By Gus O’Keefe and Lori Ryker, Yellowtonian co-founders
We’ve all heard it before, that Americans get the kind of government we deserve. We also know that in other lands citizens are literally dying trying to create the kind of (semi-) stable, safe, secure and respectful representative democracy we have. One of the biggest expressions of that is a citizenry who cares about wildlife and supports laws to keep landscapes healthy.
More than a cliché, that bit about “getting the kind of government we deserve” ought to invite personal introspection. A message that rang loud and true the other night, when grizzly and wolf biologists Christopher Servheen and Doug Smith spoke at the conclusion of a Yellowstonian-sponsored event in Bozeman, was this:
Elections matter. If you’re a cynic about that, try living in Russia. The upcoming federal, state and local elections matter probably more than any other in our lifetimes. To be clear, Yellowstonian isn’t political, and we are not here to tell you for whom, or for what to vote. What Servheen and Smith said was this: Vote with your conscience and if having wildlife and wild places matters to you, then educate yourself and vote for those outcomes because if you don’t, there is much to lose.
On Wednesday in Missoula at the wonderful Wilma Theatre, Yellowstonian will co-host the second half of our well-received, two-city griz and wolf tour. The purpose is educating the public by having Servheen and Smith discuss the future of the two very emblems of wild landscapes in the Northern Rockies. Conservation has given both species a second chance, but they are facing a convergence of threats: private land development that is rapidly destroying habitat in the mountain valleys, industrial-strength recreation pressure, climate change and efforts made to weaken protections for wolves and bears in local states.
The event featuring Chris Servheen, Doug Smith and Yellowstonian‘s Todd Wilkinson will be live-streamed on our Yellowstonian Facebook page. Go to our Facebook page around 6:45 pm on Wednesday night, October 23 and tune in if you cannot attend.
The Bozeman crowd was engaged and enthusiastic. We hope that if you’re near Missoula or have friends who are, that you’ll spread the word. The event is free and open to the public and it will expand the way you think about both species— through the informed eyes of two renowned authorities. It will also be live-streamed on our Yellowstonian Facebook page. Go to our Facebook page around 6:45 pm on Wednesday night and tune in if you cannot attend. Please tell your friends. Veteran journalist and Yellowstonian co-founder Todd Wilkinson, who has known both Servheen and Smith for decades, will facilitate the on-stage discussion.
This is the essence of true conservation journalism in the public interest. We don’t just dispense information; we give you the context for what it means and why it matters. Our content is free but costly to produce and we rely on your generous support. Thanks to our other sponsors for making these events happen—Montana Wildlife Federation, National Parks Conservation Association, Cinnabar Foundation, Gallatin Wildlife Association, The Wilma and The Emerson.
We at Yellowstonian are grateful for the large number of people in America—and the world—who are so passionate about protecting the full complement of wildlife species that still exists in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies. What a delight to have a convergence of powerhouse experts and a powerhouse audience.
To put you in the proper mood, enjoy this collection of chorus howls (click on link, below) from four different Yellowstone wolf packs assembled by Dr. Jeff Reed of Grizzly Systems and the Cry Wolf Project which involves a collaboration with researchers in America’s oldest national park. Turn up the volume! Also read our Yellowstonian story—Decoding the Secret Chorus Language of Yellowstone Wolves—on how their research into wolf bioacoustics is advancing understanding of wolf communication and canid culture.
