Hi there! I’m Emily Graslie, and today I’m embarking on an exciting adventure to pick up a wolf specimen that Liz has been holding for us. This isn’t just any wolf; it’s a large male grey wolf that was unfortunately hit by a car near the Blackfoot River. After someone contacted the Great Wolf National Park (GWNP), they reached out to us, and now we’re on our way to collect it.
Joining me is James, a dedicated volunteer who works with us in the preparation lab. Our plan is to tan the hide and process the entire skeleton of this magnificent creature. However, due to its size, we’ll need to do this in stages as it won’t fit in our bug box all at once. Once the wolf has thawed a bit, likely by Thursday or Friday, we’ll begin the process of skinning it. Afterward, we’ll dismember it and store the various parts in the herbarium freezer. It’s quite amusing because botanists typically don’t expect to find animal remains in a freezer meant for plant specimens!
As we arrive, the atmosphere is reminiscent of a dentist’s office, with a distinct metallic scent in the air. The wolf is indeed large and quite stunning. It’s in remarkably good condition, weighing around ninety pounds, which is quite hefty for a wolf. Despite having some burrs in its fur, it doesn’t have an unpleasant odor.
Before we can take the wolf back with us, we need to complete a property transfer form, which will include its identification number. This is an exciting opportunity for us, as it’s not every day that we get to work with an entire wolf specimen. The prospect of conducting a necropsy to determine the cause of death is particularly intriguing.
Today has been a great day, and the weather is beautiful. It’s moments like these that remind me of the unexpected adventures that come with this line of work. I still chuckle at the thought of accidentally calling the wrong place and announcing I was there to pick up “my wolf.” The image of a frozen wolf landing on a car hood is both amusing and a bit alarming, but it certainly would leave a lasting impression!
This experience highlights the importance of specimen collection in understanding wildlife. By studying the wolf’s remains, we can gain insights into its life, health, and the circumstances surrounding its death. Such information is invaluable for conservation efforts and helps us better understand the ecosystems these majestic animals inhabit.
In conclusion, working with wolf specimens offers a unique blend of science, adventure, and discovery. It’s a reminder of the intricate connections between humans and wildlife and the ongoing efforts to preserve these connections for future generations.
Research the current conservation efforts for grey wolves in North America. Prepare a presentation that highlights the challenges and successes of these efforts. Focus on the role of specimen collection in conservation and how it contributes to understanding wolf populations.
Participate in a virtual lab where you will digitally assemble a wolf skeleton. This activity will help you understand the anatomy of wolves and the process of preparing specimens for educational and research purposes.
Organize a field trip to a local natural history museum to explore their collection of wolf specimens. Pay special attention to how these specimens are displayed and the information provided about their ecological and biological significance.
Engage in a debate on the ethical considerations of collecting animal specimens for scientific research. Discuss the balance between scientific advancement and animal rights, using the wolf specimen as a case study.
Write a creative story from the perspective of the wolf specimen before it became part of the collection. Use scientific insights to imagine its life, environment, and interactions within its ecosystem.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi! I’m Emily Graslie. I’m on my way to pick up a wolf that Liz said she was holding for us.
A wolf? Um, it’s in the freezer.
Oh! Thanks.
This is James. He’s a volunteer and works in our prep lab with us. We’re going to pick up a large male grey wolf that was hit by a car near the Blackfoot River. Someone contacted GWNP, and they got in touch with us, so we’re going to pick it up right now.
We’re going to tan the hide and process the whole skeleton, which we’ll have to do in installments because it’s too big to fit in the bug box. We need to skin it out once it’s thawed a little bit, probably on Thursday and Friday this week, and then we’ll dismember it and store the various parts in the herbarium freezer. It’s amusing because botanists don’t usually appreciate animal remains in their plant remains freezer.
Which way do I go in?
It smells a bit like a dentist’s office, with a metallic scent.
Wow, it’s large.
Yeah, he’s a really pretty wolf.
He’s gorgeous and quite large.
Oh my gosh, he’s in good shape, too.
Yeah, he’s massive. How much do you think he weighs?
Ninety pounds. He’s just a big dog.
He has some burrs in his fur, but he doesn’t smell too bad.
Alright.
I just need to do a property transfer form for you guys, and that’ll have his ID number on there. I’m really excited about this. It’s not every day that we get wolves, especially not an entire wolf. We get to do some necropsy work, which I find fascinating.
Finding out the cause of death is pretty cool. It’s been a good day, and it’s gorgeous out here. I still can’t believe I accidentally called the wrong place and said I was there for my wolf.
I hope no one gets hurt, but it would be quite a sight if a frozen wolf landed on the hood of a car. That would definitely make an impression!
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Wolf – A carnivorous mammal of the family Canidae, known for its social structure and role as a keystone species in ecosystems. – The reintroduction of the wolf into Yellowstone National Park has helped restore balance to the ecosystem by controlling the elk population.
Specimen – An individual organism or part of an organism used as an example for scientific study or display. – The biology lab received a specimen of a rare plant species for genetic analysis.
Conservation – The protection and management of biodiversity to ensure natural resources are available for future generations. – Conservation efforts in the Amazon rainforest are crucial for preserving its unique biodiversity.
Ecosystems – Communities of living organisms interacting with their physical environment, functioning as a unit. – Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on the planet, providing habitat for countless marine species.
Wildlife – Animals that live and grow in natural conditions, not domesticated or cultivated by humans. – The national park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including bears, eagles, and moose.
Necropsy – A post-mortem examination of an animal to determine the cause of death or study disease processes. – The necropsy of the stranded whale revealed ingested plastic as a significant factor in its death.
Collection – A group of specimens or samples gathered for scientific study or display. – The university’s herbarium houses an extensive collection of plant specimens from around the world.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury, often used in reference to ecosystems or populations. – Monitoring the health of coral reefs is essential for understanding the impacts of climate change on marine life.
Adventure – An unusual and exciting experience, often involving exploration or discovery in natural settings. – The field study in the Amazon was an adventure that provided invaluable insights into tropical biodiversity.
Discovery – The act of finding or learning something for the first time, often leading to new scientific knowledge. – The discovery of a new species of frog in the rainforest highlights the importance of preserving these habitats.
