“The level of mortality is historic and catastrophic. And I’m worried about next winter, because the thing is, compromise and reasonability seems to be gone.” This is a snippet of the article -- Ryan and I sit down and discuss the 8 month long investigation that led him to serious issues within the Montana governance and the killing of America's wolves just outside the borders of Yellowstone National Park -- by rangers that work for them. 

ARTICLE: https://theintercept.com/2022/07/20/wolves-yellowstone-ranger-montana-greg-gianforte/

Kevin founded the Southwest Environmental Center in New Mexico in the early 90’s and has been fighting for wildlife and wildlands for decades. Kevin realized that as long as people who viewed animals as soulless resources were making all the decisions on how wildlife should be managed – we as wildlife advocates would be fighting an endless battle. So he and his team at Southwest Environmental Center launched— Wildlife for All  – a national campaign to reform state wildlife management to be more ecologically driven, democratic and compassionate. 

Nick worked as an anthropologist, journalist and Conservation Director for Montana Wildlife Federation. Nick is an avid outdoorsman that views himself as a true conservationist that believes in balanced ecosystems. Nick and I had a great conversation about ethical hunting, wolves, grizzlies and other predators and the need for them on the landscape. We also spoke about the attack on our public lands or better yet, as Nick pointed out, our public resources. This was an insightful and meaningful conversation.

As a former Force Recon Marine, Dave he is without a doubt a badass – but this badass has a deeper understanding of life and what it means to be a part of the natural world.

Dave understood at a young age that he was different from most hunters, he understood then and even more so now the need for grizzly bears and wolves - the need for complete and balanced ecosystems. It wasn’t about the kill but about walking with nature. A self-described "Leopoldian" hunter a term he proudly took from friend and father figure Jim Posewitz the author of Beyond Fair Chase The Ethic and Tradition of Hunting.

Dave was a conservation writer for Rocky Mountain Elk Foundations – Bugle Magazine for 10 years, as the organization changed from a conservationist organization to a more NRA/Safari Club hunting organization – he stayed true to who he is and left.

Dave’s love and respect for Grizzly Bears is deep, personal and worthy of great respect and admiration. 

I continue to get emails asking for my story and WHY I became a wolf advocate. I gues the truth is, I have always been an animal advocate but there is something about the wolf, something so incredibly deep within me that makes me fight harder than anything else. 

With the management of wildlife being dictated by special interest groups in the legislation and states wildlife agencies, I have to question: what has happened to ethical hunting and ethical management of our public lands? When did we go from the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and Management ideals to stomping wolf puppies to death at den sights?

This is part 2 of my conversation with Bradley Orsted. Brad is an award winning photographer, podcaster and truth-teller. His journey from tragically losing his daughter through that darkness and how the story of 2 orphaned bear cubs helped him move forward to tell their story and his. 

The war on wildlife is real in the state of Montana with numerous trapping bills aiming to kill as many wolves as they can get away with. We want you to understand just how horrible these bills are and just what they mean. 

This is one of the most honest, vulnerable and important conversations I have ever had. Brad's story of tragedy, self medication, depression and the amazing journey through it, is as compelling as it is adventurous. It is those moments that can help bring us through some of our darkest times.

Leo Leckie is the co-founder of the Yellowstone Wolf Family Tree on Ancestry.com. Leo has given everyone the opportunity to follow the bloodlines as well as the stories behind the wolves of Yellowstone National Park from the reintroduction in 1995 to today. Leo is a writer, an author and an storyteller.