on her transformative visits to three wolf sanctuaries in California alongside Candace Dyar, sharing the lessons, and teachings she's taking with her from the wolves and wolf dogs that she experienced on this trip. She spoke about taking a step back to recharge from her podcast and business, while being reinvigorated with new energy through these visits. @findyourwildpodcast@shopfemmesauvageFemme Sauvage StoreFind Your Wild Podcast YouTube

Candace Dyar is a nature and conservation photographer, educator, wildlife & wolf advocate based in Washington State for two decades. She has used her platform to collaborate on environmental issues with organizations including Wildlife for All and Team Wolf. Candace reflected on her transformative visits to three wolf sanctuaries in California alongside Brianna Godberson, sharing the profound growth and expansion she experienced along the way. Through this journey, she offers a powerful message to women, rooted in the wisdom of wolves, about intuition, resilience, and reconnecting with one’s true nature.@candacedyarCandace Dyar Website@thewolfconnectionpod

Eleri Lopp is a photographer, videographer, and nature guide in Estonia. She has been tracking wolves for over a decade and observing ecological changes happening within her country. Eleri described wolf populations and movements within Estonia, the difference between EU protections and Baltic countries enforcing them for wolves, and the underfunding of science and research to conduct research on carnivores within Estonia. Eleri Lopp Photography@elerilopp_fromestonia@thewolfconnectionpod

Eleanor Keisman is an American writer living in Vienna, Austria. She holds a BA from The New School and an MFA in creative writing from Drexel University. Her short stories, poetry, and essays have appeared in Litro Magazine, The Bangalore Review, Tough Crime, Last Stanza Poetry Journal, and The Wild Umbrella, as well as adapted for "The Other Stories" podcast. New Animal is her first novella.Eleanor described her path to writing, the influences that guided her in writing New Animal, and the overall themes that present themselves within the novella. Eleanor Keisman WebsitePurchase New Animal from Broken Tribe Press@e_keisman@thewolfconnectionpod

Paul Koberstein cofounded Cascadia Times in 1995 and has been its editor ever since. Paul, a journalist for forty years, was a staff writer for The Oregonian and Willamette Week in the 1980s and 1990s. He is the co-author of Canopy of Titans examining the global importance of the Pacific Coastal Temperate Rainforest that stretches from Northern California to Alaska. Paul discussed the book Canopy of Titans which details the threats facing this vital environmental resource, and celebrates the beauty and complexity of one of the world's great forests. Cascadia TimesOR Books (Order Canopy of Titans)@cascadiatimes@thewolfconnectionpod

The Anderson family is a multi-generational ranching operation in Tom Miner Basin, the grizzly bear corridor near Yellowstone National Park's northern boundary. Rather than dominate nature, the Andersons work to prevent predation of livestock by coexisting more harmoniously with wildlife. Malou has implemented holistic regenerative grazing management so that these grasslands become more abundant and draw down more carbon into the soil.She discussed her personal relationship with the land describing peaceful partnerships, breaking down stereotypes within the ranching community, and how  to promote “shared landscapes” where livestock and predators co-exist to protect [email protected]@tomminerbasinTom Miner Basin AssociationThe Forever Ranch Teal Tag

Doug Smith retired as the Senior Wildlife Biologist in Yellowstone National park after 28 years of service where he supervised the wolf, elk, and bird programs. Doug has studied wolves for 44 years, done over 2,000 interviews, and appeared on numerous documentaries about wolves and birds for National Geographic, BBC, and CBS 60 Minutes. He is a member of the Mexican Wolf Recovery Team, the Re-Introduction Specialist Group, and the Canid Specialist Group for the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).He talked about the lessons he's learned from wolves, his experiences in captive facilities, including observations he made while visiting Wolf Connection, and his continued mission to advocate for wolves, wild places and and ecological restoration.Wolf Connection @wolfconnection@thewolfconnectionpod

Annick Hus is a Belgian Freelance Journalist who has studied Animal Welfare Science and Ethics and Law at the University of Winchester. Arie Trouwborst is a Nature Conservation Law Professor at Tilburg University. They have both chronicled the political, societal, and legal perspectives of wolves naturally recolonizing Europe. They both discussed the challenges within each of these categories, as each country within the European Union is looking to navigate coexistence with wolves and other predators on many levels. The Unravelling of a Success Story: How Politics Is Killing Europe’s WolvesWolves in Europe: From Conservation Icon to Political FlashpointWho Should Adapt: The Wolf or Us?Large Carnivores and The EU Habitats Directive – LegalObligations to Restore and Coexist@thewolfconnectionpod

John Potter grew up in the Upper Great Lakes region, spending his formative years immersed in the lush forests of the Great Northwoods, where he developed a profound love for the natural world that continues to inspire his work today.After a successful 20-year career as an award-winning illustrator, John transitioned to painting full-time in 2002. John visited Wolf Connection for 3 days, immersing himself in the on-site programs, interacting with the wolf pack, and experiencing all the sanctuary had to offer. He spoke about his time at Wolf Connection and what impacted him the most. John Potter Website@johnpotterart@thewolfconnectionpod

Melissa Smith is the Executive Director & Founder of Friends of the Wisconsin Wolf & Wildlife and has served on D.C. environmental committees with a deep understanding of the Endangered Species Act.  She explored the significance of sociological sciences within state policy management of species, how this influences the effectiveness of State Endangered Species Acts (SESA) and State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAP), and the way governmental agencies on all levels can be ineffective in implementing protection plans for all species. Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance/Friends of the Wisconsin Wolf & Wildlife@endangeredspeciescoalition@thewolfconnectionpod

Dr. John Vucetich has been working on the Isle Royale Wolf & Moose Project for over 30 years. He is a distinguished Professor at Michigan Technological University where he teaches Wildlife Ecology and Environmental Ethics. We discussed the global biodiversity crisis we are currently in at the moment, the value of species within the context of an environment, his co-authored paper titled Government agencies in the United States are obstructing native species restoration, creating regulatory pits for wildlife, and the ways regulatory pits for wildlife are created. Government Agencies in the U.S. are Obstructing Native Species Restoration@wolvesandmooseofisleroyale@thewolfconnectionpod

Leo Miranda was the USFWS Southeast Regional Director from 2018-2022, and is the Founder and CEO of Leo Miranda LLC which creates innovative wildlife conservation policy solutions. He also serves at the Executive Director for Conservation Without Conflict, a proven approach to conservation and a coalition of public and private partners with highly diverse goals who are united in their commitment to conserving wildlife while keeping America’s working lands working. Leo went into detail about how Conservation Without Conflict takes on different projects, they're approach to creating partnerships that help working lands, wildlife species and ecosystems simultaneously, and how communication is key within these agreements. Conservation Without ConflictLeo Miranda LLC@thewolfconnectionpod

Adam Bronstein has been with Western Watersheds Project since 2020 and is the Oregon Director for the organization. Adam grew up exploring the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, and received a BS from SUNY ESF in Syracuse, NY in Environmental Studies and Geographic Information Technologies.He discussed the parameters of the Roadless Rule, explained specifics on protections for Inventoried Roadless Areas (IRAs), impacts logging, grazing and outdoor recreation takes on roadless areas, and the ways you can protect lands near you. Western Watersheds Press ReleaseUSDA Press Release on Roadless RuleRoadless Rule Maps & Litigation@westernwatersheds@thewolfconnectionpod

Lizzy Pennock has been the Carnivore Coexistence Attorney for WIldEarth Guardians for 4 years. Earlier in August, a federal district court in Missoula ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the Endangered Species Act (ESA) when it determined that gray wolves in the western United States do not warrant federal protections. Lizzy went into great detail describing Senior District Judge Donald Molloy's reasons for ruling in this manner. We went on to discuss at length the definition of  wolves range, discrepancies in population numbers, state management issues, inconsistencies within the USFWS arguments, and what this ruling could mean for the future of wolves in the western United States.WildEarth Guardians WebsiteWildEarth Guardians Press ReleaseJude Donald Molloy Ruling@wildearthguardians@centerforbiodiv@thewolfconnectionpod

Axel Hunnicutt has been with California Department of Fish & Wildlife for over 4 years and is the State Gray Wolf Coordinator. He has previously worked in Africa with multiple endangers and threatened species, protecting habitats and wildlife while promoting coexistence benefits to the surrounding communities. Axel discussed the recolonization of wolves in California, their territories, pack sizes and possible dispersal patterns, the main issues surrounding wolf recolonization, and what the agency is doing to ensure coexistence measures are used when conflict occurs. Gray Wolf CDFW (Web Page) California Wolf Project@hyena_man@thewolfconnectionpod

James Holt has been a tribal member of the Nez Perce for 13 years and has worked in Environmental Sciences & Tribal Community Engagement for nearly three decades. He also specializes in tribal public policy, including natural resources and water policy development; climate change planning; wilderness management; and utilities administration for the Nez Perce. James shared insights into his upbringing with the lessons and guidance he was given as a young man, the relationship of the Nez Perce with the land and wildlife surrounding them, the history of the Nez Perce during westward expansion and the wolf reintroduction in 1995, along with their influence in environmental policy in the present day. Nez Perce Wildlife Division Nez Perce WebsiteNez Perce Wolf History@npt1855@thewolfconnectionpod

Laurie Cousins is a Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Teacher who has been with Wolf Connection since 2018. Known for her work in healing trauma and addiction recovery, Laurie focuses on treating the cyclical root causes of compulsive behaviors while building self-love and resiliency. She spoke about the ways that nature based therapy can help us reconnect with the environment, how those practices intertwine with the programs at Wolf Connection, and how we can listen to our bodies while becoming more in tune with our nervous systems. Healing with Mindfulness@[email protected]@thewolfconnectionpod

Alma "Rosie" Sanchez is the Carnivore Biologist for the Nez Perce Tribe and is also a PhD student at The University of Colorado Boulder. She combines Indigenous political ecology and carnivore ecology in both fieldwork and research. Rosie has focused on revitalizing management plans, deploying field projects to determine occupancy and migration, and expanding opportunities for community involvement in conservation. She spoke about her career journey that led to working with the Nez Perce Tribe, some of the research she's working on at the moment, and the rise of traditional ecological knowledge she's seen in collaboration within agencies. Nez Perce Tribe WebsiteNez Perce Tribe Wildlife Division@rorosanchieHowl Podcast (Wolf Reintroduction Series)@thewolfconnectionpod

Nita Strauss is a Los Angeles born guitarist who has toured around the globe, playing with musical artists like Demi Lovato and Alice Cooper, while releasing two solo albums Controlled Chaos (2018) and The Call of the Void (2023). She was also the first female to have a signature guitar through Ibanez guitars, the Ibanez JIVA. We spoke with Nita about her creative process, both in her instrumental work and collaboration with vocalists, asked about the inspiration for the song The Wolf You Feed feat. Alissa White-Gluz and how the meaning of the song has resonated since its release. Nita Strauss Website @hurricanenita@thewolfconnectionpod

Hannah Rheaume has been a professional photographer for 5 years. She has traveled the globe, sharing her stories through the lens of her camera, while aiming to explore the complexities of humans and their impact on the natural world. Hannah spoke about her interactions with the pack at Wolf Connection, the photo workshop she hosted in Yellowstone, and her encounter with a yearling wolf inside the park. Check out @thewolfconnectionpod on Instagram to see the wolf photos we discussed in this episode!Hannah Rheaume Website @hannahrheaume

Dan Flores is A. B. Hammond Professor Emeritus of the History of the American West at the University of Montana-Missoula. He has authored ten books, including his New York Times Bestseller Coyote America, along with American Serengeti and Wild New World. We had a powerful conversation about how coyotes have shaped both Indigenous and early American storytelling, the rise and impact of extirpation campaigns against them and other North American species, the cultural shift toward conservation, and what all of this means for our present-day relationship with wildlife.**Donate to help take the podcast On The Road! Click the link** https://wolfconnection.org/donations/Dan Flores Bio (Project Coyote)Dan Flores Books (Amazon)@projectcoyoteorg@thewolfconnectionpod

Nadia Steinzor is a collaborative environmental professional for over 25 years, whose knowledge ranges through environmental issues, policies, and regulations to help produce reports, outreach materials, comments, and testimony. Nadia works with the Rewilding Institute to ensure that wolves and other carnivores thrive and roam in the Northeast and beyond.We discussed what goes into drafting environmental policy, some of the differences between state and federal issues, and the challenges wild canids are facing in the Northeastern United States. **Donate to help take the podcast On The Road! Click the link** https://wolfconnection.org/donations/Nadia Steinzor WebsiteRewilding InstituteNortheast Wolf Recovery Alliance@thewolfconnectionpod

Carter Niemeyer retired from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2006 as the Wolf Recovery Coordinator for the state of Idaho. He was an integral part of the Federal Wolf Reintroduction in both Yellowstone and Idaho. Carter has authored three books, Wolfer, Wolf Land, and The Other Ten Wolves, which can be purchased through multiple book retailers. Carter spoke about his latest literary entry The Other Ten Wolves, the story behind the Sawtooth Pack, and his role in their translocation into Yellowstone. **Donate to help take the podcast On The Road! Click the link** https://wolfconnection.org/donations/Carter Niemeyer Website (Buy a signed copy here)@thewolfconnectionpod

Matt James is the Chief Animal Officer for Colossal Biosciences. Colossal Biosciences is dedicated to genetic engineering and de-extinction projects to advance conservation efforts for current species, like red wolves, ecosystems and biodiversity throughout the globe with cutting-edge biotechnology. Matt went into detail about the mission of Colossal, long term goals with the dire wolf and red wolf projects, and promoting conservation efforts within ecosystems and biodiversity around the world. Colossal Biosciences Dire Wolf ResearchColossal ConservationColossal Foundation@itiscolossal@thewolfconnectionpod

Jonny Hanson is an Environmental Social Scientist, award-winning social entrepreneur, snow leopard conservationist and former community farmer. He is particularly interested in understanding coexistence between livestock farming and large carnivore conservation. He recently published his first book Living with Lynx, Sharing Landscapes with Big Cats, Wolves and Bears. Jonny spoke about the history of predators in Britain, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, reasons for their extirpation and some of the social and ecological hurdles with possible reintroduction of predators.**Donate to help take the podcast On The Road! Click the link** https://wolfconnection.org/donations/Jonny Hanson Website (Book Orders Here) Jonny Hanson Tedx Talk@jonnyhhanson@thewolfconnectionpod

Tom McPherson has been guiding for 21 years and running Seaforth Expeditions for 6 years. His work with sea wolves has been featured on Netflix with Island of the Sea Wolves, and guiding BBC shoots for the Americas series on NBC. Tom and his family were able to spend some time at Wolf Connection, meet the pack, and sit down for a brief podcast. We spoke about his experiences at the sanctuary, the importance of storytelling when sharing about sea wolves, and some of the similarities he noticed between the pack at Wolf Connection and the wild sea wolves. **Donate to help take the podcast On The Road! Click the link** https://wolfconnection.org/donations/Seaforth Expeditions @seaforthexpeditions@thewolfconnectionpod

Mich Biesbroek has been tracking wildlife since he was a young boy. He is one of the group leaders and guides for the White Wilderness weeks of Slovak Wildlife Society, where they monitor large carnivores in Slovakia with the help of volunteer citizens scientists. He is also a core member of Werkgroep Wolf Nederland. Mich spoke about his experiences tracking animals, his guiding practices when he's with Slovak Wildlife Society, the state of wolves in the Netherlands and his involvement with Werkgroep Wolf Nederland. Slovak Wildlife SocietyWerkgroep Wolf Nederland@tallmanhiking@thewolfconnectionpod

Luigi Boitani has been studying, researching and propelling the conservation of wolves in Italy for over 50 years. He is currently a Professor Emeritus at the University of Rome, Italy, and Chair of the IUCN Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe. Luigi went into great detail explaining his initial experiences researching wolves, how wolves, other predators and ungulates have had to adapt to a changing landscape in Italy, describing initiatives for coexistence in the region, and his overall assessment of wolf behaviors in present day Italy. Luigi Boitani Research GateIUCN Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe@thewolfconnectionpod

Bridgett VonHoldt and Kristin Brzeski are the Director and Co-Director of the Gulf Coast Canine Project. The GCCP was created to encompass their research and the community-based approach they are developing to understand, monitor, and manage the unique canines persisting across the Gulf Coast.Bridgett and Kristin gave updates on genomics research, community scientific engagement, expansion of non-invasive data collection, and future goals of the project. Gulf Coast Canine Project@thewolfconnectionpod

Mollie Cameron is the Wolf Campaigner for Pacific Wild in British Columbia. She has extensive field experience monitoring carnivores, studying their behavior through remote camera traps, investigating wildlife signs, and documenting predation events.She discussed the impact of old-growth forest loss, the history and current status of the wolf cull, habitat destruction, and how these factors are reshaping the landscape. Pacific WildBC Wolf Campaign @pacificwild@thewolfconnectionpod

Michelle Valberg has been a fixture in the photography world for over 40 years. A Nikon Ambassador, she was honored with the prestigious Order of Canada in 2022 for her contributions to the craft. Additionally, she is a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.In our conversation, Michelle shared the story of her photographic journey, discussed how she mentors newcomers to the art of photography, and recounted her two recent trips where she had the unique opportunity to photograph wolves.Michelle Valberg Website@michellevalbergphotography@thewolfconnectionpod

Ian Wargo is a first generation Montanan who is a member of the Region 1 FWP Citizen Advisory Council and FWP Mule Deer Citizen Advisory Council. He is an avid outdoorsman, hunter and concerned resident on the state of the land, herds and practices impacting wild spaces in Northwestern Montana. We discussed potential common ground issues between the non-consumptive and hunting communities, including the sale of federal public land, changes to habitat management, and their impacts. Additionally, we explored topics such as studying predation and environmental easements. **This is Part 2 of our 2-part discussion with Ian.**@thewolfconnectionpod

Ian Wargo is a first generation Montanan who is a member of the Region 1 FWP Citizen Advisory Council and FWP Mule Deer Citizen Advisory Council. He is an avid outdoorsman, hunter and concerned resident on the state of the land, herds and practices impacting wild spaces in Northwestern Montana. Ian discussed changes he's been witnessing on the landscape, practices that have impacted land management, wolves returning to the area, and how he feels there are ways to come together on common ground issues. **This is Part 1 of our 2-part discussion with Ian.**@thewolfconnectionpodBack from the Brink: Montana's Wildlife Legacy (PBS)Fire History in the Bob Marshall Wilderness (U.S. Forest Service)

Brenna Cassidy started her work with Colorado Parks & Wildlife as the Wolf Monitoring and Data Coordinator in late 2023. She had a pivotal role in both wolf translocations, bringing wolves from Oregon and B.C. Brenna went into detail about her new position at CPW, the data she is looking for with the new wolves in Colorado, how she is able to track collar information, and what this data is going to be used for in their annual reports. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (Wolves)@coparkswildlife@brennajcassidy@thewolfconnectionpod

Caitlin McLean is studying Ecology and Conservation Biology at the University of Stirling and recently returned from tracking predators with The Slovak Wildlife Society. She explained the absence of predators in her home country of Scotland and the impacts on the landscape, her deep connection to nature, the experiences she had in Slovakia, and her engagement in conflict mitigation with groups in the predator coexistence space. @saor.wolfThe Slovak Wildlife Society@thewolfconnectionpod

Hannah Rheaume has been a professional photographer for 5 years. She has traveled the globe, sharing her stories through the lens of her camera, while aiming to explore the complexities of humans and their impact on the natural world.She spoke at length on her process when preparing to go on photo shoots, how  photography is unique to her vision, promoting wild places and human spaces to help with conservation and education, and sharing stories on a few selected photos with us. **Go to the Wolf Connection Podcast Instagram to see photos we spoke about!**Hannah's Website@hannahrheaume@thewolfconnectionpod

Amy Porter is the Director of Conservation with Wolf Haven International and is part of the Wolf Advisory Group with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. She has done research in Congo, working with communities on conservation efforts and conflicts within the region. She has translated much of her experience from that work in Congo, to her efforts in Washington state with wolves. Amy described in detail the knowledge she learned from her time in Congo, parallels in conflict areas with monkeys and wolves, and how she is able to advise and help conservation efforts with Wolf Haven International and the Wolf Advisory Group.Wolf Haven International Wolf Advisory Group@wolfhavenint@thewolfconnectionpod

Mike Koshmrl has been an environmental reporter and journalist for over a decade. He previously worked with Jackson Hole News & Guide and currently writes for WyoFile, reporting on environmental, conservation and natural issues concerning the state of Wyoming. Amanda Eggert has been an environmental reporter with Montana Free Press since 2021. She has also written for other publications including Explore Big Sky, Explore Yellowstone & Mountain Outlaw. Both shared their experiences in writing this combined piece, The Year of the Wolves documenting the first steps to wolves being reintroduced to the Northern Rockies. Read the story below at both publications websites. The Year of the Wolves (Wyofile) The Year of the Wolves (Montana Free Press)Amanda Eggert StoriesMike Koshmrl Stories@wyofile@mtfreepress@thewolfconnectionpod

KC York is the President & Founder of Trap Free Montana since its inception in 2013. They represent hikers, anglers, hunters, wildlife watchers, ranchers, pet owners and outdoor enthusiasts concerned about or adamantly opposed to trapping.KC spoke about the updated trapping regulations for bears, wolves and other furbearers in the state of Montana, the issues that trapping and snaring bring to the recreational public, and upcoming bills being introduced into the Montana legislative session. Trap Free Montana  @trapfreemt@thewolfconnectionpod

Courtney Vail is the Board Chair and Community Outreach Advisor for Rocky Mountain Wolf Project. As a wildlife biologist and social scientist with a deep background in environmental policy and psychology, she has provided leadership for the design and implementation of diverse domestic and international programs, campaigns, and initiatives. Courtney spoke about recent events dealing with the wolf reintroductions in Colorado, coexistence measures that are being implemented on the ground, and campaigns she has launched to raise money to help continue reintroduction efforts in the future. Rocky Mountain Wolf Project (Website)Born to Be Wild License PlateUSFWS Seeks Information on Illegal Killing of Grey Wolf in Colorado@rockymtnwolf@thewolfconnectionpod

Delia Malone is the Wildlife Chair for the Colorado Chapter of the Sierra Club, and an Ecologist for the Colorado Natural Heritage Program at Colorado State University. She has also been at the forefront of wolf reintroduction efforts for the state of Colorado. Delia spoke at length on ecosystem balance, the roles wolves and other species play in the broader ecological picture, and how Colorado stands ecological from her perspective. Delia Malone Sierra Club ColoradoDelia Malone Articles@thewolfconnectionpod

Angie Ruiz is a writer, director, and producer of award-winning documentaries Forever Faithful & Black Beauty Breed that can be seen on Apple+, Amazon Prime, and Vimeo On Demand. Her new film, Wonders of the Wolf, will be screening at film festivals in 2025. Angie shared insights into the filmmaking process, the influences that shaped her work, and the message she hopes to convey through the film Wonders of the Wolf.Angie Ruiz WebsiteWonders of the Wolf Film@mrsangieruiz@thewolfconnectionpod

Matt Hyde and Mauriel Rodriguez are both Postdoctoral Researchers helping with California Wolf Project. California Wolf Project seeks to develop a model for how to bring universities, government agencies, and local communities together around the science and practice of improving human-wildlife interactions on a shared landscape.Matt and Mauriel described the research objectives and goals for the project, how they aim to bring their unique ecological and community engagement skills to the table, and what the future of wolves in California could look like. California Wolf ProjectMauriel Rodriguez ResearchMatt Hyde Research@californiawolfproject@thewolfconnectionpod

Ellen Dymit is a doctoral student at Oregon State University and is one of the researchers who has studied coastal sea wolves along the Katmai Coast in Alaska in 2021. The majority of her findings detail the prey base of these wolves and their hunting patterns in a coastal setting. Ellen went into great depth describing her research on coastal sea wolf diet, how they are collecting data from scat samples, and the progression of the project since its initial inception. @ellendymit (Twitter/X)Wolves on the Katmai Coast hunting sea otters and harbor sealsOregon State Researchers Observe Wolves on Katmai Coast@thewolfconnectionpod