Unveiling the Wolves: Exploring the Interconnectedness of Nature with Tricia Reilly Koch
In this captivating episode, Tricia shares her remarkable journey of discovering her passion for wolves and their vital role in maintaining balance in ecosystems. Tricia's initial misconceptions about wolves were shattered during a transformative trip to Yellowstone National Park, where she witnessed the profound impact of the Yellowstone Wolf Project's efforts in reintroducing wolves.
Tricia sheds light on the historical context, revealing how wolves were once feared and eradicated in an attempt to tame the wildlife. However, this led to an imbalance in nature, with overpopulated elk and other unforeseen consequences. She then discusses the inspiring conservation success story of bringing back wolves in Yellowstone, thanks to the dedicated work of individuals like Rick McIntyre and the Yellowstone Wolf Project team.
She describes the meditative and awe-inspiring moments of being in nature and the profound sense of interconnectedness that arises from observing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.
Throughout the episode, Tricia emphasizes the importance of education in dispelling myths and false narratives surrounding wolves. She highlights the fact that wolves are docile and generally afraid of humans, debunking the sensationalized stories often portrayed in the media. Join Tricia Reilly Koch and Doro Bush Koch on this enlightening journey into the world of wolves and the profound lessons they teach us about our place in nature.
learn more
Yellowstone Wolf Project: https://www.yellowstone.org/wolf-project/
Conservation Nation: https://conservationnation.org/
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Quotes:
The reintroduction of wolves in the 1970s has resulted in the Yellowstone wolves becoming the epitome of wildlife conservation success in the United States. - Tricia Reilly Koch
There's so much more to wolves than what the media has told us. As we focus on the interconnectedness of wellness, it's fascinating to watch, study, and just see how part of nature the wolves are. - Tricia Reilly Koch
There is a lot of time where you sit and you wait for the wolves. It can become like a Zen experience because you are sitting in nature being right there in the present moment. - Tricia Reilly Koch
Show Notes:
Tricia: When you think about Little Red Riding Hood or the Three Little Pigs and all the Disney movies with Beauty and the Beast and how the Wolves are going after our Belle's dad. And then in Frozen When the Wolves are seen as villains. So I've never in my life had never seen a wolf, probably in real life either until a couple of years ago, probably two years ago, when I went out to Yellowstone with my family.
Tricia: The Yellowstone wolves is probably this United States conservation's biggest success story.
Tricia: Back in the 70s, the decision was made that we need to bring back wolves. And so there started the Yellowstone Wolf Project.
Tricia: As you and I are focusing a lot of our time now on the interconnectedness of wellness, it was fascinating to look at the wolves, study the wolves and just see how part of nature they are. They're a matriarchal society, how they take care of their group.
Tricia: Wolf tracking is when you're with folks that can actually follow the wolves that have been collared because they have collared a certain amount of wolves so that they can study them and understand them and know their habits.
Tricia: Rick McIntyre really started this. I think he discovered wolf watching in that he would tell the stories about wolves and he would have people understand that the wolves live really incredible lives.
Tricia: This focus that BB&R has on understanding our interconnectedness of wellness, it's incredible to be able to sit in nature, see it and experience that we really are interconnected. And in the wolves case, it's such a perfect example of how you can't just take out the apex predator and expect the whole world to stay the same.
Tricia: You're learning that baby bison have no odor when they're born, therefore they're not prey.
Tricia: Conservation Nation has been a great place for us because we love this idea of being able to support biodiversity. We love being able to support people that aren't normally brought to the table to help with this existential crisis that our Earth is having.
Tricia: The interesting thing about the Wolves and Taylor, you wanted to make sure that I talk about this too, is that they're very docile and they're very scared of people.
Tricia: Since the 1900s, there's only been ten fatal attacks in North America with wolves again, it's always been with food involved in it.
Tricia: The wolves do not naturally hunt livestock, and less than 1% of livestock are killed every year is due to wolves.
Tricia: We are all in this together and that we just need to just pay attention to again, what's going on in our world, in our environment and biodiversity really matters.