Sean Ulanski's gray wolf study

Hello, and thank you for visiting! My name is Sean Ulanski. I am a Bachelor of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management, working toward my master's degree in the same field. I am preparing my capstone thesis, a study focusing on investigating and predicting the ecological effects that can be expected to accompany the reintroduction of gray wolves (Canis lupus) to Colorado. Much research has been done surrounding this issue in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem; however, that area is very different from what wolves will encounter upon release on public lands that are subject to a comparatively unconstrained human population outside the boundaries of a national park. We must understand how the ecosystem has adapted to the absence of wolves and observe how it is responding to the reappearance of that species in the northern parts of the state so that we can predict what will happen when the full reintroduction is undertaken.

The study will be undertaken in stages, the first of which will require us to observe species in the wild separated from wolves to learn their habits and establish baselines of behavior. We will then travel from our location in southern Colorado to the areas in northern Colorado known to hold wolves and study the habits of those same species where their range overlaps. Finally, we will observe the wolves themselves and learn how they use the land and resources to determine the best areas for reintroduction and the feasibility of success thereof.

Undertaking such research will require supplies for collecting samples, documenting observations, and sustaining myself and any research assistants I might recruit while in the field. Your generous donations will allow me to purchase camera equipment, weatherproof notebooks, camouflage shelters and clothing that will enable us to move safely and close to the species under observation, supplies for sample collections that will further our understanding of the diets of various species, food, and fuel to keep us going in our pursuit of science.

I intend to provide video updates via my YouTube channel here so that you all can follow us on our journey. I greatly appreciate your support and cannot wait to share my findings.