Episode 128: A Howl of Hope – Eric Trefney’s Inspiring Campaign to Protect the Critically Endangered Red Wolf
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Eric Trefney, Wildlife Photographer, Red Wolf Advocate
About
Eric Trefney grew up in Michigan in the metro-Detroit area, where he often camped and canoed with his family and friends. After finishing graduate school in 2015, Eric joined the Peace Corps, where he was assigned to Senegal, Africa, in the Sahel desert region. Eric practiced and trained in agroforestry techniques with local Senegalese partners and women’s financial literacy. In 2018, after his two years of Peace Corps service, Eric moved to the Washington D.C. area and was gifted a camera by his dad. After learning about the critically endangered red wolves in North Carolina, Eric’s passion project became photographing, educating, and advocating for the red wolf’s survival. Eric and his partner Dani currently reside in Maryland and are often out enjoying the state’s beautiful parks and rivers.
Red Wolf, (c) Eric Trefney
You can make a huge difference for Red Wolves!
Be sure to check Eric’s call to action in his article here on Rewilding.org.
Show Notes
Rewilding the Red Wolf: From Curiosity to Conservation with Eric Trefney
In this episode of the Rewilding Earth Podcast, Eric shares his journey from a curious Google search on “endangered species near me” to becoming an advocate focused on the critically endangered Red Wolf. Based in the DC Maryland area, Eric discusses his frequent trips to the Red Wolf recovery area in North Carolina’s Albemarle Peninsula, his experiences capturing the elusive Red Wolves on camera, and the importance of ethical wildlife photography. The conversation also touches on the need for public awareness, conservation efforts, and ways you can support Red Wolf recovery. Eric emphasizes the power of conversation and connection in driving conservation efforts.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:05 Discovering the Red Wolf
01:48 Journey into Wildlife Photography
02:27 Challenges of Photographing Red Wolves
03:38 Becoming a Red Wolf Advocate
05:01 How to Support Red Wolf Conservation
11:34 Ethical Wildlife Photography
15:06 Experiences in Red Wolf Territory
19:55 Personal Reflections and Motivation
24:34 Where to Find Eric’s Work
25:16 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Extra Credit
Pictures from a recent trip Eric took to North Carolinea’s Red Wolf territory:
(c) Eric Trefney
(c) Eric Trefney
(c) Eric Trefney
Director of Digital Outreach (D.O.D.O.) for The Rewilding Institute
Host and Producer of the Rewilding Earth Podcast
Jack started Rewilding work as Executive Director of Sky Island Alliance in the mid-1990’s, organizing the Sky Island Wildlands Network design, ripping up illegal roads on forest service lands, installing wolf acclimatization pens on Ted Turner’s Ladder Ranch & conducting howling surveys to help make way for the final stage of the Lobo reintroduction program in the Southwest.
Through the years, Jack has worked with Dave Foreman and the Rewilding Gang to further Rewilding initiatives and education.