My name is Shelly Bristow, and I am a Co-Founder of Project Alpha Wolf (PAW), a wolf advocacy group that promotes education and outreach. PAW also partners with other wolf advocacy groups to support science-based decisions in regard to state wolf management plans.

In June, I had the opportunity to lobby for the Rural Economic Vitalization Act (H.R. 3432) in Washington DC as a volunteer for the Sierra Club's Grazing Team. I was excited about this opportunity for several reasons. I have testified in favor of wolves at the Washington State Wolf Management public hearings, and also against some anti-wolf legislation in Washington State last year. That started planting the seed in my mind, that face to face interaction with commissions and politicians is very important.

Saving wolves and other vital predators is a huge challenge. We need several players to spread the word and the truth about wolves. We need social media presence, we need petitions, we need people to write letters and make phone calls on important wolf related issues, and we need people to show up at Commission hearings and visit political offices. In as many ways as possible, we have to advocate for wolves with every chance we get.

We all have our strengths and bring something to the table in the war on wolves. Never feel like you can't make a difference, because your phone call might be the 100th one received that day that finally makes someone take notice. Your letter explaining why you want to see wolves in the wild might just be the one that strikes a chord with someone in a political office. Your heartfelt words given during a commission meeting might change the mind of one person sitting in that audience...or at least make them stop and think that things could be different.

My experience lobbying was very positive. I was partnered with an experienced Sierra Club Volunteer, Mike Hudak, who has literally spent years researching and supporting HR3432, Rural Economic Revitalization Act (REVA) and its previous versions. I had the opportunity to explain why and how public land grazing affects not only the land and soil, but how it affects wolves and other predators. It was a great feeling to think I took my activism to the next level, and that maybe in some small way, helped push our voices out farther and wider, to a new audience.

You can do the same thing, and it doesn't have to be through lobbying. If you have a talent for writing, are a great speaker, have any background in media or graphic design or just plain love animals, there is a wolf support group you can help.

Please participate in action alerts, write letters, call your local politicians and educate people about wolves, especially when you hear incorrect information. Never think that what you do doesn't count. Collectively, our voice can be quite strong and impressive.