a true story of how a gray wolf changed a man and America forever

As settlers moved west, ecosystems began to shrink as people moved onto lands occupied by wildlife. No one cared about wildlife conservation in the 1800's until a special gray wolf touched the heart of a unique man. From a battle of wits grew an awareness of a need for wildlife conservation that slowly changed America's view of wildlife. This is a true story of how a gray wolf changed a man and America forever. Lobo was the alpha male of the Currumpaw wolf pack, the last remaining gray wolf pack in northern New Mexico. Ernest Thompson Seton, a wolf expert, had been hired by local ranchers in a town called Clayton to hunt down Lobo and kill him by any means necessary. In October of 1893 Ernest Seton rode into town expecting the job to take only a few weeks. By the time he arrived, most of the wolves had already been killed. Cattle ranches were taking over land, forcing the gray wolf to turn to other food sources as their natural prey became scarce. Buffalo had been the wolf's food supply, but man, not caring about wildlife conservation, hunted buffalo almost to the point of extinction. To survive, wolf packs turned to easy prey in the growing herds of cattle. Ranchers created their wolf problem, but it was the gray wolf who would pay the price. As far as ranchers were concerned, wolves were evil, blood thirsty killers with no right to life. It was their right to shoot, poison or hang any gray wolf they found on their land. They didn't care about wildlife conservation or the wolf. Ernest Seton considered Lobo a worthy adversary. The large alpha male wolf was cunning and eluded traps, poisoned meat and Seton's bullets day after day. The two week job turned into months and Seton's reputation as a wolf killer was at risk. He became frustrated and more determined to hunt Lobo down. But in his heart, he was a naturalist and experiencing nature in all it's glory. Conflicting feelings were growing in his mind, but he had a job to do. Besides, it was just a gray wolf. As Ernest Seton searched for the outlaw wolf, unspoiled lands of the west pleased him. He spent hours watching wildlife and was awed by the spectacular beauty of the land. Seton filled notebooks with detailed drawings of animals and thoroughly studied them and their habitats. He was beginning to understand the role wildlife played in our lives and its importance to society. He thought of bygone days when huge herds of buffalo and pronghorn deer roamed the land and feared for the dwindling herds. In his heart, he knew wildlife needed protection and began thinking of ways to preserve the wilderness. Early thoughts of wildlife conservation were beginning to take shape in his mind. Ernest Seton finally got a break in his search for Lobo. He discovered the gray wolf's tracks alongside a stream. As he studied them, he noticed two sets. Lobo had an alpha female, a beautiful white wolf named Blanca. Knowing the loyalty of a wolf to his mate, Ernest Seton quickly devised a plan. He would use Blanca as bait to capture Lobo. The wolf had found and tripped every buried trap Seton had set out. His scheme involved setting traps knowing Lobo would disarm them. As the huge wolf kicked debris on the traps, Blanca investigated a narrow pass. Ernest Seton had placed a cow's head at the other end of the pass to entice her and covered the pass with hidden traps. As Blanca stepped on the soft dirt, a trap snapped on her foot. Ernest Seton returned the next day to find her in his trap. Lobo watched from the distance, as Seton shot Blanca. He took her body back to his cabin in hopes of using her scent to lure Lobo into a trap. That night, Lobo's mournful howls broke through the night. Ernest Seton was moved by his heartbreaking howl and said he heard sorrow in the animal's voice. For the first time, he had doubts about what he was about to do. Wildlife conservation again entered his mind. January 31, 1894, Ernest Seton rode out to check a cluster of traps he had set and finally found Lobo. The gray wolf had each leg caught in four different traps. It was something Ernest Seton had never seen in all his years of trapping wolves. As he raised his rifle to end Lobo's life, the naturalist and wildlife lover took control. He couldn't pull the trigger. The wolf had shown such intelligence, devotion, grief and dignity, killing him didn't seem right. Seton stared at Lobo and now knew the gray wolf was an animal who embodied the vanishing wilderness. He took Lobo back to his cabin. The last outlaw wolf of northern New Mexico died sometime during the night. Saddened by his death, Seton laid Lobo next to Blanca. Lobo's death had a profound affect on Ernest Seton and he never killed another one. Ernest Thompson Seton is the godfather of wildlife conservation and was a self taught biologist, naturalist, writer, artist and wolf hunter. With Lobo's death, Seton finally understood all animals had value and knew wildlife conservation was needed to protect all wildlife for future generations. He lobbied congress and got laws protecting wildlife and the land and today's environmental laws grew from his lobbying efforts for wildlife conservation. Seton was also involved in helping to create our system of national parks across the country. He was respected by the scientific community for his expert drawings and research on America's wildlife. Seton established an early version of the Boy Scouts, teaching and encouraging kids to have respect for nature and experience the wilderness in all it's glory. Ernest Seton became a fierce advocate for the gray wolf, educating the public about them. He wrote over 60 books, magazine articles and short stories. His first book, "Wild Animals I Have Known," has been in print since it was published in 1898. The first story is about Lobo and how he changed Seton's view about wolves. His hunt for the gray wolf opened his eyes and heart, making wildlife conservation possible. "Lobo, the King of Currumpaw" was the first popular story written portraying the gray wolf in their natural habitat in a realistic and empathic way. Ernest Seton wrote, " Ever since Lobo, my sincerest wish has been to impress upon people that each of our native wild creatures is in itself a precious heritage that we have no right to destroy or put beyond the reach of our children." Lobo was the gray wolf who changed America forever. Ernest Thompson Seton was the man transformed by a brave, loyal, intelligent, steadfast and dignified wolf who wasn't evil. Just an animal trying to survive in a world where humans didn't understand, and some still don't, why the gray wolf has a right to life and why wildlife conservation matters.