The Wolf Connection

Ashley Avis is a screenwriter, director and producer of 6 feature films and is the President of The Wild Beauty Foundation. She is the writer, director and editor for Black Beauty  on Disney+ and directed the award winning documentary Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West. Ashley spoke about her visit to Wolf Connection, her new film project, American Wolf, and the similarities between her work with wild horses and wolves. Watch the video podcast on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/coYPvvH-lYk Ashley Avis Website@ashleyavis@thewolfconnectionpod

Cara Love is an Evolutionary Biologist and Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University. She has been studying wolves in the exclusion zone of Chernobyl for over a decade. Cara’s goal is to help further our understanding of the ecological and evolutionary ramifications anthropogenic stressors have on wildlife populations. Cara described her research on how wolves are surviving in and around Chernobyl, the ways in which they are collecting data, and how radiation exposure in wolf populations could lead to possible cancer fighting genetics. Cara Love WebsiteWolves of Chernobyl (Website)The Mutant Wolves of Chernobyl Have Evolved to Survive Cancer@thewolfconnectionpod

This is the third edition of 'Wolf Tracks'! We discussed the Cody Robert's fallout in Wyoming, along with other stories pertaining to wolves with Carter Niemeyer. Carter 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.Here are the articles and content that were discussed in the podcast:Forest Service/BLM Can't Ban Coyote WhackingHogs for Hope FundraiserH.R. 764 Passes the House (Trust the Science Act)Ninth Circuit Upholds Temp. Protections for Grizzlies in Wolf Trapping CaseDane County Judge Dismisses Lawsuit to revoke DNR wolf management planIdaho's Wolf Killings Decline@thewolfconnectionpod

Bill Watkins has been part of the Transportation System and Wilderness Tour Guide at Denali National Park for over 30 years. He is also the Administrator for the Denali Wolves group on Facebook, and is a conservation, wildlife and landscape photographer. Bill spoke with us about his experiences guiding in the park, the changing dynamics in tourism as wolf watching and bear viewing has been in decline, and the impacts that wildlife mismanagement has had on predators around Denali National Park. Bill Watkins WebsiteBill Watkins YouTubeAlaska Wildlife Alliance Website@thewolfconnectionpod

Ramey Newell is an American-Canadian filmmaker, photographer, and multidisciplinary artist who splits her time between British Columbia and Oregon. Her new film, A Good Wolf, is a feature-length documentary that explores diverging viewpoints on what 'A Good Wolf' means to different individuals. Those views are explored within the context of this lengthy, emotionally charged, and continuing battle over how wolves (and bears) are managed at the northeast boundary of Denali National Park.Ramey discussed her background in photography and filmmaking, what factors drew her to make the film, and how she balanced perspectives on such an emotionally charged issue. A Good Wolf  premieres at the MountainFilm Festival in Telluride, CO May 23 - 27Ramey Newell WebsiteA Good Wolf WebsiteMountainFilm Festival Website (Purchase Passes)@rameynewell@thewolfconnectionpod

Will Stenberg is a writer and musician, and his brother Zack Stentz is a writer and film producer know for his work on films like X-Men: First Class & Thor. Stampede Ventures recently optioned the rights to Rick McIntyre's first 3 books in the Alpha Wolves of Yellowstone book series to Will and Zack to script a film adaptation. Will and Zack spoke about their childhood experiences in nature, the journey of ultimately being selected to bring Rick McIntyre's books to the screen, and the challenges of adapting those stories for a larger audience. @thewillstenberg@musezack'The Alpha Wolves Of Yellowstone’: Stampede Ventures Taps Zack Stentz, Will Stenberg To Script Film Based On Non-Fiction Book Series (Deadline)@thewolfconnectionpod

This is the fourth installment of our podcasts regarding the Wyoming Wolf Incident. We spoke with Mike Kosmrl, reporter and investigative journalist from WyoFile.Mike discussed how he first learned about the story, the challenges he's had getting information, the scope of the incident throughout Wyoming, and if statewide change would come to wildlife management or hunting practices in the state. Mike Koshmrl has been and 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.**Check out all of Mike's reporting on this incident below**Mike Koshmrl Wyoming Wolf Incident Reports (WyoFile)Wyofile.com@wyofile@koshywrites@thewolfconnectionpod

This is the third installment of our podcasts regarding the Wyoming Wolf Incident. We spoke with Kim Bean from Wolves of the Rockies and Kristin Combs from Wyoming Wildlife Advocates. We discussed legal action being taken in Wyoming related to the wolf killing, the deeper problems at the legislative and game agency levels, and how people can make change for wolves and wildlife in the state.Kim Bean is President of Wolves of the Rockies and Kristin Combs is the Executive Director of Wyoming Wildlife Advocates. Wolves of the RockiesWyoming Wildlife Advocates@wolves_of_the_rockies@wyomingwildlifeadvocates@thewolfconnectionpod

This is the second installment of our podcasts regarding the Wyoming Wolf Incident by speaking with Carter Niemeyer. We discussed the details of the incident, the reactions within both the hunting and non-consumptive communities, what the fallout could be from and Wyoming's massive elk herds prompting more hunting tags. 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. **Articles Discussed in this Podcast**Fury over Wyoming wolf torture allegations sparks demands for steeper penalties, reform (WyoFIle)From Cowboy State Daily:Eastern Wyoming Has Too Many Elk, And Hunters Can’t Kill Them Fast EnoughWyoming Game And Fish Proposes Unlimited Elk Tags To Cut Down On Gigantic HerdsWyoming Commission Meeting April 16-17Investigation Could Lead To More Charges For Accused Wyoming Wolf Tormentor@thewolfconnectionpod

Emily Cohen is the Executive Director of 89.1 KHOL in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. They were the first break the story on March 29th involving a wolf's capture by Cody Roberts, the alleged abuse and death of the wolf following its capture. Wyoming Public Records Act requests submitted by KHOL and WyoFile as of Thursday, April 4th, have not yielded any new official information and requests for interviews with the agency by both outlets have been cancelled or denied.Please Read KOHL's stories on this incident below: Wolf’s capture, alleged abuse by Wyoming man condemned, highlights legal limitationsWyoming resident cited for illegally possessing a live wolf@891khol@wyofileFrom WyoFIle: Fury over Wyoming wolf torture allegations sparks demands for steeper penalties, reform@thewolfconnectionpod