30 years ago this month I strapped on a set of snowshoes, and with the help of a staff videographer, we trudged through the snow carrying about 70 pounds of camera equipment and extra batteries into Yellowstone National Park. We did this to tell the story of wolf reintroduction to the Yellowstone ecosystem in one of the most unique, and some would argue, controversial stories I would ever tell as a television journalist.
In January of 1995, I was the news director and anchor at the NBC affiliate in Bozeman, Montana. When the invitation arrived to join the National Park Service for the placement of the wolves in the holding pens, there was no question about our participation. Though I did question myself a few times on that long walk into the depths of the forest.
The reintroduction pens were set in somewhat secluded locations, as biologists wanted to make sure the wolves were not disturbed during their 8-week acclimation period. They were also guarded until the wolves would be released in March of that year.
We took pictures of the pens and the surrounding area at first and then had the camera rolling non-stop when the team showed up with the crate carrying a sedated female wolf and her pups, who were very much not sedated. I was one of a small group of media people allowed to be in the pen that day and I still consider it one of my greatest memories and privileges as a journalist. |
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