In Appreciation of Dave Parsons

On behalf of the global wolf community, on this day, February 25, 2000, we present this certificate of recognition to Dave Parsons, in honor of his efforts to help restore Mexican Wolves. Among Dave's long list of accomplishments, we wish to acknowledge the following efforts:

• In 1990 Dave Parsons stepped into the position of Coordinator for the Mexican Wolf Recovery Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, courageously taking on an under-funded program for a little-known wolf subspecies in the heart of southwestern ranching country.

• With hope, through struggle and litigation, Dave forged cooperation among hundreds of individuals and organizations. Thanks to Dave, the smallest and most endangered North American Gray Wolf found a support team of 41 zoos in a Species Survival Plan, the active participation of two state wildlife agencies and a vision for the recovery of the Mexican Wolf shared around the world.

• Because of his fair and scientific approach in implementing the program, Dave has been publicly acknowledged by both livestock industry opponents and the environmental community. Astute recognition of political realities and focus on the practice of best biology has won Dave the deep respect of the wolf community.

• Thanks to Dave's leadership, in March of 1998, the first Mexican wolves in over 30 years took to the wilds of Arizona's forests. Thanks to Dave's focus, a young dispersing Mexican wolf found his way to the edge of Aldo Leopold's beloved Gila Wilderness in January of 2000 to rekindle the fierce green fire about which Leopold wrote some 50 years ago.

The Board of Directors, Staff and Members of the International Wolf Center wish to thank you for your many contributions on behalf of wolf recovery and conservation.

Nancy Jo Tubbs, Chair
Board of Directors

Walter M. Medwid
Executive Director