Summaries

Synopsis

Once exterminated from the lower 48 states, wolves have made a triumphant return to Yellowstone Park and the surrounding states. Hailed as, 'the greatest animal conservation success in human history,' to many others living in the areas affected, the story is dramatically different. There is, after all, a reason wolves have been, and continue to be, the world's most controversial predator. But the question remains: Do they deserve a place on this landscape? The Trouble With Wolves takes an up-close look at the issue by hearing from the people directly involved, with an aim to find out whether coexistence is really possible.

Looking back at American policies near the dawn of the 20th century, there was an incentive to kill all wolves to make life easier as the west was being settled. As a result, the large canine predator was gone by the 1920's, leaving the landscape without one of its most successful carnivores. Decades later, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was created to protect and restore species that had been impacted by unchecked human activity. Being entirely gone, wolves were added to the top of the list, and after 25 years, they were finally reintroduced in Yellowstone Park and its surrounding areas. At the center of the operation was Doug Smith, now Yellowstone's Wolf Program leader. Once in, the wolves quickly thrived, spreading out and restoring the land to a more historic balance. Yellowstone became a place for visitors around the world to come and watch wolves living out their authentically wild lives.

An important part of the plan were minimum viable population figures, that once reached, would turn control of the predators back over to the states to maintain. But that all went out the window when interest groups stalled out in a lengthy court dispute. Hands tied, Doug explains that the Gray Wolf population went unchecked for 10 more years, and instead of 300 wolves, there were as many as 1,700 when states were allowed to begin management. By this time, wolves had already done damage to game populations that outfitters in the area were relying on for income, and there'd been plenty of conflicts with livestock causing hardship for ranchers. Bill Hoppe, a rancher and outfitter living right near the park, lost 13 sheep in one night due to wolves, and to make things even worse, the elk population in his area had been vastly depleted. For the moment, his outfitting business in the area has been shuttered, reflecting the difficult truth about living with predators: we have to share.

In order to reduce the problem and appease outspoken opponents of wolf reintroduction, the state began managing wolves, allowing seasonal hunts, and because they had far more than they were required by law to maintain, the allowances looked pretty aggressive. Even though quotas were high, Abby Nelson, a Montana Wolf Manager explains, wolf numbers in the area had not even been reduced, they had merely stopped increasing. But people in cities, living away from the issue, still saw a newly recovered endangered species under attack, and they were unwilling to empathize with stubborn ranchers stuck in their old ways.

Nathan Varley, a former wolf program volunteer turned wolf watching guide, saw a great economic boom due to increased tourism when the wolves returned. However, Yellowstone Park visitors began to mourn the losses of well-known, even famous wolves they'd even named, killed under state management. One such park wolf, 'The 06 Female,' who had inspired thousands as she lived out a unique life as the leader of her pack, was shot legally at the park boundary. Her death became a symbol of the heartache that comes with population management, further polarizing groups on both sides.

The hatred of those simply trying to continue their way of life, the way their families have for generations in the Yellowstone area, is enough to make ranchers like Martin Davis consider leaving it all behind. To him, wolves are one last headache in a business that is already challenging enough, so why not find a new place to ranch? Well, it isn't that simple. It turns out, the vast wide open land allocated by ranchers makes for crucial habitat and travel routes for all kinds of wild animals inhabiting the area. In fact, ranchers' land use in such a pristine, sought-after area, keeps the subdivision and development from happening which would drive out much of the wildlife. So, if ranchers are here to stay, and wolves are back for good, it's time to look into changing the way ranches are run and to think a little harder about leaving wolf numbers unchecked.

With a great understanding of the complex web of issues surrounding coexistence with wolves, the film turns to look at what is only the beginning of a promising philosophy and technique being developed to create a better harmony between people and nature. Hilary and Andrew Anderson, a younger couple comprised of a biologist turned rancher and a rancher with an ecological focus, are practicing ranching on nature's terms, embracing its challenges, and finding some very interesting results. They believe that rather than shooting wolves in the area, getting know them is the better, more effective strategy.

In closing, The Trouble With Wolves finds its characters leaning closer to one another, cutting their personal perspectives with heartfelt compromise, and leading the audience beyond "sides" or labels. There is a promise of innovation, that, rather than moving blindly forward, may instead lead us backward to where we came from, looking to nature to help us see more wholistic, self-sustaining solutions. Challenging animals like the wolf, it turns out, may end up teaching us the better way forward, and with this wind in our sails, we are called to remember, that listening to those on all sides of an issue may be the only way to make the compromises necessary for real progress.