Being a fan of wolves for over a decade, my love for these beautiful animals kept expanding
with each passing year. However, my tolerance and understanding for the ranching community
that lives with wolves, was lacking to say the least. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon a podcast
episode with Wolf Connection, a non-profit organization from California and the owner of
G.R.I.P.H., Daniel Curry, that I even considered how someone’s livelihood might be affected by
having wolves in their backyard. After hearing this podcast conversation, I was so inspired by
G.R.I.P.H.’s mission of coexistence and my old paradigms slowly started to shift. Once I learned
that G.R.I.P.H. offered guided field trips, I signed up for one as soon as I could and opted for the
overnight experience in February.
My day in the field was magical. Daniel showed me different tracking techniques that he uses
and told me stories of his encounters with wolves, cougars, and bears. He answered so many of
my questions with clarity, and there were probably too many. We covered a lot of ground on
foot and I also got to see the cameras that he uses to track wildlife. Daniel introduced me to a
rancher and we had a beautiful conversation. It was gratifying to witness this man’s open mind
and eagerness to not only coexist, but thrive with wolves. Meeting with the rancher was
probably the most meaningful moment of the trip for me. I was finally able to empathize with
someone whose mere perception I could barely tolerate in the past. I’ve lived in the cities my
whole life and have been disconnected from the ways people lived in rural areas. Perhaps the
sweetest aspect of our humanity, no matter our differences, is understanding how inextricably
connected we are with each other. Unfortunately, we did not see or hear any wolves that day,
but hearing the rancher’s stories made up for that. Roaming in the wolf country on a sunny
winter day was magical enough for me.
This trip was a unique experience because I was directly involved in G.R.I.P.H.’s mission of
bridging the gap between animals and humans – in this case, bridging the gap between the city
and the country. Instead of just making a donation, being on the grounds as part of the solution
is the experience I will not soon forget. Additionally, I got to meet Griph the horse, the rest of
Daniel’s horse crew, and his three dogs. They all work hard to keep this mission alive. Thank
you, Daniel for being the best host and field guide and going above and beyond to make this
experience unforgettable! I am so inspired by your dedication to coexistence and your passion
for creating the environment where people, wolves, and kettle are able to thrive on their
shared land. The wolves and ranchers of northeast Washington are lucky to have you. I hope
that the rest of Washington and the rest of the country is inspired by your work and starts
following your example. Anyone embarking on this beautiful journey of coexistence with
G.R.I.P.H. will surely be deeply touched.
Natasha
with each passing year. However, my tolerance and understanding for the ranching community
that lives with wolves, was lacking to say the least. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon a podcast
episode with Wolf Connection, a non-profit organization from California and the owner of
G.R.I.P.H., Daniel Curry, that I even considered how someone’s livelihood might be affected by
having wolves in their backyard. After hearing this podcast conversation, I was so inspired by
G.R.I.P.H.’s mission of coexistence and my old paradigms slowly started to shift. Once I learned
that G.R.I.P.H. offered guided field trips, I signed up for one as soon as I could and opted for the
overnight experience in February.
My day in the field was magical. Daniel showed me different tracking techniques that he uses
and told me stories of his encounters with wolves, cougars, and bears. He answered so many of
my questions with clarity, and there were probably too many. We covered a lot of ground on
foot and I also got to see the cameras that he uses to track wildlife. Daniel introduced me to a
rancher and we had a beautiful conversation. It was gratifying to witness this man’s open mind
and eagerness to not only coexist, but thrive with wolves. Meeting with the rancher was
probably the most meaningful moment of the trip for me. I was finally able to empathize with
someone whose mere perception I could barely tolerate in the past. I’ve lived in the cities my
whole life and have been disconnected from the ways people lived in rural areas. Perhaps the
sweetest aspect of our humanity, no matter our differences, is understanding how inextricably
connected we are with each other. Unfortunately, we did not see or hear any wolves that day,
but hearing the rancher’s stories made up for that. Roaming in the wolf country on a sunny
winter day was magical enough for me.
This trip was a unique experience because I was directly involved in G.R.I.P.H.’s mission of
bridging the gap between animals and humans – in this case, bridging the gap between the city
and the country. Instead of just making a donation, being on the grounds as part of the solution
is the experience I will not soon forget. Additionally, I got to meet Griph the horse, the rest of
Daniel’s horse crew, and his three dogs. They all work hard to keep this mission alive. Thank
you, Daniel for being the best host and field guide and going above and beyond to make this
experience unforgettable! I am so inspired by your dedication to coexistence and your passion
for creating the environment where people, wolves, and kettle are able to thrive on their
shared land. The wolves and ranchers of northeast Washington are lucky to have you. I hope
that the rest of Washington and the rest of the country is inspired by your work and starts
following your example. Anyone embarking on this beautiful journey of coexistence with
G.R.I.P.H. will surely be deeply touched.
Natasha