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Episode 222:Wolf Conservation Center President Martha Hunt Handler

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This week we welcome Martha Hunt Handler who is the current President of the Wolf Conservation Center, located in New York, USA. She also recently published her book Winter of the Wolf. During this episode we get an update on how not only grey wolves are doing in the Americas, but also the red wolves and Mexican grey wolves. We also spent a good amount of time discussing the passing of legislation in the state of Idaho, USA, allowing the slaughter of 90% of the states 1550 wolves. Martha has led an illustrious career working on environmental issues and is now passionate about protecting grey wolves. She raises many critical issues relating to wolves and other wildlife.

The Wolf Conservation Center was founded by Hélène Grimaud in 1999, and is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit environmental education organization working to protect and preserve wolves in North America through science-based education, advocacy, and participation in the federal recovery and release programs for two critically endangered wolf species – the Mexican gray wolf and red wolf.  The WCC’s three ‘ambassador wolves’ reside on exhibit where they help teach the public about wolves and their vital role in the environment. Through wolves, the WCC teaches the broader message of conservation, ecological balance, and personal responsibility for improved human stewardship of our World.

You can see the Wolf Conservation Webcams HERE

Biography

Taken from Martha’s website she states:

Raised in Northern Illinois, I began to see wolves in my dreams from a very early age. Always a nature girl, I spent my free time either swimming in a lake near my house or roaming around in the Enchanted Forrest near my home. It was here I first heard nature speaking to me; asking for my help while promising guidance in this endeavor. After earning a degree in environmental conservation at UC Boulder, I worked as an environmental consultant in D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles.

While in a bar in Cozumel, Mexico I magically (okay, tequila shots were involved) met the love of my life, Rich. Admittedly, this was not my initial reaction but thanks to Rich’s patience and unrelenting persistence, literally from one side of the country to the other, I eventually came around! I’m sometimes stubborn. What can I say? I’m definitely a work in progress.

We had four kids in five years and in my rare moments of solitude; I began to write creative pieces, which I found immensely soul fulfilling. When our family moved to New York in 1996, another serendipitous/magical moment occurred when I heard wolves howling. Curious, since I’d known they’d been wiped out of New York state more than 100 years prior, I ventured into the woods behind our house and found three grey wolves in a large enclosure. I soon learned that these wolves were to be the initial ambassadors for the Wolf Conservation Center (nywolf.org), a non-profit that was being formed. I immediately jumped on board, literally (I’m now Board President), to help them fulfill their mission of education and as a breeding and pre-release facility for the two most critically endangered wolf species in North America.

With my adult children now grown and flown, I’m able to focus on pursing those passions that most pull my heartstrings: wolves and writing. I spend weekdays in Tribeca, New York and weekends near the wolves in South Salem, New York.  My first novel, “Winter of the Wolf,” was published by Greenleaf in July, 2020.

You can learn more about Martha Hunt Handler HERE

You can order Martha’s book HERE

May 27, 2021
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