The Dutchers talk about the Project

Over the course of the following years, the wolves matured, established a hierarchy, and even mated and produced offspring. We lived in a tented camp within the wolves’ territory, a constant but unobtrusive presence, documenting, recording, and photographing life inside the pack.

Our approach, one of social partnership with the animals, has garnered discussion, debate, criticism, and, most often, appreciation and encouragement. As a result, audiences have become acquainted with an animal that, in addition to being a successful predator, is curious, playful, both independent, and resolutely devoted to family. This could have never been achieved with impassive observation.

During this time, we formed a deep relationship with the wolves that went far beyond simple habituation to humans. It was the kind of unshakable trust that wolves usually share only with their own pack, a bond that would last a lifetime. Born between 1991 and 1996, most of the pack members now exist only in memory.

We now think of The Sawtooth Pack as ambassadors for their wild cousins. They didn’t ask for that role, but they accepted it with more grace and beauty than we could ever hope for. Now it is up to us. If we have achieved anything, people will be able to make the connection between the wolves they see in our films and books and the wild wolves they now hear about from politicians and the mainstream media. Even if all they hear are stories of dangerous beasts and threats to livestock, hopefully now they also know the other side.