By: Maarja Anderson
For the first time in eight years, wolf experts and researchers are gathering in one place for their International Wolf Symposium.
The International Wolf Center is hosting hundreds of wolf enthusiasts from across the globe at the DECC for the weekend-long symposium.
An Emmy Award-winning wildlife filmmaker offers an event open to the public. It’s also free.
Bob Landis will share a sneak peek of his latest wolf film Friday, showing rare footage of an iconic wolf that roamed Yellowstone National Park.
As a wildlife filmmaker, Landis wakes up early each morning, drives 25 minutes into Yellowstone, and waits for the action.
“I really don’t do much differently than the average tourist as far as driving the road and finding the wildlife. My difference is that I’m doing it every day,” said Landis.
Landis films all animals, but wolves hold a certain fascination. Since wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in the mid-1990s, Landis has made five wolf documentaries. His most recent is called “The Rise of Black Wolf.”
His next documentary, the one people will get a piece of at the symposium, follows the life of an iconic alpha wolf. They call her the ’06 Female.
“She seemed to be like the all-purpose female. She took care of the den, she took care of the hunting, she took care of feeding the pups, I mean, [she was] just the perfect mate,” said Landis.
Landis followed the ’06 Female for six years, until she was shot by a hunter legally outside the park last December.
“Part of the story is what happened after this wolf died, how the pack was able to accommodate for that or how it was not able to accommodate for that,” Landis said.
Landis will show his film Friday night at the DECC. Prior to the film showing, Ray Coppinger will speak about dogs’ relationship to wolves. Both events are free and open to the public. The presentation starts at 7 p.m.
For more information on the International Wolf Symposium go to the International Wolf Center website: http://www.wolf.org/wolves/.