Science writer to give carnivore presentation

Science writer and wildlife ecologist Cristina Eisenberg will give a presentation Nov. 23 in Glacier National Park.

Eisenberg’s presentation is part of the Montana House and the Glacier National Park Conservancy’s Look, Listen and Learn series. The event takes place at the Montana House in Apgar Village.

Eisenberg’s presentation is based on her forthcoming book, “The Carnivore Way: Conserving and Coexisting with America’s Carnivores,” which is slated for publication next summer.

Aldo Leopold and other early ecologists found that carnivores such as grizzly bears, wolves and lynx have essential roles in creating healthy ecosystems. However, human activity and climate change threaten their survival.

Eisenberg will discuss the historical conservation status of six species of large carnivores in the American West, from Alaska to Mexico, and the steps people have taken to enable the carnivores to repopulate landscapes from which they had long been missing.

Eisenberg also will show why the Crown of the Continent ecosystem is a critical linking landscape and will identify pathways to coexistence with the carnivores. 

Eisenberg holds a doctorate in forestry and wildlife from Oregon State University, where she currently teaches ecological restoration and natural resources policy. Her food web research focuses on the ecological effects of wolves and fire on Rocky Mountain ecosystems.

Her previous book, “The Wolf’s Tooth: Trophic Cascades and Biodiversity,” was published by Island Press in April 2010. She also serves as the nonfiction editor for Whitefish Review.

An Aldo Leopold scholar and a hunter, Cristina has lived in Northwest Montana for many years.

Eisenberg’s presentation begins at 4 p.m., with time for questions and a reception to follow. The event is open to the public without charge, but seating is limited so reservations are needed. Call 888-5393 for additional information and to reserve seats.