Wolves of Washington

After more than a 70 year absence, wolves have returned to Washington State. They were hunted to extinction, but the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reported that in 2017 our state had at least 122 wolves distributed in 22 packs. As wolves continue reclaiming our wild areas, they bring change not only to our local ecosystems but also to our human culture. Where are these wolves and how are they surviving? How are they affecting the people in our state? How is our state managing these wolves? These are some of the questions that we will explore during this presentation.

NOTE: There will also be a free screening of the documentary film "The Trouble With Wolves" at 7:00 pm (the same evening as the talk). The film will be shown in AW-204 and is free and open to the public.

"From hunters without game and ranchers afraid of losing their family business, to the biologists who personally brought the wolves back and wildlife managers struggling to find the perfect population count, The Trouble With Wolves is a rich character study revealing what's really going on in the West, and it probably isn't what you've been told by agenda-driven environmentalists or rabid anti-wolf groups."

About the Speaker

Chris Montero holding a monocular
Chris Montero
Wolf Haven

Chris Montero is the Outreach Coordinator at Wolf Haven International.  After studying Biology in his native Costa Rica, he finished his studies at The Evergreen State College. Chris has worked most of his adult life in conservation, both in Washington State and Costa Rica.  He has experience as a naturalist guide, environmental interpreter, field technician, scientific illustrator and also teaches Wildlife and Conservation for National Geographic Student Expeditions.

Environmental Speaker Series

The Environmental Speaker Series is hosted by the College of the Environment at Western Washington University.

The Series is free and open to the public. Talks are held each Thursday at 4:30 pm in Academic Instructional Center West room 204 - AW-204. Talks will also be streamed via zoom. Register with the Alumni Association for the zoom link. Paid parking is available in lot C.

Learn more about the Environmental Speaker Series
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