Leading the Pack

So much of the environmental policy in the United States is reactive, but sometimes, people have the foresight to develop solutions for future issues.

Usually, a dire situation must develop before Americans take action to address an environmental issue. The environmental movement of the 20th century responded to high levels of pollution and dangerous declines in species populations. Also, the federal government's policy in addressing chemicals and toxins is to wait until a problem has been proven rather than to have the chemicals proved safe before use.

In southwestern Washington, environmental groups like Conservation Northwest are working to remedy a situation that was created decades ago when Interstate 5 was constructed. With no consideration of how animals would cross the interstate, people laid the asphalt and hit the road, creating a massive barrier for migratory species who move between the Cascade Mountains and the Olympic Mountains. Two months ago, I blogged about hopeful developments in the push to create pathways for wildlife to go over and under the interstate. As positive as those developments are, it would have been nice if people had thought ahead before the interstate was built, ensuring that the wildlife corridors remained intact.

Another example from southwestern Washington demonstrates the value of thinking ahead when it comes to the environment and wildlife. Although wolves have not returned to western Washington yet, Wolf Haven International has begun working with members of local communities to build partnerships and strategies that help a variety of stakeholders prepare for the presence of wolves. During the first Wolf Wise Communities forum in February 2026, Wolf Haven opened lines of dialogue to begin exploring potential issues and solutions related to wolves. By taking the lead and helping plan for the future, Wolf Haven reduces the likelihood of intractable conflicts occurring when wolves return to the area. In addition, if problems do arise, the relationships that have been built through the Wolf Wise Communities forums will have a good chance of yielding effective, mutually beneficial solutions.

In Wolf Wise Communities forums, Wolf Haven shows us the value of leading the pack with vision and strategy.

Watch for Wolves

As an acclaimed documentary about wolves nears release on iTunes, we have the opportunity to support Wolf Haven International, an organization that advocates and cares for wolves.

Produced in 2018, The Trouble With Wolves won awards from numerous film festivals and earned praise as "one of the rare documentaries that transcends its own subject" by Visit Seattle. The film investigates the history of wolves in the United States, focusing on the political conflicts that have occurred since their reintroduction to the lower 48.

At its heart, the documentary serves as an exploration of coexistence. Wolves give us the chance to question and improve our relationship with the rest of the planet, so it's really about what our future will look like. For more information, visit the film's Web site. You can also check out the trailer below:



The Trouble With Wolves hits iTunes on May 12, 2020, and pre-orders are open now. It costs $6.99. If it has at least 250 pre-orders by May 11, Wolf Haven receives half of the proceeds, so we can both reserve an important documentary and support one of the organizations working to make our relationship with wolves better.

This documentary is definitely worth a look.

Teach to the Wolf

Bringing wolves into the classroom just got easier.

One of the difficulties we have in improving our relationship with animals like wolves is that many people don't know much about them. In addition, a lot of the information people do have is inaccurate. As a result, long-held prejudices about wolves endure and heavily influence how we react to these animals.

Fortunately, technology gives us opportunities to bring wolves closer and learn about them. Wolf Haven International has begun offering lessons about wolves though Skype's In the Classroom program. This gives teachers a resource to connect their students with wolves. For more information, click here.

We're already being tested on our ability to live with wolves, so it's time to start preparing for that test by getting the information we need.

Howls About This

Summer brings with it increased chances to get out and do things, and the last couple of posts have looked at some options. For those of you who live in or will be visiting southwest Washington state, here's another: Wolf Haven International's yearly Howl-Ins.

Wolf Haven, which is located near Tenino, works for wolf conservation, houses captive-born wolves, participates in breeding programs for Mexican gray wolves and red wolves, and provides resources and opportunities for learning about wolves. The organization is also involved in the preservation of local prairie.

The summer Howl-Ins are full-scale family events, which include sanctuary tours, live music, and fun activities.

This year's Howl-Ins will take place July 9, July 23, August 6, and August 20, 6-9 p.m. Make your reservations early.