The Wolf Connection

Hannah Rheaume has been a professional photographer for 5 years. She has traveled the globe, sharing her stories through the lens of her camera, while aiming to explore the complexities of humans and their impact on the natural world.

She spoke at length on her process when preparing to go on photo shoots, how  photography is unique to her vision, promoting wild places and human spaces to help with conservation and education, and sharing stories on a few selected photos with us. 

**Go to the Wolf Connection Podcast Instagram to see photos we spoke about!**

Hannah's Website

@hannahrheaume

@thewolfconnectionpod

Amy Porter is the Director of Conservation with Wolf Haven International and is part of the Wolf Advisory Group with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. She has done research in Congo, working with communities on conservation efforts and conflicts within the region.

She has translated much of her experience from that work in Congo, to her efforts in Washington state with wolves. Amy described in detail the knowledge she learned from her time in Congo, parallels in conflict areas with monkeys and wolves, and how she is able to advise and help conservation efforts with Wolf Haven International and the Wolf Advisory Group.

Wolf Haven International

Wolf Advisory Group

@wolfhavenint

@thewolfconnectionpod

Mike Koshmrl has been an 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.

Amanda Eggert has been an environmental reporter with Montana Free Press since 2021. She has also written for other publications including Explore Big Sky, Explore Yellowstone & Mountain Outlaw.

Both shared their experiences in writing this combined piece, The Year of the Wolves documenting the first steps to wolves being reintroduced to the Northern Rockies. Read the story below at both publications websites.

 The Year of the Wolves (Wyofile)

The Year of the Wolves (Montana Free Press)

Amanda Eggert Stories

Mike Koshmrl Stories

@wyofile

@mtfreepress

@thewolfconnectionpod

KC York is the President & Founder of Trap Free Montana since its inception in 2013. They represent hikers, anglers, hunters, wildlife watchers, ranchers, pet owners and outdoor enthusiasts concerned about or adamantly opposed to trapping.

KC spoke about the updated trapping regulations for bears, wolves and other furbearers in the state of Montana, the issues that trapping and snaring bring to the recreational public, and upcoming bills being introduced into the Montana legislative session.

Trap Free Montana 

@trapfreemt

@thewolfconnectionpod

Courtney Vail is the Board Chair and Community Outreach Advisor for Rocky Mountain Wolf Project. As a wildlife biologist and social scientist with a deep background in environmental policy and psychology, she has provided leadership for the design and implementation of diverse domestic and international programs, campaigns, and initiatives.

Courtney spoke about recent events dealing with the wolf reintroductions in Colorado, coexistence measures that are being implemented on the ground, and campaigns she has launched to raise money to help continue reintroduction efforts in the future.

Rocky Mountain Wolf Project (Website)

Born to Be Wild License Plate

USFWS Seeks Information on Illegal Killing of Grey Wolf in Colorado

@rockymtnwolf

@thewolfconnectionpod

Delia Malone is the Wildlife Chair for the Colorado Chapter of the Sierra Club, and an Ecologist for the Colorado Natural Heritage Program at Colorado State University. She has also been at the forefront of wolf reintroduction efforts for the state of Colorado.

Delia spoke at length on ecosystem balance, the roles wolves and other species play in the broader ecological picture, and how Colorado stands ecological from her perspective.

Delia Malone Sierra Club Colorado

Delia Malone Articles

@thewolfconnectionpod

Angie Ruiz is a writer, director, and producer of award-winning documentaries Forever Faithful & Black Beauty Breed that can be seen on Apple+, Amazon Prime, and Vimeo On Demand. Her new film, Wonders of the Wolf, will be screening at film festivals in 2025.

Angie shared insights into the filmmaking process, the influences that shaped her work, and the message she hopes to convey through the film Wonders of the Wolf.

Angie Ruiz Website

Wonders of the Wolf Film

@mrsangieruiz

@thewolfconnectionpod

Matt Hyde and Mauriel Rodriguez are both Postdoctoral Researchers helping with California Wolf Project. California Wolf Project seeks to develop a model for how to bring universities, government agencies, and local communities together around the science and practice of improving human-wildlife interactions on a shared landscape.

Matt and Mauriel described the research objectives and goals for the project, how they aim to bring their unique ecological and community engagement skills to the table, and what the future of wolves in California could look like.

California Wolf Project

Mauriel Rodriguez Research

Matt Hyde Research

@californiawolfproject

@thewolfconnectionpod

Ellen Dymit is a doctoral student at Oregon State University and is one of the researchers who has studied coastal sea wolves along the Katmai Coast in Alaska in 2021. The majority of her findings detail the prey base of these wolves and their hunting patterns in a coastal setting.

Ellen went into great depth describing her research on coastal sea wolf diet, how they are collecting data from scat samples, and the progression of the project since its initial inception.

@ellendymit (Twitter/X)

Wolves on the Katmai Coast hunting sea otters and harbor seals

Oregon State Researchers Observe Wolves on Katmai Coast

@thewolfconnectionpod

Matt Metz has been a biologist with the Yellowstone National Park Wolf, Cougar, and Elk projects for over two decades. He specializes in studying prey dynamics among these species and their ecological impacts on the park.

Matt provided an in-depth analysis of the wolves' effects on prey species, highlighting shifts in the prey base and changes in the distribution of ungulates throughout the park. He also discussed how other carnivores influence the relationships between wolves and ungulates.

Matt Metz Research

@thewolfconnectionpod