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| | Winter
Wolf Retreats for 2011
January
28-February 1
February
9-13
Tentative
Itinerary
DAY
1:
Meet
at the at Bozeman,
Montana, (BZN) airport between NOON and 1 PM. All
paperwork, waivers & releases, will need to be signed at or
before this time. Transport is through the
scenic Paradise Valley to Yellowstone Park. Once in the park we will drive to the Buffalo Ranch in Lamar
Valley to get settled into our cabins.
Wolves have been sighted prior to arriving at the ranch during some of the
previous retreats. We
will briefly discuss the history of the ranch, wildlife watching, and
preparations for the coming days before a gourmet dinner prepared by chef Zac
Kellerman.
Day
2:
We
will rise early for a full breakfast before departing for the field shortly after
first light. Early morning is the
best time to catch the wolves while they are active.
The incredible Lamar Valley
will be the backdrop for sightings of bison, elk, and coyotes while searching
for wolves in 2-3 wolf pack territories. We
will return to the ranch for lunch each day.
After lunch, group members have the option to take a snowshoe hike or
relaxing at the ranch. We will return to the field
observations at dusk. Wine, beer, nuts, and
cheeses will proceed Zac's gourmet dinner.
We will be treated to an evening presentation by one of our special guest
naturalists/scientists (TBA).
Day
3:
The
following days will follow a similar outline to the first full day at the ranch
with a hot breakfast served prior to our early morning departure. After lunch, we will
again have the option for a snowshoe adventure.
Past snowshoe destinations have included the historic
Rose
Creek acclimation pen where wolves were first released in Yellowstone, a previously used wolf den,
and a carcass site of a wolf-killed
elk or bison.
Day
4:
Another
hearty breakfast provided by the caterer will precede our last day in the
field. Experience dictates that by
the third morning there will have been ample opportunity to watch wolves but
additional sightings will be "topping it off" with more activity,
different packs, and different observed behaviors. The
daily schedule will mirror the previous days’ schedules.
Another guest speaker (TBA)
will give an evening talk.
Day
5:
Our
last morning will require early departures to the airport to catch flights.
The drive is 3+ hours, so PLEASE plan to arrive at the Bozeman airport no earlier than 11 AM to make flights no earlier than NOON.
NOTE:
Best-laid plans are always subject to change pending weather, guest
speakers’ schedules, wildlife sighting opportunities, and/or any unforeseen
circumstances. Please remain flexible to better enjoy the Yellowstone Winter Wolf
Retreat experience. If you have any questions
concerning the itinerary, do not hesitate to contact us.
Past
Guest Speakers
at Winter Wolf Retreats:
 | Dr.
Douglas W. Smith, author of the acclaimed book Decade
of the Wolf, will give a presentation on his work as the supervisor and
head biologist of the Yellowstone Wolf Recovery Project.
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| Daniel
Stahler, wolf biologist whose work includes nearly 10 years with the
Yellowstone Wolf Recovery Project has studied predator-prey and
wolf-scavenger relationships, as well as, most recently embarked on a PhD
dissertation at UCLA using genetics and behavior data to look at individual
wolves and their contributions to population recovery.
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Your
Hosts:
| Linda Thurston
has worked on wolf
conservation and research over a decade in
Montana,
Idaho,
Wyoming, and Alberta. Her work includes research on
predator-prey relationships and innovative projects with local ranchers
aimed to prevent wolf-livestock conflicts.
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| Dr.
Nathan Varley will talk about his recently completed PhD research at the
University
of
Alberta
on wolves and elk in
Yellowstone. This research led to the
discovery of distinct hunting grounds where wolves tend to be successful
hunting elk, a pattern that influenced territoriality and ultimately wolf
population growth. Predation
effects have trickled down to whole communities in the park where wolves
influence vegetation and a diverse assemblage of species that rely on it.
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Cost
($1790/person/double occupancy; $300 single supplement) includes transportation to/from Bozeman, MT,
airport (BZN), all transportation, food, lodging, guiding, snowshoes,
and presentations. A $500 deposit is due at time of booking,
remainder due 60 days prior to the trip.
Contact THE WILD
SIDE, LLC, for reservations at
nathan@wolftracker.com,
text or phone 406 223 2152. See policies.
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For reservations,
phone:
406~223~2152
or email
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