Sense of Place: The Wolf Next Door: A Community Perspective on the Return of Wolves

Last summer, Lara Volski began her research on wolves, by first talking to people. She lived and worked on a farm in the Gorge and conducted interviews with locals about the return of wolves and the establishment of the Big Muddy Pack. The range of perspectives was broad and while these conversations were centered on wolves, they soon evolved to encompass much more. Family histories and stories passed down through generations, childhoods spent trading at Celilo Falls or wayfinding through volcanic craters in the foothills of Mount Adams, stories of living and working on the land and the ecological and cultural connections that come as a result – it was research that can often be missed by empirical science. The goal of each conversation was simple - listen to people's perspectives towards wolves and learn if they feel their voices have been validated, upheld, and shared. Every interview was confidential, but together, they point to broad themes concerning the perceived risks and benefits of wolves, change in the Gorge, and the deeper desires of a community.

Speaker Bio: Lara Volski studies human-wildlife interactions, and is interested in the intersections between culture, identity, and ecology. As a PhD student in the People and Wildlife Lab at the University of Washington, she uses ecological and social methods to study the arrival of wolves to the western U.S. Her goal is to help ensure that the perspectives of local communities are heard and incorporated into decision-making. Lara’s previous research involved testing the use of livestock protection tools to prevent coyotes from predating sheep.