Traversing through the various realms of the natural sciences over the course of a lifetime reveals a common theme: answers. For the purpose of science is to understand, to put two and two together, to solve problems and to find out why. In most cases, those answers are attainable. I find myself coming back to this theme frequently, that although science has and forever will shape who I am as a person, I hold within myself a sense of wonder that doesn’t always need an answer. Like appreciating the night sky for the way it appears, not worrying about the formula for its creation. And while I consider it my obligation to understand the workings of nature and to interpret those workings to others, I do not wish to speak irresponsibly for them. Only nature knows the true story.
Other than a few months worth of brief glimpses through thick timber, the story of this black wolf is unknown. There is something beautiful about that. In an age where most of the wolves in and around Yellowstone National Park are studied intently, it is comforting to know that anomalies still exist. The cutting edge wildlife research conducted here is the reason why wolf populations are allowed to thrive once again in the west, but I’d be willing to bet that the wolves we don’t see on a daily basis, those living their lives out of the reach of optics and radio telemetry devices are the ones making our most admired wildlife biologists smile the most.
This one made me smile, my young client too, laying eyes on his first wolf. I explained to him the mystery that this individual is to all of us, and that I didn’t expect to happen upon him in the way that we did. And I don’t expect it to happen again soon either.