~ ENROLLMENT OPEN NOW ~
Wildlife Survival: The Yellowstone Endangered Species Project
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Join us this summer as we
explore the wild mountains and valleys of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, a
biologically diverse wildland that provides critical habitat for Grizzly Bear,
Grey Wolf, Bison and other majestic but threatened wildlife species. Our f
ield study takes place in and
around Yellowstone National Park at the heart of the largest intact wilderness
region in the temperate zones of the earth. Much of our fieldwork will be in wild forest backcountry and
watersheds, prime locales for Yellowstone’s endangered wildlife.
Yellowstone National Park provides both crucial wildlife habitat and serves as North America’s premier location for observing and studying wildlife and multi-species interactions. Thus, it has become an immense natural laboratory presenting unparalleled opportunity for field investigations. While our primary focus on this project will be the Grey Wolf, our wide-ranging explorations will allow us to investigate everything from butterflies to bison.
THE PROJECT
The Greater Yellowstone region is a highly complex and biologically diverse ecological system. It is one of the last remaining ecosystems in the lower 48 states with its entire pre-European compliment of species. The biological components that are most emblematic of Yellowstone’s high ecosystem integrity, such as wolves and bears, are continually shrouded in controversy. Complex issues facing these wildlife populations present challenging management problems with few easy decisions.
Extirpated in the 1920s, and
restored in 1996, wolves remain Yellowstone’s most controversial species. Every
year thousands of people come to Yellowstone hoping for the chance to see a
wolf in the wild. At the 
same
time, record numbers of people are lining up for the chance to hunt wolves in
Idaho and Montana. Thus, in
addition to examining wolf ecology and behavior, we will also address the
controversial issues of wildlife reintroduction and
management.
With Yellowstone’s Northern Range as our base, we will embark on forays both in and around the park to conduct our wildlife observations. This will include both day hikes and a multi-day backpacking trip. Our hands-on field activities will be augmented by information exchanges with wildlife management experts and conservation community leaders as we explore the ecology of our study species and the complex management issues and controversies surrounding them. By the end of the project, team members will have participated in a firsthand investigation of major Yellowstone wildlife/habitat issues in and around the nation’s first national park.
Read the Full Project Description
EARN 8 SEMESTER CREDITS IN MONTANA BY PARTICIPATING ON BOTH THE YELLOWSTONE AND GLACIER PROJECTS!
PROJECT LEADER
Jeff Gailus has been a university field instructor since 1996, focusing on conservation policy and wilderness education in the United States and Canada. He has published two books and numerous essays and magazine articles on wildlife conservation and natural resource policy.