How Daniel Curry Became a Range Rider
Daniel Curry, a dedicated range rider in Washington state, serves as a crucial interface between wolves and cattle, as well as between wolves and ranchers. His story is being highlighted in a short film that has attracted significant attention in the Western U.S. Recently, he visited Carbondale for a screening and a Q&A session with the audience.
“I’ve worked with wolves for a little over 22 years now. And when I was 30, I read an article in a local paper for the city of Spokane. And what I read in that article was really disturbing,” Curry shared.
He recalled a troubling story about a rancher who lost cattle, resulting in the lethal removal of wolves. “As taxpayers, we paid an exorbitant amount of money to have that happen,” he said, raising concerns about the systemic issues at play.
Driven by his passion for wildlife and desire for better outcomes, Curry began working to bridge the gap: “So at that time I was working in a sanctuary for wolves. I really value animals, and I saw these animals suffering at the hands of our own state agency. I thought that there’s got to be a way to improve that situation. When everybody’s losing, there’s room for improvement, obviously,” he explained.
Curry’s Approach to Coexistence
Inspired by an article in a Canadian publication on range riding, Curry combined his knowledge of wolf behavior with horseback riding and cattle management techniques. His vision extends beyond mere co-existence; he prefers the term “co-thriving.”
“Co-existence is a very subpar way to live. We’re just barely existing with each other on the planet. So that’s what I dedicated the next 12 years of my life to,” he remarked passionately.
Curry’s work, particularly through Project GRIPH, aims to expand conflict mitigation efforts across the Western U.S., as he seeks to replicate his success in Washington state. “I’ve been to Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Arizona; we’re trying to establish a service like we’ve successfully done in Washington,” he detailed.
“We have a very good service with a proven track record. We’ve worked with people who traditionally feel frustrated by wolves. Now, they’re capturing videos of wolves peacefully coexisting with cattle,” he proudly stated.
Educating for a Better Future
As he continues his outreach, Curry remains adamant about the importance of biodiversity and connectivity within ecosystems. “Everything’s connected. Everything has a purpose. In my opinion, they’re all sentient beings. The sooner we recognize that, the better,” he declared.
He emphasizes proactive measures, stating, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Our goal is to prevent conflict rather than react to it. We hope to minimize the turmoil that follows animal encounters, such as financial compensation for lost cattle, which introduces its own complexities.”
Curry concluded with a profound insight: “If we continue to manage from a human-centric point of view, we will diminish our ungulate herds and large carnivores. We are the only animal that throws the natural environment off balance—and we are, at this point in human evolution, also the only animal that will bring it back into balance.”
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