EPS 50 Diane K. Boyd, Montana's Legendary Wildlife Biologist discussing her New Memoir, "A Woman Among Wolves"

A Woman Among Wolves: Dr. Diane Boyd’s Legacy of Wolf Recovery & Conservation | Episode #50

What happens when passion for wildlife, groundbreaking science, and the untamed spirit of Montana collide? This week on the IWD406 Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Diane K. Boyd — a legendary wildlife biologist and author whose four-decade career helped shape wolf recovery across North America and beyond.

Diane began her career in 1977 with Dr. L. David Mech’s wolf research project in Minnesota before moving to Montana in 1979 to study gray wolf recovery in the Rocky Mountains. From tracking the first natural wolf colonizers to witnessing populations grow to nearly 3,000 in the western U.S., her work has become foundational in wolf ecology, dispersal, habitat use, prey selection, behavior, and human-wolf conflict resolution.

Her research has taken her from the mountains of Montana and British Columbia to international projects in Italy, Romania, and the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program. Along the way, she’s authored over fifty scientific papers, invited book chapters, and popular articles. Diane received both her M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Montana, served as the Region 1 Wolf and Carnivore Specialist for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and continues to share her expertise today as an Affiliate Faculty member at the University of Montana.

Now retired from state service, Diane is still on a mission — teaching, writing, and sharing her story through her debut memoir, A Woman Among Wolves: My Forty Year Journey Through Wolf Recovery, released September 10, 2024.

But Diane’s story isn’t just about wolves. It’s about resilience, leadership, and the powerful lessons nature can teach us about connection and survival.

Why Listen?

If you’ve ever wondered:

• What does it take to devote forty years to understanding one of the most misunderstood animals in the world?

• How can science, storytelling, and community engagement work together to solve human-wildlife conflict?

• What can wolves teach us about resilience, adaptability, and leadership?

…then this episode is your masterclass in courage, conservation, and legacy.

What You’ll Learn ** How Diane’s work helped shape wolf recovery in the western U.S. from its earliest days to today ** The role of science and collaboration in resolving human-wildlife conflict ** Behind-the-scenes stories from decades of field research in Montana and abroad ** Why A Woman Among Wolves is more than a memoir — it’s a call to action for the next generation of conservationists

From Minnesota to Montana, from the Rockies to Eastern Europe, Dr. Diane Boyd is living proof that one woman’s vision can change the course of conservation history.

** Ready to be inspired? Tune in now wherever you get your podcasts. Available on Apple, Spotify or Podbean.  ** Watch the full video version and shorts on YouTube.    Go to our Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/@IWD406MONTANAWOMEN

** To Purchase A Woman Among Wolves go to Audible Audiobook or hardcopy at Amazon Books

*** Special thank you to Producer, Morgan Delaney, Video Director of Deliverfund and Hello Whitefish. https://vimeo.com/morgandelaney

***Special thank you to Special Production Media Team, Erickson Media at  ericksonmedia.org

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