From helicopter flybys to trail cameras, there’s no one way to count a wolf

After the disappearance of wolves from Washington state in 1930, packs began re-emerging in 2008. This short documentary details the work of the wolf biologists and other specialists tasked with generating the state’s annual year-end wolf count. A rare on-the-ground look at conservation biology in action, the film follows the team as they fire darts from helicopters, set rubber traps, and strategically place audio monitors and trail cameras in the wild. In doing so, it explores the intricacies, challenges and risks of the operation, while illustrating how even wild animal populations often tend to exist under the watchful eye and at the mercy of people.