“The more we can let people know, the better it is for the wolves, the better it is for our conservation efforts.”
If you spend enough time around parks or conservation work, you’ll meet plenty of people who are fascinated by wolves. But every now and then, you meet someone whose passion also it creates impact. That’s the case with Monica Stahlman, a volunteer at the Wolf Conservation Center and the author behind the Trumpet the Miracle Wolf Pup children’s book series.
Monica grew up like many of us did, staying outside until the streetlights came on. That time in the woods and backyards opened the door to a lifelong love for nature. Years later, she signed up as a volunteer at the Wolf Conservation Center. She had no idea how much it would shape the course of her life.
As she learned more about the critically endangered Mexican gray wolves and red wolves, she discovered Trumpet, a lone miracle pup who carried the genetic future of her species. The more she watched, listened, and learned, the more she saw an opportunity to help. She wanted to tell a story children could understand. That one idea grew into a four-book (soon to be five-book) series that now helps support the very center that inspired it.
Instead of wondering, “What can someone do?”, Monica asked herself “What can I do?”. Then she followed it all the way through to something meaningful.
Conservation isn’t only carried out by scientists or park rangers in remote corners of the country. It comes from people who care enough to take the next small step. And sometimes, that step leads to a story that keeps echoing long after the conversation ends. Take a listen to how Monica describes Trumpet’s journey and the wolves’ fragile future. It will likely give you that nudge to look closer, pay attention, and ask yourself what role you might play in conservation.
Connect with Monica Stahlman
https://brileybaxterbooks.com/author-leokadia-george/
Resources
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Notable Moments
[00:02:29] How Monica discovered the Wolf Conservation Center
[00:03:30] Understanding endangered wolf subspecies and conservation efforts
[00:04:18] Role of pup-nanny caretakers
[00:05:50] Rare wolf sightings and population challenges
[00:08:14] How public education connects people to conservation
[00:12:55] The miracle wolf pup, Trumpet, and her powerful genetic story
[00:15:41] Turning a single idea into a multi-book series
[00:19:25] Taking action instead of stopping at curiosity
[00:21:39] Ways anyone can support conservation efforts