Douglas W. Smith PhD has studied wolves and other wildlife for 45 years. His most recent position was in Yellowstone National Park where he supervised management and research of wolves as well as reintroducing them in 1995. In addition to wolves, he also supervised the bird, elk and beaver programs.

Doug received a B.S. degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Idaho in 1985, a Master’s in Biology from Michigan Technological University in 1988, and a PhD in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1997.

In addition to Yellowstone, Doug worked on three other wolf studies, most notably the wolf-moose study in Isle Royale National Park with Rolf Peterson and the Minnesota wolf-deer study with L. David Mech.

He has published a wide variety of journal articles and book chapters on beavers, wolves, and birds and authored or co-authored seven popular books including one children’s book just out in 2025.

He has participated in numerous documentaries about wolves and birds for National Geographic and British Broadcasting Company (BBC) as well as appearing on CBS 60 Minutes and other media and done about 2000 media interviews.

Doug has received numerous awards most recently the Distinguished Service Award the highest honor of the US Department of the Interior presented by the Secretary of the Interior.

He is an avid canoeist and wilderness traveler often taking to the wilds with his wife Christine and their two children Sawyer and Hawken.