Episode 23 | Studying Yellowstone’s Iconic Wolves

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Kira Cassidy uses radio telemetry to locate collared Yellowstone wolves. (Photo Ryan Dorgan)

Wolves in Greater Yellowstone represent one of the greatest conservation success stories. Once absent from the ecosystem, a reintroduction nearly 30 years ago brought back this keystone species to the landscape. Today, Yellowstone wolves are renowned across the world and represent a significant economic driver through wildlife-watching and tourism, generating an estimate $82 million annually. Their presence in Yellowstone National Park has also allowed researchers to conduct a multi-year study on their biology and effect on the landscape and wildlife around them.

On the podcast, we’ll get to chat with one of those researchers, Kira Cassidy. Kira is a research associate for the Yellowstone Wolf Project—the group that works within Yellowstone National Park to study these iconic wolves. Her research projects include wolf territoriality, sociality, and behavior. She also develops science communication strategies about wildlife research using art, writing, and public speaking.

Kira Cassidy and Yellowstone Wolf Project lead biologist Dan Stahler photograph wolf 1488M's teeth during a wolf capture in Yellowstone National Park. (Photo Jacob W. Frank/NPS)

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The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 49+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.

> Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts.

> Donate to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition

> Become a Podcast Insider

> Yellowstone Wolf Project Annual Reports

> Video: Mollie's Pack Bringing Home Treasures and Toys

> Kira's Instagram

> Kira's TEDx Talk "Aging in the wild: lessons from animals about the value of growing old"

> Kira's Scientific Publications

Podcast Artwork > Rachel Dunlap Art

Music >
Redwood Trail by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Photo > NPS/Jim Peaco

Thanks for listening in!

-Emmy Reed, Senior Digital Communications Associate (Bozeman, Montana)