The Colorado Wolf Reintroduction Program is one of the most ambitious and controversial wildlife management projects in recent history and will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the future of wolf conservation in the U.S. In November 2020, the citizens of Colorado voted on proposition 114 to restore grey wolves to the western slope of … Read more
One of the biggest sources of conflict around wolf issues in their association with government overreach and the subsequent tension between federal and state governments. Underlying this political battle is the disconnect between federal protection and state management and the different motivations behind each. Federal Protection Wildlife protection at the federal level is by far … Read more
Unlike reintroduction projects, which involve reintroducing wolves to new areas, wolf recovery projects focus on the conservation and expansion of already existing wolf populations. These projects aim to support and strengthen natural packs, as well as support wolves that naturally migrate across borders, from one state to another or even across national boundaries. Major Recovery … Read more
Humans respond in fear; we try to control the things we don’t understand, and we often destroy the things we can’t control. That is exactly what we’ve done with the wolf. Throughout history, humans have always struggled to coexist with the world around us. We seem to have a natural instinct to exert control over … Read more
Like all other things with wolves, our shared history has two extremes. Symbiotic Coexistence In many indigenous cultures, wolves are admired and respected. The Ojibwe creation story tells the story of the first man who wandered the earth with his brother Ma’iingan, the first wolf. They eventually went their separate ways, but the creator told … Read more
One of the greatest conservation success stories in our nation’s history, but also a source of anger and resentment for many. Throughout the 1900s, wolves were almost completely eradicated from the lower 48 United States though extreme hunting and trapping, poisoning, and bounty programs. With their natural predator gone, elk number exploded which led to … Read more
Wolf reintroduction projects are extremely effective at bringing balance to ecosystems, but they often bring along extreme conflict and controversy. We humans tend to make mistakes. We react in fear and emotion, and we assume that we know best. One mistake we have made is our dominance over other species, particularly predators. The wolf is … Read more
The gray wolf is widely recognized as one of the greatest success stories in the history of conservation in North America, but it is also one of the most controversial species in the world. Wolves are complex animals, and the topic of their management definitely reflects that. Reintroduction Projects When people think of wolf management, … Read more
The Tribal Heritage and American Bison, Grizzly Bear, and Wolf Restoration and Coexistence Act is a recently introduced bill that aims to provide permanent federal protection for bison, grizzly bears, and gray wolves. This legislation highlights the deep cultural, spiritual, and ecological importance of these species to Indigenous communities as well as the natural ecosystem. … Read more
The current administration recently took steps to remove wolves from the Endangered Species list. I wanted to take this opportunity to explain the situation and environment surrounding it. Wolves have been a controversial topic throughout our entire history, and their relationship with the ESA definitely reflects that. Ever since their reintroduction in the 1990s, it … Read more
