Author who shadowed red wolves will visit here

Author T. DeLene Beeland’s appearance at the Endangered Wolf Series Speaker Series could not come at a more critical time.

Beeland, the author of “The Secret World of Red Wolves,” will be at the Center at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13 to share insights and answer questions about this endangered species of wolf that once roamed in Missouri and Illinois.

Even as she visits the Center, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is conducting a rapid 60-day review of the program that manages red wolves in the wild. Results of the review will be used to make key decisions that will determine the fate of wild red wolves.

Beeland is a nature and science writer who lives in Asheville, N.C., not far from the famed Blue Ridge Parkway. She holds a master of science in interdisciplinary ecology. She says she enjoys using her writing as a lens through which to learn about the natural world.

After her talk, she will be available to sign copies of her book, which will be for sale in the Celeste Ruwwe Gift Shop at a discounted price.

In “The Secret World of Red Wolves,” Beeland shadows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s pioneering recovery program over the course of a year to craft an intimate portrait of the red wolf, its history and its restoration. Her engaging exploration of this top-level predator traces the intense effort of conservation personnel to save a species that has slipped to the verge of extinction.

Beeland weaves together the voices of scientists, conservationists, and local landowners while posing larger questions about human coexistence with red wolves, our understanding of what defines this animal as a distinct species, and how climate change may swamp its current habitat.

“Having the opportunity to create this book was a gift,” she said. “It fills a gaping void in the literature of wild canids. By bringing together in one place the many disparate aspects of red wolf research, management, and field work, readers are transported into the history and landscape where red wolves roam.”

The admission cost for Beeland’s Speaker Series appearance is just $15.

Please RSVP by calling 636-938-5900.

The Endangered Wolf Center is located at 6750 Tyson Valley Road, Eureka, MO., 63025. The Center is off Interstate 44’s Exit 269 (Beaumont-Antire Road Exit) on the north side of the highway.