Wolves in New Mexico: The Past, Present, and Future

Registration is closed for this event. There is a limited amount of walk-up seating available, but we’d be happy to accommodate you if possible.

Wolves once thrived in New Mexico and throughout the western U.S. until subject to a federal eradication campaign in the early 20th-century. Environmental historian and Valles Caldera Park Ranger Adam Dean will cover the history of wolves in New Mexico, drawing parallels to other states and even other countries. Valles Caldera Wildlife Wildlife Technician Tyler Obermeit will discuss the famous wolf Asha's (F2754) journey to the Jemez mountains and the current state of Mexican Gray Wolf experimental population. Asha's visit to the Valles Caldera marked the first documented case of a wolf in the area since 1932. 

About the Presenter:

Adam Dean earned his graduate degrees in history, with a focus on 19th-century American environmental history, from the University of Virginia. He has published articles and a book on the 19th-century history of Yosemite and Yellowstone national parks. After a 10-year stint in academia, he arrived at Valles Caldera in July 2023. Adam is currently working on an environmental history of wolves in Finland.  

Tyler Obermeit is a graduate of Arizona State University Polytechnic, where he obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Natural Resource Ecology and a Certificate in Wildlife Management. Tyler also served as ASU’s President of its student chapter of the Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society. Tyler is currently the lead Wildlife Technician at Valles Caldera National Preserve, having previously worked for the Arizona Department of Game and Fish and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. In all roles, he has primarily focused on the conservation of threatened and endangered species, from New Mexico meadow jumping mice to gray wolves. 

Admission: Free.