The Wolf Connection

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.

With habitat being threatened of these unique canids on Galveston Island in Texas, the GCCP has looked at the ecological impact on "Ghost Wolves" and are trying to create environmentally conscious spaces.

Bridgett and Kristin went into detail about their expanded research, strategies to bring eco-tourists to Galveston Island, and form good practices for conservation, preservation and sustainable ecosystems.

Gulf Coast Canine Project

GCCP Fundraiser for Research

Ghost Wolves Town Hall

Galveston Coyotes Carry Red Wolf DNA (Video)

@gulfcoastcanineproject

@thewolfconnectionpod

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released their status review on grey wolves on February 2nd, stating that wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountain range will not be listed under the Endangered Species Act. This comes after 2 petitions were filed asking for wolves to be re-listed in this region of the Western United States nearly 3 years ago. 

Kim Bean from Wolves of the Rockies joined us to discuss the status review, share her thoughts on the reasoning for this ruling, and what the future holds for wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains.

**Read the findings from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service below**  

USFWS Status Review on Grey Wolves in the NRM

Wolves of the Rockies

@wolves_of_the_rockies

@thewolfconnectionpod

Tom Gable is the Project Lead for Voyageurs Wolf Project and has been studying wolves in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem since 2014. Their ultimate goal is to couple cutting-edge, rigorous wolf research with highly-effective outreach and education.

Tom discussed some major topics at length: the effects of wolves on deer populations, wolves shifting beaver behaviors, and he also updated us on a huge non-lethal project to keep wolves off a ranch near Voyageurs National Park.

Voyageurs Wolf Project Website

@voyageurswolfproject

Wolves Alter the Trajectory of Forests

@thewolfconnectionpod

This is our very first episode of 'Wolf Tracks' where we are discussing multiple wildlife issues and articles pertaining to wolves, mountain lions and bears with Carter Niemeyer!

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.

Here are the articles and content that were discussed in the podcast:

CPW Commissioners Site Lack of Trust Over Release
Never Ending Wolf Wars
Colorado Cuts April Hunting Season Short (Mountain Lions)
The Coming War on Grizzly Bears
Exposed Wildlife Conservancy: Trapped in the Past Documentary Series

 @thewolfconnectionpod

Rob Edward has been working on restoring wild lands and wildlife in the American West for nearly 30 years. He is a Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor for Rocky Mountain Wolf Project and President of the Rocky Mountain Wolf Action Fund.

Rob went into great detail about the journey to reintroducing wolves into Colorado, his working relationships throughout this initiative, the challenges that are ahead, and how he hopes this project will help other rewilding efforts.

@rockymtnwolf

Rocky Mountain Wolf Project

Colorado Parks & Wildlife Grey Wolves

@thewolfconnectionpod

Phillip Scrimshaw has been working as a photographer since 2021. He has taken multiple trips to Yellowstone, along with heading to Africa to photograph painted wolves and other wildlife. He tracks all of his adventures on his blog, and informs the public about the plight of the painted wolf on the African continent.

Phillip discussed how he came into photography, how the first trip to Africa changed his life trajectory, the impact painted wolves have had on his life, and how he helps the conservation effort surrounding the species.

@scrimshawphotography

Scrimshaw Photography Website

Zambian Carnivore Program

@thewolfconnectionpod

James Frystak is an Emmy Award Winning Cinematographer for his work on Netflix's Island of the Sea Wolves. He has been a part of filming other series including America The Beautiful and Incredible Animal Journeys for BBC, CBC, Disney+ and National Geographic.

James spoke to us about his experiences filming for Island of the Sea Wolves, his career path becoming a Cinematographer and the impact of telling natural stories to the world.

James Frystak Website

James Frystak Showreel

River Road Films

@james_frystak

@thewolfconnectionpod

Krisztina Gayler is a part of multiple organizations including The Rewilding Institute, The National Wolfwatcher Coalition and The Rocky Mountain Wolf Project. An avid wolf watcher and coexistence advocate, she imparts her knowledge of European ranching & shepherding to help promote non-lethal methods of living and working with carnivores.

Krisztina talked about her upbringing in Hungary, the history of ranching & shepherding with carnivores in Romania and Transylvania, and how she hopes to bring these methods to the forefront of coexistence with wolves.

Krisztina Gayler Rewilding Earth

Wolf Watchers

The 06 Legacy

@krisztina_gayler

@thewolfconnectionpod

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.

He went into great detail about his articles: Border Killings: How Shooters Lured Historic Colorado Wolves to their deaths in Wyoming and Wyoming is killing Colorado's wolves, again, and the state's keeping it a secret. Both discuss the issue of wolves traversing over state lines, the state government withholding information and how we could see similar conflicts as Colorado reintroduces wolves into their state.

@koshywrites

Mike Koshmrl Author Archive

Wyoming Killing Colorado Wolves

Border Killings Article

@thewolfconnectionpod

Chris Smith is the Southwest Wildlife Advocate for WildEarth Guardians and Greta Anderson is the Deputy Director for Western Watersheds Project. We were lucky enough to have both of them on the podcast to discuss Asha, the Mexican Grey Wolf who was traveling beyond the I-40 boundary. During our discussion, Asha was re-captured and will ultimately be transported back inside the recovery area.

Chris and Greta described the impact Asha's story has made throughout the environmental community, what they hope her story does for future conservation of Mexican Grey Wolves and their thoughts on wolf recovery in the Southwest United States.

@wildearthguardians

@westernwatershedsproject

@thewolfconnectionpod

Advocates Urge Agencies to Let Asha Roam Free

Asha's Visit to Northern New Mexico Offers Hope for Recovery

Asha the Roaming Mexican Grey Wolf Captured in New Mexico