The Wolf Connection

Suzanne has spent over 30+ years looking to restore wolves to the Rockies and Pacific Northwest. She was a member of both the Idaho and Yellowstone wolf reintroduction teams that restored wolves to central Idaho and Yellowstone National Park. She is co-founder of the Wood River Wolf Project which promotes the coexistence of livestock and wolves by proactively using non-lethal  measures to prevent depredation. Suzanne spoke about her experiences in the Idaho wolf reintroduction project, the mission and success of the Wood River Wolf Project, and how their non-lethal methods are being used across the globe.Wood River Wolf ProjectInternational Wildlife Coexistence NetworkWolf Connection

Mike Phillips has played a key role in wolf conservation and recovery for 40+ years. He was part of the red wolf & gray wolf recovery efforts in the 1990's and is a founding member of the Turner Endangered Species Fund and Turner Biodiversity Divisions. As a former Democratic legislator in Montana, Mike helped inform the public about Colorado Proposition 114, which will be reintroducing gray wolves back to Colorado west of the continental divide. Mike offered his thoughts on the Colorado wolf reintroduction project, his work throughout the years, and the state of wolves & our natural world as it stands today.Rocky Mountain Wolf ProjectTurner Endangered Species FundWolf Connection   

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 two books, Wolfer and Wolf Land which can be purchased through multiple book retailers. He spoke about growing up in Iowa, his time spent as a government trapper and the experiences he had as he helped bring wolves back into the western United States. CarterNiemeyer.comWolfer & Wolf Land wolfconnection.org

**Click the link to view Kate's pictures that we discuss on the podcast**  https://www.instagram.com/p/CLe9h2eAgtg/?igshid=sg4hdl5rcgp1Kate Ochsman is a wildlife photographer, certified South African Safari Guide and conservationist. She has traveled the globe photographing, guiding and conserving wildlife until it landed her in Montana - on the doorstep of Yellowstone National Park. Kate spoke about her artistic process and the techniques she uses while taking photographs of animals, all while being non-invasive to the natural landscape. She shared with us 4 photos of wolves that have impacted her on a personal level. Her work can be seen at the links below.KateOchsman.com@kateochsmanWolf Connection

Maddy Jackson is a Project Technician with the Yellowstone Wolf Project. She is currently working on studies pertaining to wolf scat and the information that can be gathered non-invasively from wolf packs. She has a B.S. in Ecology/Evolution/Behavior from the University of Minnesota and currently resides in Gardiner, Montana. Maddy described growing up in Minnesota close to the Superior National Forest & The Boundary Waters. She talks about her work for wolves in Minnesota, Idaho and Yellowstone and the studies she's conducting with the Yellowstone Wolf Project. @mountain_maddyInternational Wolf CenterWildlife Science CenterWolf Connection

Taylor Bland has been a wildlife guide and wolf observer for over 2 years with Yellowstone Wolf Tracker. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Zoology, studied abroad at Kruger National Park in South Africa and now sits on the board of the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota.Taylor talks about her guiding style when she takes groups around Yellowstone. She also discusses the effects she sees that photography and videography are having on wolves in the park and how wolves may be becoming habituated to human presence inside and outside the park. Yellowstone Wolf Tracker@taylorlbland@wolfconnection

Jack Rabe is currently obtaining his Master's Degree in Conservation Sciences at the University of Minnesota in conjunction with the Yellowstone Wolf/Elk/Cougar projects. Jack has studied all 3 species at length as a Biological Technician and examined the dynamics they have within Yellowstone National Park. He has a B.S. in Forest, Fishery and Wildlife from The Ohio State University. Jack discusses prey sites of elk and bison, how wolves & cougars differ in the way meat is consumed on a carcass and how they impact each other on the landscape. We also touch on possible migration shifts in elk & bison out west and how that is affecting wolf packs in Yellowstone National Park. @jrabe21Cougars in Yellowstone National ParkCycles and Process in Yellowstone National Park@wolfconnection

Dylan Sanborn is an Avian Field Technician and Park Ranger in Yellowstone National Park. He has studied corvids and raptors for the last few years and their impact on the environment inside the park. Dylan joined us to discuss the unique dynamic between birds and wolves - specifically ravens - since wolves have rejoined the landscape. He spoke about foraging strategies and pack detections used by different bird species, and gave us his thoughts on the future of wolves being reintroduced into Colorado.  @hikingbirdYellowstone Bird Studies@wolfconnection

Rick Lamplugh is an Amazon best selling author who has written 3 books, including In The Temple of Wolves: A Winter's Immersion in Wild Yellowstone, and Deep Into Yellowstone: A Year's Immersion in Grandeur & Controversy. A naturalist and wildlife advocate, Rick weaves his knowledge and experience into all of his works.  He writes and speaks about wildlife to help preserve wild lands across the United States.Rick spoke to us about In The Temple of Wolves, his experiences within Yellowstone National Park and the advocacy work he's currently involved in on behalf of wolves in the United States.Rick Lamplugh Books on AmazonRick Lamplugh BlogRick Lamplugh on Facebook

Wolf Tracker, Naturalist and Field Biologist Nathan Varley studied the relationship and impact between wolves and elk in Yellowstone National Park for almost 20 years. He was involved in the Yellowstone Gray Wolf Recovery Project and studied the environmental impacts of reintroducing wolves to the park. Nathan and his wife Linda Thurston now run a wildlife guide service called Yellowstone Wolf Tracker where they specialize in providing a rich natural history experience to see wildlife in Yellowstone National Park.Nathan discusses growing up with Yellowstone in his backyard, the time spent studying wolves, elk and the ecosystems since the reintroduction and starting his own wildlife guide service. @wolftrackerYellowstone Wolf Tracker Company@wolfconnection