Image above: Working Circle rancher partners participating in a stockmanship clinic
with Whit Hibbard
with Whit Hibbard
Our Many Rancher Partners
Working Circle is proud to work directly with ranch families and ranch operations across the west. The vision and collaborative efforts of our rancher partners has led the way in creating a powerful new way forward for wolves, livestock and people to successfully coexist and thrive on shared lands.
Our rancher partners comprise the foundation of our work.
Working Circle is proud to work directly with ranch families and ranch operations across the west. The vision and collaborative efforts of our rancher partners has led the way in creating a powerful new way forward for wolves, livestock and people to successfully coexist and thrive on shared lands.
Our rancher partners comprise the foundation of our work.
On-the-Ground Team
Karin Vardaman, Founder, Co-Director
~ 30 years experience in non-profit leadership
~ 37 years experience in wildlife conservation and environmental education
~ Member of the California Wolf Management Stakeholder Working Group
~ Former Director at California Wolf Center; animal husbandry lead and education and outreach lead
~ 12 years experience in wolf conservation; experienced wildlife tracker
~ 10 years experience in wolf-livestock conflict mitigation and conflict risk evaluation
~ 8 years on-the-ground training in stockmanship/herd management
~ The New Yorker Magazine- July 9, 2019; The Persuasive Power of the Wolf Lady
~ Harvard University, Harvard Business School -Working Circle Case Study: Download File
~ Forbes, 50 over 50 Impact List 2021
~ The Wolf Connection - Ranching with Wolves
~ The Guardian: Ranchers Seek to Protect Herds as Wolves Move In
~ 30 years experience in non-profit leadership
~ 37 years experience in wildlife conservation and environmental education
~ Member of the California Wolf Management Stakeholder Working Group
~ Former Director at California Wolf Center; animal husbandry lead and education and outreach lead
~ 12 years experience in wolf conservation; experienced wildlife tracker
~ 10 years experience in wolf-livestock conflict mitigation and conflict risk evaluation
~ 8 years on-the-ground training in stockmanship/herd management
~ The New Yorker Magazine- July 9, 2019; The Persuasive Power of the Wolf Lady
~ Harvard University, Harvard Business School -Working Circle Case Study: Download File
~ Forbes, 50 over 50 Impact List 2021
~ The Wolf Connection - Ranching with Wolves
~ The Guardian: Ranchers Seek to Protect Herds as Wolves Move In
Joe Engelhart, Cattle Rancher, Range Management and Wolf-Livestock Conflict Adviser
~ University of Wisconsin-Madison News - January 24, 2020; Potential Predation Prevention: Remind Cattle They Are Herd Animals
Hilary and Andrew Anderson, Cattle Ranchers, Montana; Wolf-Livestock Conflict and Herd Management Partners/Advisors/Clinicians; Regenerative Ranching Specialists
~ National Geographic - August 30, 2019 ; Discovering Hope on the Range
~ University of Wisconsin-Madison News - January 24, 2020; Potential Predation Prevention: Remind Cattle They Are Herd Animals
Hilary and Andrew Anderson, Cattle Ranchers, Montana; Wolf-Livestock Conflict and Herd Management Partners/Advisors/Clinicians; Regenerative Ranching Specialists
~ National Geographic - August 30, 2019 ; Discovering Hope on the Range
Kent Laudon, Wolf Biologist, Partner and Advisor
~ over 35 years experience on the ground in Montana, Arizona, and California.
~ Former Senior Wolf Biologist, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
~ Senior Wolf Biologist for California Department of Fish and Wildlife since 2017
Specialties/experience:
Community engagement: communication, relationships, and open collaboration by integrating community participation including polarizing topics and their social barriers. Including relationships with people, and community leaders. Wildlife field biologist: Population monitoring, ground and aerial surveys, ground and aerial capture/collar, necropsy, data management and analysis, mapping, reports, consultation.
~ over 35 years experience on the ground in Montana, Arizona, and California.
~ Former Senior Wolf Biologist, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
~ Senior Wolf Biologist for California Department of Fish and Wildlife since 2017
Specialties/experience:
Community engagement: communication, relationships, and open collaboration by integrating community participation including polarizing topics and their social barriers. Including relationships with people, and community leaders. Wildlife field biologist: Population monitoring, ground and aerial surveys, ground and aerial capture/collar, necropsy, data management and analysis, mapping, reports, consultation.