Award-winning Michigan Tech Wildlife Ecologist Continues to Refine and Redefine His Life’s Work

John Vucetich is one of the most recognized wildlife ecologists on the planet, with a body of research that ranges across species and disciplines. The 2025 Michigan Technological University Research Award winner expects his work to continue to expand in directions that defy easy predictions — even his own.

Vucetich, a distinguished professor in Michigan Tech's College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science (CFRES), is perhaps best known for his research related to the University's Isle Royale wolf-moose project. The 67-year-old study has been based at Tech since 1975, and Vucetich has been a member of the research team since the 1990s, joining the project led by Rolf Peterson, now a CFRES professor emeritus. Vucetich earned his bachelor's degree in biology in 1995 and his Ph.D. in Forest Science in 1999 at Michigan Tech.

When experts and the public alike think of wolf research, chances are Vucetich is top of mind, thanks to his storied career as part of a study that has captivated and challenged audiences around the globe. While fictionalized as the main character in mystery writer Nevada Barr's bestselling "Winter Study," Vucetich has a gift for telling his own true stories, firmly grounded in years spent studying wolves and discovering how much they have in common with humanity. His popular writings have appeared in The New York Times, Natural History, The Huffington Post and The Chronicle of Higher Education.

When asked how wolves are and are not like us, Vucetich often starts by observing that the social lives of wolves are more complex than some might appreciate.

"Wolves are capable of experiencing, much like you, many of the most important, basic emotions — positive and negative — about their family (pack mates)," he said. On the flip side, "Wolves learn far more about the world through smell than we could possibly appreciate."

As important as the high-profile study has been to both his career and our understanding of the balance of life on a remote Lake Superior island, Vucetich doesn't view it as his seminal contribution to science.

"Sure, I've held the same post for a number of years, and I've lived in the same place for longer. But it feels to me like my life's work is still revealing itself to me after all these years," Vucetich said.

"Throughout my career, I've never really been good at predicting what lies ahead. Don't get me wrong, I've not been passive about my profession. I plant lots of seeds and some bear fruit, but many do not," said Vucetich. "So we'll have to see. One of the seeds — now a delicate sprout, I'd say — is working with a team of people interested in restoring cougars to the northeastern U.S., an important part of their historic range."

Cougars and Lions and Grizzlies, Oh My!

Beyond his role as a co-leader of the wolf-moose project, Vucetich's impactful contributions to research include examinations of carnivore ecology, conservation genetics, the U.S. Endangered Species Act, environmental ethics, and conservation in social sciences.

Vucetich has been a scientific advisor to the Humane Society of the United States since 2015. He's the author of two books, 2021's "Restoring the Balance: What Wolves Tell Us about Our Relationship with Nature," and the textbook "The Biology and Conservation of Animal Populations." The textbook received the 2025 best authored book award from The Wildlife Society, a worldwide organization founded in 1936 with more than 11,000 members dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship.

Like his research, Vucetich's writing for both academia and the general public does not shy from examining difficult and deeply important topics, including the complexities and contradictions inherent in how humans relate to the natural world. As a young scholar, he was often asked whether wolves should be hunted. "I was struck by the tendency for people to look to scientists for guidance on ethical questions," he said. "I figured I'd better become knowledgeable about ethics."

Vucetich has worked on methods to gauge public opinion regarding the continued protection of grizzly bears in the contiguous United States under the Endangered Species Act. He applied the methods to understand ethical considerations pertaining to trophy hunting and conservation of wild lions. He has surveyed groups with disparate views on wildlife ecology and conservation issues to find common ground, and he has worked with organizations that transcend geopolitical and geographic boundaries to communicate research in ways that enlighten and educate.

Vucetich points out that humankind doesn't depend on wolves, polar bears, lions, or other predators for our existence.

"These are all creatures that, if they were to disappear, humans would probably be fine," he said. "And so we have to work harder to find reasons to make our decision-makers be good to them as well. Because they don't have a voice. Their voice really rests with us."

Contributions to a Thriving Research Community

Vucetich's intentional widening of the scope of his research focus was recognized by those writing letters of support for his Michigan Tech Research Award nomination.

Professor David W. Macdonald, professor of wildlife conservation at the University of Oxford and founding director of Oxford's WildCRU wildlife conservation unit, has followed Vucetich's work for two decades and worked with him for more than 10 years. In his letter of support, he praised Vucetich for the globally recognized depth and breadth of his work, as well as his generosity, skill and collaborative mindset.

"Indeed, I would say he is the best, and most influential conservation ethicist in the world."David W. Macdonald, professor and WildCRU founding director, University of Oxford

University of Minnesota Professor Joseph K. Bump noted that beyond the impressive breadth of research and other scholarly achievements, Vucetich has shown an exemplary commitment to teaching and mentoring his students.

"His courses on Population Ecology, Human Dimensions of Wildlife, and Environmental Ethics are integral to the education of the next generation of conservationists. Through his teaching, he imparts not only technical knowledge but also a deep ethical understanding of the complexities inherent in conservation work," Bump said. "Students who have worked with Professor Vucetich consistently report that his mentorship is both intellectually stimulating and personally enriching."

"Professor Vucetich's contributions to conservation biology, particularly in the field of carnivore conservation, have been both profound and impactful. His research has not only advanced our understanding of wildlife management and conservation practices but has also set the stage for innovative interdisciplinary approaches that blend ecological science with social, ethical, and policy considerations."Joseph K. Bump, professor and Gordon W. Gullion Endowed Chair in Forest Wildlife Research & Education, University of Minnesota

A letter of support from Douglas W. Smith praises Vucetich as an early adapter of environmental data science techniques. Smith, a 1998 Tech alumnus who also worked on the wolf-moose project while earning his master's in biology, remembers meeting Vucetich, then an undergraduate, and admiring the work he was undertaking to become highly proficient in mathematics.

Vucetich, who saw the field of ecology shifting from its traditional focus on natural history to data science, realized mathematical skills were a necessity. But the discipline didn't come naturally.

"I wanted to be useful, in a professional sense," Vucetich said. "So I learned to be quantitative. It felt intimidating, because I was not a natural numerophile. But after being immersed in it for a few years, measurements and analysis became a central part of who I am."

The Isle Royale wolf-moose study was in its fourth decade when Vucetich joined the program. "Instantly he was able to take it to a new level," said Smith, who himself spent nine summers and two winters over a period of 15 years working on the project.

"In the four decades of the program, no one with his ability had previously worked with the data. He immediately applied rigorous methods, gathered more data on his own, and discovered new insights about the population ecology of wolves and moose on Isle Royale. He took analyses further than just population ecology — his area of expertise — and analyzed other data beyond just numeric fluctuations."

Smith, himself a prominent wildlife biologist best known for reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone National Park, hosted Vucetich as a visiting scholar in 2004. He praised Vucetich for his willingness to forge new pathways through his research.

"Science is often done for science's sake, or achieving one more publication, or capturing a grant," Smith said. "John, with his great understanding of how science works, took the next step and expanded into an area of why we ask the questions we do, what is important to understanding and helping the human endeavor, and what really is ethical scientific work — and really, human existence."

Conversations that Lead to Common Ground

In addition to ongoing professional collaborations, Vucetich has given tirelessly to audiences throughout the world, explaining the environments and challenges he has come to know so well to the wide variety of people who are fascinated by predators.

Is there anything he's tired of being asked?

"Nope. Sharing knowledge is magic. Asking questions is key to that magic," he said. "I'm a regular beneficiary of others' sharing. I just hope to contribute in return."

Vucetich acknowledges and embraces the existential element of his work. Forging new pathways in understanding the interconnectedness of life requires the ability to connect with diverse audiences on complex topics — which Vucetich frequently does through narrative storytelling.

Smith praised Vucetich for his ability to make science accessible.

"This recognition that humans are a story-oriented creature is one of his rare gifts that he has and few others do — he spins a great yarn with a data-driven underpinning. Many scientists choose not to do this — keeping their stories within the scientific realm — or simply, they can't," Smith said.

"This is what sets John apart. Notably, he has all the accomplishments that other scientists have, but he crosses over into the real, everyday world. This is what we need more of in the coming years ahead when so many biological and ecological indicators are failing or in decline. We need a wider understanding. John can help with that."

Michigan Technological University is an R1 public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.