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.

@wolftracker

Yellowstone Wolf Tracker Company

@wolfconnection

Wolf Tales explores the journeys of Wolf Connection's staff and volunteers explaining how they made their way to Wolf Connection and the impact that the wolves and the organization has had on their lives.

Stephen Rivera relocated to Los Angeles from Connecticut at 23 years old and joined Wolf Connection in 2018. He has immersed himself in all forms of media at Wolf Connection from photography, videography and musical production. Stephen is also the co-host and producer of 'The Wolf Connection' podcast and helps with the care, feeding and enrichment of the pack at Wolf Connection.

When he's not with the wolves, Stephen runs his own production company called SR Productions LLC where he collaborates on many different projects for music and film.

@srprodllc

Stephen Rivera Link Tree

@wolfconnection

Forrest Galante is the host of Animal Planet's Extinct or Alive where he travels the world in search of species on the brink of extinction or species believed to be extinct. He is truly passionate about education and helping people save our planet. As a conservationist, he attempts to leave a positive biological impact in every place he visits.

Forrest works with a variety of conservation groups from around the world doing outreach and helping spread awareness and understanding of wildlife and environments in need.

He spoke with us about growing up in Zimbabwe, the path to being a biologist, conservationist and television host, and his journey to Wolf Connection.

Extinct or Alive on Animal Planet

ForrestGalante.com

@forrest.galante

@wolfconnection

Jeremy SunderRaj is a Biological Science Technician for the Yellowstone Wolf Project. He discusses his path from being a visitor at Yellowstone National Park at the age of 11 to working alongside Doug Smith and Rick McIntyre. Jeremy describes what wolf hazing is, the benefits it has to wolves in Yellowstone National Park and sheds light on the current state of wolf populations in the Western United States.

Before working at Yellowstone National Park, Jeremy spent three summers trapping and collaring wolves for the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department. He then became a wildlife guide as a Yellowstone Wolf Tracker before getting a full-time position with the Yellowstone Wolf Project. Jeremy has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana.

Yellowstone Wolf Project

@critter_chaser

@wolfconnection

Miguel Rivera has been doing healing work for over 40 years and leads multiple ceremonies that include talking circles, vision quests and has participated in over 5,000 sweat lodges. He is a founding member of the Western Gate Roots and Wings Foundation, a member of the Guild of Future Architects and a Board Member for Wolf Connection.

Miguel joined us to discuss his journey to learn these ceremonies from Native American elders, how he uses these teachings to help youth, veterans and rehab participants from all cultures, and also his work with Wolf Connection. Through all these organizations, Miguel looks to bring people into a collaborative, kind, inclusive and prosperous world.

Western Gate Roots and Wings Foundation

Guild of Future Architects

Wolf Connection

@wolfconnection

Wolf Tales explores the journeys of Wolf Connection's staff and volunteers explaining how they made their way to Wolf Connection and the impact that the wolves and the organization has had on their lives.

Annette Golden relocated from Chicago, Illinois more than 7 years ago and now serves as Wolf Connection's Operations Coordinator, an interdepartmental support and advisory role that changes with the needs of the organization. Annette also helps with the care, feeding and enrichment of the pack at Wolf Connection.


@agolden629

@wolfconnection

wolfconnection.org

Research Associate and Biologist for the Yellowstone Wolf Project with Yellowstone Forever, Kira Cassidy joins the podcast to discuss her findings on pack dynamics, mortality rates of wolves, pack altercations and the impact of elder wolves within the packs in Yellowstone. Kira also talks about the longest surviving wolf pack in Yellowstone, the Mollie's Pack.

Kira Cassidy has been with the Wolf Project for 14 years and a Research Associate for 9 years. Kira holds her M.S. degree from the University of Minnesota, with projects focusing on territoriality and aggression between packs of gray wolves. She is stationed at Mammoth Hot Springs, near the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

Gray Wolf Information Yellowstone

Kira Cassidy Tedx Talk

Yellowstone Wolves Book Pre-Order

@kira_cassidy

Wolf Tales explores the journeys of Wolf Connection's staff and volunteers explaining how they made their way to Wolf Connection and the impact that the wolves and the organization has had on their lives.

Kris Espiritu is a volunteer at Wolf Connection who is also an environmental & outdoor educator where he provides experiential nature-based learning  for grades K-12. He teaches about the interdependence between ecosystems, humans role as stewards of the environment and team building skills.

@thenatureinquisitive

@wolfconnection

Sportscaster and the first and only female NBA scout for the Los Angeles Lakers Bonnie-Jill Laflin discusses her career, her journey to Wolf Connection and the special bond she formed with one of our pack ancestors Beau.

Bonnie-Jill Laflin has cheered in both the NBA and NFL and earned 5 championships rings as an executive for Lakers. She is currently a co-host of KNBR’s “Murph and Mac” Show, ranked #2 in the country, reporter for NBC Sports Bay Area and host of the Westwood One podcast “The Weekly Pass”. Beyond her professional ventures, Laflin is committed to and passionate about animal welfare and the nation’s veterans, founding the non-profit Hounds and Heroes.

@bonniejill

Hounds and Heroes

@wolfconnection

Wolf Tales explores the journeys of Wolf Connection's staff and volunteers explaining how they made their way to Wolf Connection and the impact that the wolves and the organization has had on their lives.

Micha Thomas is a Wolf Connection Program Lead and an Associate Marriage & Family therapist and group facilitator. She is also the founder of weREWILD, which is a research-based psychological, anthropological and story-centered organization, emphasizing therapeutic engagement in the natural world. Micha has a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate University.

weREWILD

@michaleethomas

@wolfconnection