Wolf design by freepik.com
AN AWARD
Each year the National Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) gives out its Ernest Thompson Seton Award. The Award “recognizes the efforts of a state agency and team leader to raise public awareness of scientific wildlife management.” The 2024 Award went to the Colorado Wolf Team (Technical Working Group, Colorado Parks and Wildlife) during the Association’s Annual Awards ceremony on September 24 in Madison, Wisconsin.
The official statement for the 2024 winner:
“The Colorado Wolf Team with Colorado Parks and Wildlife is this year’s recipient of the Ernest Thompson Seton Award, which honors the efforts of a state agency and team leader(s) to raise public awareness of scientific wildlife management.
The Colorado Wolf Team has been a leader on many fronts, including delivering are public expectation for restoring a sustainable population of wolves, and listening to understand ranchers, wolf advocates and the general public’s expectations. The Wolf Team has consistently demonstrated leadership and communication skills, innovation, dedication, and passion for their work that truly exemplifies their impact in wolf restoration and management.”
The Technical Working Group issued a wolf restoration plan for Colorado in 2022, setting up an ongoing “science-based” project. Just mentioning wolves will bring a cascade of responses. See this from the Ark Valley Voice.
There is no way to know which wildlife projects recognized by the Association Seton himself might have approved. But it is a lasting testament to Seton’s influence that they choose to honor his memory with the recognition of important wildlife initiatives.