Denali Wolves - Conservation Videos

Conservation, anti-trapping videos on Denali National Park wolves, including videos on why the adjacent state lands called The Wolf Townships are so important to Denali National Park wolves. Additional videos on Why Trapping Should be Banned in Alaska and a 2008 video on a snare injured, Denali wolf. All videos are narrated. 

Additionally, videos from Exposed Wildlife Conservancy exposing the cruel realities of trapping are included as well. 

March 15, 2024 - Alaska Board of Game Testimony by Bill Watkins on Proposal 186
This proposal if adopted, would protect Denali National Park wolves in adjacent state lands called: The Wolf Townships. These state lands are critical winter habitat for both Denali's caribou herd and wolves. 

Denali's caribou herd has been protected on these state lands since 1972; whereas the park's wolves do not enjoy such protections. Consequently, they are targeted, trapped, snared, shot and killed, impacting visitor viewing in the park. 

March 15, 2024 - Alaska Board of Game Testimony by the Denali Citizens Council's (DCC) Nancy Bale on Proposal 186 


Denali Wolves and The Wolf Townships 
A 23:37 minute that discusses why The Wolf Townships is important to Denali National Park's wolves and caribou, its history, where it is located, why Denali's wolves travel there, the distances they travel and how it is the epicenter for wolf viewing in Denali National Park.......even though it is state lands outside the park.

Denali Wolves - Why Trapping Should be Banned in Alaska
 A 13:08 minute video that gives common sense, practical and logical reasons in a "bullet point" fashion as to why trapping should be banned in Alaska. It further discusses its impacts to both wildlife and pet dogs. 

Snare Injured Denali Wolf - Summer 2008
This 1:00 minute video clearly shows a Denali wolf with a severe, snare caused injury in Denali National Park, Alaska. While this video is disturbing, it also highlights the inherent cruelty and arbitrariness of snaring (and trapping). It is not unusual for snares to capture other, non-targeted wildlife or even pet dogs.

This wolf was snared in the Wolf Townships (adjacent State lands to Denali National Park), managed to snap the anchoring portion of the snare with the remainder of the snare wrapped around his neck.

This wolf then returned to Denali National Park where it was periodically seen by Denali bus drivers and park visitors on the pavement section of the park road.

The remaining portion of the snare embedded itself into the neck, causing this gaping wound that also lead to the swelling of the wolf's head before the snare was finally removed by NPS. 

Video Shorts - from Denali Wolves and The Wolf Townships Video 

Video 1 - Introduction

Video 2 - Location of The Wolf Townships in Relation to Denali National Park 

Video 3 - NPS Proposal 186 Dimensions for The Wolf Townships

Video 4 - Why Denali's Wolves Travel to The Wolf Townships in the Winter

Video 5 - Decline of Denali Wolf Viewing & Explanation of Wolf Rendezvous Sites 

Video 6 - Denali Wolf Viewing is Dependent on Wolf Behaviors; not Numbers


Exposed Wildlife Conservancy Trapping Videos

I am including videos on trapping by Exposed Wildlife Conservancy. 

These videos are very well done and a shine a bright spot light on the cruel realities of trapping and snaring.
All of the Trapped in the Past videos are relevant to Alaska (and other locations) even though they are about Canada wolves and other wildlife. 

Trapped in the Past exposes Canada's cruel, archaic, unethical and unnecessary commercial trapping industry with current science, hard-hitting research and dynamic interviews with some of the world's leading experts on trapping, including trappers and wildlife biologists such as Gilbert Proulx and Carter Niemeyer.

Trapped in the Past - Part One - The Truth About Snares:
This video focuses on killing neck snares, diving deep into the science and the ethics behind this cruel and archaic trapping device that is still used in Canada and much of the U.S. despite being banned in more than 85 countries worldwide. This episode also unravels commercial trapping regulations and answers the questions: who is trapping and why?

Trapped in the Past - Part Two - The Economics of Trapping Past and Present was just added today (Saturday 2-17-24).
This video explores Canada's history with the trapping industry, its place in today's society, and the economic, environmental, and cultural sustainability of trapping. After this episode, you will be able to answer the question: does commercial trapping have a place in today’s society?

Trapped in the Past - Part Three - A Dying Industry in a Changing World                                                                                            The final episode "A Dying Industry in a Changing World" explores the common arguments that are used to support trapping and discusses whether these arguments are valid or not in modern-day society and, finally, answers the question: where do we go from here?

Choking to Death - Killing Canada's Wolves with Neck Snares

The Canadian wolf trapping industry has long said neck snares are humane killing devices, but the science says otherwise. Why is the neck snare not included under the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards that Canada signed onto in 1999? And why have governments ignored scientists’ call for a ban on these killing devices? Professional wildlife photographer and conservation advocate John E. Marriott takes you into the bush onto a Canadian trapline and reveals the startling reality behind neck snares, showing you firsthand how they are not humane or efficient at killing our wild wolves and other canids like coyotes and red foxes.

Choking to Death ll - Taxpayer Dollars, Snares & Pets 

This controversial episode of EXPOSED expands on our look into the incredibly cruel and inhumane practice of snaring -- diving deeper into trapping’s direct impact on wolves, family pets, and perhaps surprisingly, to your wallet.

Video Shorts from  -  Denali Wolves - Why Trapping Should be Banned in Alaska

Video 1 - The Free For All in Alaska Trapping - Traps/Snares are Biological Landmines: 

A discussion on the cruelty and "Free for All" in trapping in Alaska. How they are essentially biological landmines and how this impacts wildlife and pet dogs.

Video 2 - The Free for All in Alaska Trapping- Legal Placement of Traps/Snares - Lack of Regulations: 

A discussion of the legal placement of traps/snares near subdivisions, parking lots, pullouts, campgrounds, and multiple use trails. Furthermore, it discusses the impacts to pet/sled dogs and the targeting and killing of Denali National Park wolves as they leave the park during the winter.

Video 3 - Trappers/Hunters - Targeting & Killing Denali National Park Wolves - Impacts to Visitor Viewing: 

The following is a discussion of trappers/hunters targeting and killing Denali National Park wolves as they leave the park during the winter months. This not only impacts wolves and the social dynamics of wolf family groups but also the visitor viewing of wolves.

Visitor viewing of wolves reached its all time high in Denali in 2010 when 45% of visitors saw wolves primarily due to the ultra rare denning near the park road by the Grant Creek wolf family group.

In 2012, a local trapper/hunter took his horse to the northern boundary of the park, shot it and used it as bait to successfully kill Grant Creek's breeding female. This caused massive disruption within the family group and within a year they had gone from 15 to 5 to 3 wolves, moved their den site away from the park road, shifted territory to the east, north and then west, and their use of the park road declined to where we rarely saw them.

One knowledgable trapper destroyed the best wolf viewing in my 36 years in Denali and it hasn't recovered on a consistent basis due in large part to the state of Alaska's policies in not protecting Denali's wolves as they leave the park for adjacent state lands. 

Video 4 - The Free for All in Alaska Trapping - Physical Impacts to Wolves Caused by Snaring: 

This is a discussion of the physical impacts of the use of snares to wolves and other canids. The use of snares as they tighten across the neck leads to the swelling of brain due blood being cut off via the jugular vein to the heart. Yet, blood still continues to pump into the brain via the carotid artery. This causes brain swelling and eventual rupture. Trappers refer to this as: Jelly Heads.

This is a cruel and agonizing death for any wolf, coyote or anything else that is caught by the neck in a snare. 

Video 5 - The Free for All in Alaska Trapping - Saturation Snaring - How Long Do Animals Suffer in Traps/Snare: 

This video discusses why trappers use snares and furthermore, how it results in the torture, maiming and killing of wildlife.

I then discuss tourism related businesses that sell furs. The next time you see a wolf, coyote, fox, lynx or wolverine pelt, I want you to ask yourself, how long did that animal suffer in that trap or snare? And how does this support wildlife viewing and visitor enjoyment in Denali National Park or any other Alaskan location?

Any business in Alaska that sells furs is complicit in the torture, maiming and killing of wildlife and pet dogs that is inherent to trapping and snaring. Additionally, they are complicit in the undermining of National Park protections and the degrading of the National Park experience for visitors. This further demonstrates their lack of support for wildlife conservation, viewing and the visitor experience.

Visitors who buy furs, unknowingly become complicit in this activity. 

Video 6 - The Free for All in Alaska Trapping - Trapper’s Defense of Lifestyle - Snare Injured Wolf: 

This video discusses trapper's defense of lifestyle and trapping. A lifestyle that targets, tortures, maims and kills wildlife and pet dogs. Keeping such traditions to placate up to 3,000 Alaska trappers is a betrayal of wildlife, pet and sled dogs and our better natures. 

I ask everyone to support - A Trap Free Alaska

This video ends with traps and cabling for snares being for sale in a local store in Healy, Alaska and with the snared injured, Denali wolf of 2008. 

Video - This One is for the Dogs - 3-17-23 Alaska Board of Game (BOG) Testimony to Protect Pet Dogs from Trappers

On March 17, 2023 I testified in front of the Alaska Board of Game (BOG) in Soldotna, Alaska to support several proposals for 100 yard trapping setbacks from multiple use and ski trails, parking lots, pullouts, campgrounds and beach access points. These setbacks were specifically meant to try to avoid pet dogs from being trapped or snared near or on these locations in Seward, Soldotna and Homer while their owners recreated with them. 

The BOG gave me permission to film the proceedings and I filmed the testimony of the President of the Alaska Trappers Association - Ron Zarnke and two Soldotna residents before my testimony. 

In the end, the BOG voted down the vast majority of proposals while accepting one for a trail in Kachemak Bay State Park and a very limited setback for campgrounds. While I do not have a dog at present, I certainly want my future German Shepherd and your dog, to be protected from being trapped or snared and possibly injured or killed.