When it comes to finding the world’s most elusive wild
creatures, Dr. James Halfpenny’s soft footsteps are never far
behind. The veteran wildlife tracker has searched for dinosaur
tracks in Montana, tracked water buffalo in Tanzania, studied
endangered species in China, and researched polar bears in
Greenland. But the naturalist finds his favorite tracks closer
to home in Yellowstone National Park. That’s where Halfpenny is
kneeling today, carefully examining a large paw print etched in
the snow. This massive animal track belongs to a canis lupus, or
grey wolf, that trotted through here within the last few hours.
Halfpenny traces his fingers along the massive footprint’s edges
and peers off in the distance, reading this story told in snow.
Wearing vintage wool pants, heavy hiking boots, and a flannel
shirt with a ruler and small notebook poking from the pocket,
Halfpenny is in his favorite role as wildlife detective-
Yellowstone’s own Sherlock Holmes. He has a gift for seeing
clues that most of us miss. “Think