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Defenders of Wildlife
President's Council
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Reports from past Wildlife Workshops
Report from the 2010 Wildlife Workshop
Yellowstone’s wildlife and awe-inspiring landscapes were on full display for the President’s Council members who gathered for Defenders’ 19th Annual Wildlife Conservation Workshop in August. The trip got off to an auspicious start, as Judge Molloy’s ruling to return northern Rockies wolves to the Endangered Species list was announced just as we entered the park for a first-hand look at one of Defenders’ proudest accomplishments—the return of wolves to Yellowstone.
Our first early morning outing from the Buffalo Ranch in Lamar Valley brought equally good fortune as we watched four spirited pups from the new Lamar Canyon wolf pack waiting by their den for their mother to return with breakfast. With help from our expert guides and local staff, the wildlife sightings kept coming. The list of species we kept on the ranch’s blackboard grew and grew, with highlights including: bison, grizzly bear, black bear, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, golden eagle, coyote, mountain bluebird, spotted frog, short-tailed weasel, and a particularly photogenic badger living on the ranch, among many others sightings. And, of course, more observation of the Lamar Canyon wolf pack, including the Alpha female and the two sleek black brothers who round out the pack.
Our hikes showcased the park’s big skies, waterfalls, and wildflowers, and more than a few participants paused to take advantage of “photo ops,” with instruction from professional wildlife photographer Jim Clark and his son, Carson. Points of interest included the cliffs and valleys of Specimen Ridge alongside the Yellowstone River, an abandoned wolf den, and the Rose Creek acclimation pen, the original base for the wolf reintroduction project.
The workshop was led by Defenders Executive Vice President, Jamie Rappaport Clark.
Report from the 2009 Wildlife Workshop
This past August, President’s Council members from across the country attended the 18th Annual Wildlife Conservation Workshop in Yellowstone National Park. The workshop gave participants a first-hand look at Defenders’ conservation work and, most notably, the return of wolves to the park. Staying in the Lamar Valley at the Buffalo Ranch, we were in a prime location to view wildlife.
Not far down the road from the Buffalo Ranch, wolves were spotted on the first morning With help from our knowledgeable guides, we continued to have daily wolf watching opportunities, including a magnificent view of the Druid Peak pack directly across the valley from our cabins. All week we enjoyed spectacular wildlife sightings, including pronghorn, otters, big horn sheep, black bears, ospreys, coyotes, grizzly bears and herds of bison. On our final morning it was quite a sight to see a herd of bison walking amongst our cabins at the Buffalo Ranch.
In addition to viewing wildlife, participants had a chance to explore Yellowstone during hikes to the historic Rose Creek wolf acclimation pen, where part of the wolf reintroduction project was based, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, an abandoned wolf den, Trout Lake and Mammoth Terrace, among others.
The workshop was led by Defenders Executive Vice President, Jamie Rappaport Clark, and her husband award-winning nature photographer, Jim Clark.
Report from the 2008 Wildlife Workshop
In August of 2008 President’s Council members from across the country attended the 17th annual Wildlife Conservation Workshop in Yellowstone National Park. Staying in the Lamar Valley at the Yellowstone Association Institute’s Buffalo Ranch, we were in a prime location to view wildlife from our own backyard.
We started early the first morning, bundled in fleeces, hats and gloves. Before we could leave the Ranch we were rewarded with the sighting of a lone female from either the Druid Peak or Slough Creek pack. The wildlife continued to put a show on for us all week with continued sightings of the grizzly, wolves from the Slough Creek packs, bison, coyote, pronghorn, mountain goats, ospreys, and bald eagles, just to name a few.
Together we all hiked to the historic Rose Creek wolf acclimation pen where we learned about the events related to the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone. We also heard from wildlife and conservation professionals regarding the issue of whether or not northern Rocky wolves should be removed from the Endangered Species List.
Other hikes gave participants the chance to either visit an abandoned wolf den or enjoy a more rigorous hike further into the beauty and wilds of Yellowstone.
In addition to the wildlife viewing, participants heard first hand from Defenders staff, including Executive Vice President Jamie Clark and Rocky Mountain Region Director Mike Leahy about our work in Washington DC and in the field.
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