February 11, 2025

140 🐺 Wolf Watching

Hey friends,

This weekend, I’ll be flying to Yellowstone for a three-day wolf-watching excursion, hosted by Yellowstone Institute. I’ve never done anything like this before—I’m really excited, a little nervous, but mostly excited.

We’ll be observing the many packs that roam Lamar Valley, wolves that have been captured in films and books over the years. My goal is not to take photos or document the experience, but simply to be present—to witness these incredible animals in their natural habitat. I expect this journey to change me in some way, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts when I return.

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Notes & Sketches on Wolves

In anticipation of this trip, I’ve spent the last couple of months immersing myself in books, films, and documentaries about wolves. I compiled a list of my favorites into a new note on my site:

There are two in particular I want to highlight:

1. Film: The Snow Wolf: A Winter’s Tale (2018)

This “dramatized story shot like a documentary” follows the journey of an alpha female wolf who, after losing her partner, embarks on an epic journey to find a new home. It is stunning, heartwarming, and deeply moving.

Since I watched it, a day hasn’t gone by where I haven’t thought of her. It may be my favorite nature film of all time.

2. Book: Wild Animals I Have Known (1894) by Ernest Thompson Seton

I mentioned this book in my favorite books of 2024 post, but I want to say a bit more—especially about the first story, Lobo the King of Currumpaw. This tale of a mighty wolf who outsmarts hunters, trappers, and killers captivated me. Seton’s writing makes you root for Lobo, and I, for one, loved seeing the wolf get the better of man—for once.

To honor this story and the book, I did my own sketch of Lobo, based on the book’s lovely cover:

I also did a version with a modified background, but honestly I think I prefer the simpler white!

Lastly, I uploaded a quick video of my drawing process for the wolf. I used my favorite fountain pen, the Indigraph, along with some Copic markers. I’m mostly using watercolors these days, but felt like playing with markers again. They’re just so vibrant!

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Steeling Myself

Although I’ve had lots of fun sketching, this process of immersion into the struggle of wildlife has been hard. (And it’s only the beginning...)

I suspect I may have overdone it with consuming so many of these documentaries and books so quickly. It has taken a real emotional toll on me. It is overwhelming and heartbreaking to see and read about the reality of what humanity has done (and continues to do) to kill so many wolves, elk, bison… just as they have to the indigineous people of America.

I’ve realized that emotionally steeling myself will be necessary in order to do this work. I cannot escape the pain, or look away from the truth. I must empathize with and understand the plight of the animals deeply, if I am to have any hope of communing with them and channelling their message out into the world.

This will be a balancing act, and a long-term challenge. I’m committed to it.

I don’t know what my words and work will be able to achieve, but my goal is simple:

I want to be able to look a wild animal in the eye, and say with honesty, “I tried my best.”