This program is brought to you by: Sacajawea Audubon Society! You must REGISTER for this event. 

Monday, January 11th, 2020 VIRTUAL PROGRAM: “Mountain Caribou: The Vanishing Ghosts of the North” with Cory DeStein, Wildlife Photographer

Once common throughout northwest Montana, the mountain caribou is now considered one of North America's most endangered species. Inhabiting Montana until the 1980s, sightings had persisted in the northwest corner of the state as recently as 2019. Mountain caribou are specialized foragers on arboreal lichens in old growth forests and survived by predator avoidance, these adaptions lead to a dramatic decline in numbers across their entire range as industrial development expanded. Logging, road development, and backcountry recreation have shifted the predator-prey dynamics of the caribou's winter habitat and dropped their population to just 1,900 in Canada as well as extirpated them from the continental United States.

Join wildlife photographer Cory DeStein for an evening of photos and stories of his last three years discovering these species. Cory has strived to document the mountain caribou's story through his own photography and encounters to inspire others with the same appreciation he has developed for these grey ghosts of the mountains. Cory DeStein is a wildlife photographer in Missoula, Montana. Having relocated from western Pennsylvania in 2013, the wilderness on his doorstep invigorated his passion for the outdoors. Since arriving, exploration of the area’s ample backcountry with camera in hand has occupied much of Cory’s free time. This immersion has fostered keen eyes that now play a large role in tracking down seldom-seen wildlife. Combining passion with an artistic vision, Cory strives to make images that advocate for the appreciation and protection of many beautiful landscapes and the creatures dwelling within them. SAS programs are free and open to the public. Our programs feature a special guest speaker the 2nd Monday of each month, September through May. Join us for a virtual social at 6:30 pm.