This experience working with the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project has been both significant and valuable for our academic development, and the knowledge we’ve gained will benefit us in our future careers. We were fortunate to be mentored by Claire Musser and supported by Sophie Norris, both of whom helped us connect classroom learning to real-world conservation work and provided invaluable insights that helped us refine our project.
One of the most meaningful experiences we had was spending the night by Kendrick Peak out in Parks, AZ, where we assisted with trail camera monitoring and searched for wolf tracks and other evidence of wolf presence. Assisting with the Zooniverse trail camera database further emphasized how much detail-oriented work goes into monitoring a species and gave us a deeper appreciation for the effort involved in species conservation. The interview conducted with PhD student Emily Renn was especially impactful in expanding our knowledge of the Mexican gray wolf, particularly the restrictions posed by Interstate 40. Her expertise in wolf ecology and conservation policy helped shape our research questions and personal reflections on how human activities can disrupt species recovery.

This project reminded us that conservation is just as much about people as it is about wildlife. Our stakeholder research revealed how recovery efforts are influenced by conflicting interests, lived experiences, and cultural values. Reflecting on the semester, we are grateful for the meaningful data we gathered for the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project and for the relationships we built, especially with our mentor, Claire. As a group, we have walked away from this experience with a deeper respect for the complexity of recovery efforts and motivation to stay involved in conservation work beyond our undergraduate careers. We hope our work will serve as a stepping stone for future capstone teams, as long-term partnerships with non-profits like GCWRP are necessary for conservation success.

There is still so much to learn, and our time with GCWRP only scratched the surface of what long-term recovery truly involves. We hope this capstone becomes a lasting partnership that continues to support wolf conservation while giving future students a meaningful way to connect with the environment. The Mexican gray wolf still faces a long road to recovery, and this pressing issue needs continued support from students, the community, and government agencies.