Media Advisory: Pathways 2019 conference to feature talks on wolf reintroduction Sept. 23-25

What:

Is wolf reintroduction right for Colorado? The Pathways 2019: Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conference will host talks on wolves on Monday, Sept. 23 and Tuesday, Sept. 24 with a world cafe workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 25 focused on developing research priorities for wolf reintroduction in Colorado. The world café format is used for hosting large group discussions.

When/Where:

The conference, hosted by the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at Colorado State University, will be held at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Sept. 23-26.

A full schedule can be found here: https://pathways2019.exordo.com/programme/at-a-glance

Details:

The plenary talks will feature leading experts from across the country, who will discuss public perceptions, Indigenous perspectives and current social science research on wolf reintroduction. Many of these presenters have worked on wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park and other key areas across the U.S.

Speakers for the event include:

  • Kerey Barnowe-Meyer, Nez Perce Tribe
  • Diane Boyd, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
  • Jeremy Bruskotter, Ohio State University
  • Terry Fankhauser, Colorado Cattleman’s Association
  • John Duffield, University of Montana
  • Richard Knight, Colorado State University
  • Mike Phillips, Turner Endangered Species Fund
  • Suzanne Asha Stone, Wood River Wolf Project
  • John Vucetich, Michigan Technological University

In July 2019, a wolf was sighted in Jackson County, 90 miles northwest of Fort Collins. It was the first confirmed wolf sighting in Colorado since 2015. More recently, there have been unconfirmed sightings of wolves in Cripple Creek just west of Colorado Springs.

Wolf reintroduction is in the forefront of many Coloradan’s minds as initiative #107 is attempting to put wolf reintroduction on the ballot in November 2020. Plenary speaker Mike Phillips was recently interviewed in a Colorado Sun article about the Colorado petition to put wolves on the ballot.

Contact for media:

For reporters interested in attending one or more days of the conference, please contact Wes White to register in advance at wesley.white@colostate.edu or 970-449-3328.