Who is he?

Olaus Murie (1889–1963) was a naturalist and wildlife biologist. A bit of a black sheep while at the U.S. Biological Survey (today’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), he championed the importance of maintaining a healthy predator-prey balance in an ecosystem.

Murie spent six years conducting field research on caribou in Alaska. During these studies, he came to believe that natural predation by wolves was healthy for the herd. These findings and subsequent work led him to be increasingly outspoken against predator extermination, especially later in his career.

Murie’s wife, Mardy, accompanied Olaus and is also a “conservation hero.” Be sure to check out our upcoming American Conservation Heroes installment to learn about her!

What did Olaus do to help protect wildlife?

Murie spent over a decade studying the Jackson Hole elk herd in Wyoming, observing how healthy habitat and ample space to spread out were essential to their survival. This later inspired him to help create Jackson Hole National Monument (now part of Grand Teton National Park) to establish a larger, natural habitat boundary for elk. He also advocated for the expansion of the what is now Olympic National Park, to include the natural boundaries of the Bogachiel and Hoh River valleys’ rainforests.

Later in life, the Muries both returned to Alaska in a campaign to protect what is now the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They looked to preserve the entire ecosystem — some 8 million acres at the time, later expanded to 19 million —which marked a new generation of larger national parks and refuges.

Today the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is under threat from administration policies as well as warming temperatures. Defenders of Wildlife is advocating for the continued protection of this vital habitat, including preventing oil and gas lease sales and taking steps to reduce carbon emissions to protect valuable, icy homes for a variety of animals.

How can you become a conservation hero?

Speak up for nature! Learn and share the do’s and don’ts when exploring wild places with your friends and family. You can also become a Wildlife Defender to join a growing grassroots community that speaks up for nature across the nation.