Wood River Wolf Project Field Technician, Lane Justus, shares her first summer withe wolves. Here she is helping another wildlife friend in need.
We are a little over two months into the field season, so I guess it’s finally time to introduce myself. I’m Lane Justus – this year’s field technician. While I’m originally from Arkansas, I have spent the last couple years traveling around the northwest United States and central America doing wildlife research, land management, and environmental education. I fell in love with Idaho while doing cattle grazing and Greater Sage-Grouse research in the Pahsimeroi Valley in early 2021.
I left soon after and moved to Hidalgo, Mexico where I completed a Fulbright Fellowship, taught at a public university, and assisted in local research projects pertaining to sustainable agave production as well as a project focused on jaguar and mountain lion conservation. Midway through my Fulbright grant, I heard that the Wood River Wolf Project was searching for a technician to begin just as my fellowship was ending, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to move back to the state that I had fallen in love with before leaving the US a year prior.
So far this season, we’ve been busy meeting up with sheep herders, tracking surveys, and checking cameras. My favorite part of the job thus far is getting to know all the herders. They are all Peruvian this year, so I’ve had a blast being able to use my Spanish skills and hearing about their experiences here.
I’ve also been pretty ecstatic to get camera footage of all kinds of predators. Hiking out to cameras is typically very beautiful, but nothing feels quite as good as hiking all the way out AND having successful camera trap footage.
Being that I’m from a state where there are no wolves, it’s been interesting for me to learn about their history in the area and the controversy surrounding them. To me, wolves have always been this mystical creature because I have never seen one or even a sign of one in person before arriving to the valley. The first time I saw wolf prints and scat in person, I was so overwhelmed with excitement. Of course, I knew that they were here, but all I could think in the moment was “woah, they’re REALLY here”. It felt monumental to be sharing a space with such an amazing creature.
I have loved being able to explore the project area and see so many beautiful places that Blaine County has to offer. While I wasn’t a mountain biker before joining the project, I’m learning (and have a couple bruises to show for it) and taking advantage of the trails out to herders and game cams.
I’m also so thankful to have the opportunity to learn the lay of the land from Field Manager, Logan Miller and Coexistence Expert, Kurt Holtzen, who are always willing to answer my millions of questions and show me the ropes.
