Introduction:

“My name is Kaitie Schneider, and I’m based out of the Defenders’ Denver field office. I’ve been at Defenders since January 2022, and last April I was promoted to advance our Colorado wolf work.

As a Rockies and Plains Representative, I lead our Colorado Wolf Restoration Program – a very exciting initiative at Defenders. I work with an array of agencies and organizations to minimize wolf-livestock conflicts, expand education about wolves, and increase support for their recovery as the reintroduction progresses."

 

How did you get your start in conservation?

“I’ve wanted to be a conservation biologist for as long as I can remember, though it took a long time to figure out my major and which path I wanted to follow. At first, I was hooked on wildlife rehabilitation and spent a summer at a rescue center in Thailand, where I helped look after hundreds of monkeys, elephants, and other animals harmed in the entertainment and pet trade.

After moving to northern Colorado for college, I started volunteering with the educational animals at a local discovery museum. I was so excited to start that I didn’t even notice the endangered black-footed ferret display in the lobby. Before long, the US Fish and Wildlife Service official that manages the ferrets recruited me to her team, and I spent the next five years caring for some of the rarest animals in North America and telling their story at the museum’s community events. From there, I went on to work in county, state, and federal levels of government to research and restore local biodiversity.”

 

Could you share a highlight of your career so far?

“Truthfully, I’m currently living a highlight of my career. Having the opportunity to help restore an amazing species like gray wolves to my home state is a dream come true. Knowing there are now 10 more wolves just one county over from my home, out there somewhere with more on the way, makes all the hard days and tough conversations worth it.

A lot of the work I do involves helping livestock producers reduce their risk of conflict with wolves, which is rewarding for everyone involved. While a rancher and a wolf advocate may sound like unlikely allies, I love exploring the generational knowledge and enthusiasm that local producers use to steward the land. Understanding and empathizing with diverse perspectives has made me a stronger advocate, problem-solver, and communicator - not only for wolves but for people as well. Fostering these relationships also allows me to help rural communities access the tools, training, and support they need as wolves expand in Colorado. This is important because as more people feel confident living and working alongside wolves, we can increase the state’s capacity for thriving wolf populations”

 

Which animal do you wish people understood better?

“Since the obvious answer is wolves, I’m going to surprise you and say wolverines! With such similar sounding names, many people think wolverines are just small wolves or close relatives, but wolverines aren’t canines at all. They are actually the largest living land weasels! Wolverines developed special traits that allow them to thrive in harsh, high-alpine habitats, like large paws that are perfect for walking on top of snow, digging winter dens, and expertly scavenging their next meal.

Just this past year, wolverines were listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, and Colorado recently introduced a state bill to bring wolverines back to the snowcapped peaks of the southern Rockies. The Rockies and Plains team could not be more excited to help the state embark on this next chapter in restoring native carnivores!”

Click here to learn more about Kaitie and her work at Defenders!

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