Download a photo of wildlife scientist Dave Mech.
GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — Wildlife scientist Dave Mech, a world-renowned wolf expert and founder of the International Wolf Center in Ely, will be featured on Prairie Sportsman along with snowmobiling from Crane Lake to Voyageurs National Park. “Centered on Wolves” will air on Pioneer PBS Sunday, April 5, 7:30 p.m.; WDSE Saturday, April 11, 4 p.m.; tptLife Saturday, April 18, 12:30 p.m.; Lakeland PBS Saturday, May 9, 2:30 p.m.; and KSMQ Thursday, May 28, 7:30 p.m. It will also be broadcast on the Minnesota Channel, which airs on all Minnesota PBS stations, Thursday, April 23 at midnight, 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.
Dave Mech started studying wolves as a Purdue University graduate student in 1958 when they were considered vermin and almost wiped out in the United States. The only remaining wolves were in northeast Minnesota and Isle Royale where Mech started his research. He lived with a pack of wolves for 25 summers at Ellesmere Island near the North Pole where they had never been hunted, trapped or harassed. Since the white wolves were not afraid of humans, he was able to set up a tent near their den and study their behavior. Mech also founded the International Wolf Center in Ely that opened in 1993 to help people better understand the most misunderstood carnivore in North America. For example, wolves do not kill for sport and their success rate at killing large wild prey is only 7 percent, even when hunting in packs.
In another segment, host Bret Amundson is snowmobiling with the owners of Voyagaire Lodge on Crane Lake. The area that is bordered by Voyageurs National Park, Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Superior National Forest includes more than 500 miles of groomed trails on lakes and land.
About Prairie Sportsman
Prairie Sportsman celebrates our love of the outdoors – to hunt, fish and enjoy recreation provided by our vast resources of lakes, rivers, trails and grasslands – while promoting environmental stewardship.
Prairie Sportsman’s team includes Cindy Dorn, producer/writer; Bret Amundson, host/editor; Dylan Curfman, editor/videographer and Max Grabow, assistant videographer/editor. The 2020 season is made possible by funding from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, SafeBasements of Minnesota, GrandStay Hospitality, Diamond Willow, Live Wide Open and Western Minnesota Prairie Waters.
About Pioneer PBS
Established in 1966, Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing local stories of the region with the world. For more information visit www.pioneer.org.
