The saga of the Mexican gray wolf

Back in March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it counted at least 163 Mexican gray wolves in New Mexico and Arizona. That continued an encouraging upward trend, but that same month, official authorized the killing of four of the wolves. Read more about this species and its uncertain future here. 

Bringing Wolves Back to Isle Royale NP

The National Park Service began reintroducing wolves to Isle Royale National Park last fall. The island ecosystem needs these top predators. Find out why, and how the reintro is going, in this post for the PBS Nature Blog.

Tracking and Tagging Wildlife

Tags, collars, and other tracking methods are essential to wildlife research and conservation efforts. Read more about why, and how scientists take great care with the animals, in this PBS Nature Blog post.

Wolves and Willows

The absence of apex predators –those animals at the top of the food chain, including wolves – causes changes that cascade throughout an ecosystem. In the case of Yellowstone, right down to its plants and rivers. Read more on the PBS Nature blog.

Eulogy for a wolf

In his remarkable 10 years, Oregon's OR4 produced a number of famous offspring, proved himself an excellent father, and taught biologists a lot about wolves. For the most part, people either loved him or hated him. He was killed by state officials on March 31.

OR4 waking up after being collared in 2011. Courtesy Oregon Fish and Wildlife Department.

Tagging Wildlife for Science

Scientists use a variety of tagging methods to track wild animals and learn more about them. Read more in my piece for Mental Floss, 10 Animals We Tag - and What we Learn From It.

Investigating a muder -- of an endangered wolf

US Fish and Wildlife law enforcement officials are investigating the shooting of an endangered wolf, an alpha female, in Washington state. Conservation groups have offered $15,000 in reward money for tips leading to catching the perp. Read more in Men's Journal online.

Wolves and Moose on Isle Royale

Scientists debate whether to intervene as the wolf population in Isle Royale National Park declines and moose numbers rise. Read more in my piece for Men's Journal online.