Safina Center Launchpad Fellow Erica Cirino has traveled to remote corners of New Mexico in search of the United States’ most endangered wolf: the Mexican gray. Along the way, she learned about how wolves’ bad reputation in the U.S. and worldwide has led to its widespread persecution and demise. Today, thanks to conservation plans and rules against hunting, wolves are making a comeback in some areas. As that happens, wildlife managers struggle to emphasize the positive aspects of wolves' return because long-seated human fears about wolves—perpetuated by children’s fairy-tale books and films, and in other media—persist to this day and make people skeptical of the fact that wolves are a critical part of nature that deserve protection. In Europe, wildlife managers are attempting to break the stereotype of the 'big, bad wolf' by designing an innovative approach to public attitudes improvement around wolves by holding public meetings where community members can voice their concerns and get their questions answered.
In this presentation, Erica will tell her stories from the field, including her expedition looking for endangered wolves in New Mexico, attending wolf community meetings in Europe, and more.