Our Story
The Wind River Bear Institute (WRBI) was founded in 1996 by bear biologist, Carrie L. Hunt, to provide innovative, non-lethal solutions to complex human-wildlife conflict issues. After testing and developing bear spray (perhaps the greatest contribution to the world of non-lethal bear deterrence of our time), Hunt began experimenting with other aversive conditioning tools to prevent bears from learning foraging behaviors that lead to conflict with people, allowing bears to remain on the landscape without having to be killed in conflicts with people. This pursuit led her to the Karelian Bear Dog (KBD) for finding bears, pushing them away from people, and educating people to live & recreate safely in bear country.
The KBD is a hardy hunting dog from Finland that is renowned for their ability to pursue and bay large game safely and effectively. Traditional knowledge of the breed indicates that select KBDs from good hunting lines are fearless even in the pursuit of brown bear. Hunt recognized the utility of KBD for wildlife management and began breeding, testing, selecting, placing, and handling these dogs under the working title, Wildlife K-9 (WK9).
Taking on the role of conservationist, the highly adaptable WK9 has proven to be a perfect partner for wildlife managers and an ambassador for educating the public. Hunt developed the concept of “Bear Shepherding” that simultaneously teaches people to prevent conflicts with bears while simultaneously reinforcing bear wariness towards people.
Over the past 30+ years of working with Federal, State, and Provincial agencies, as well as private land owners and industry , WRBI’s WK9 Handlers have taken hundreds of bear management actions annually without injury to bears, people, or dogs! The WRBI is on a mission to advance the use of Wildlife K-9 dogs to reduce human-wildlife conflict and make the world safer for bears & people worldwide. We continue to establish “best practices” in our field through scientific research and management. We offer innovative approaches designed to address complex human-wildlife conflict problems.
Our Biologists
Carrie L. Hunt
Founder, Wind River Bear Institute
Director, Wind River Karelian Bear Dog Partners
M.Sc. Wildlife Biology
Wildlife K-9 Partner(s): “Mowgli” “Inka” “Ember” & “Jack”
Carrie Hunt began training dogs as an 8 year-old girl, having read Kipling’s “The Jungle Book” and at that point dedicating herself to improving communication between humans and animals. During her early years, she trained dogs belonging to her family and friends and took a year off from college to become a “Sea World” San Diego marine mammal caretaker and trainer. But her first love has always been dogs and bears. Hunt has been a bear biologist and Wildlife K-9 trainer, working with government and private groups, for over 30 years throughout North America and internationally. Hunt is known for her pioneering work in the area of bear conservation to reduce mortality of wild bears through human-bear conflict resolution and in particular for her work in modifying wild bear behavior through the use of repellents, deterrents and conditioning. She developed the use of the red pepper spray system that today is widely used to turn approaching bears. She also developed the first safe and effective methods to modify problem behaviors of wild, free-ranging grizzly bears, through the use of operant conditioning, and teaching the processes applicable in variable conflict situations to wildlife managers, officers and private landowners. Hunt owns and operates the kennel in Florence, Montana.
Nils J. Pedersen
Director
M.Sc. Wildlife Biology and Conservation
Wildlife K-9 Partner(s): “Soledad” “Rio” “Mardy” “Sky” & “Pahakas”
Nils Pedersen grew up with sled dogs in Fairbanks, Alaska. He understood the utility of working dogs for bear deterrence at a young age because of a photo that his grandpa showed him of one of his Greenland Husky dogs chasing a young polar bear away from camp. Pedersen began working with the WRBI in 2011 as the trainer and handler of “Soledad”. Together they have worked to address human-bear conflict issues with all three species of North American bear: brown, black, and polar bear. Pedersen completed a M.Sc. degree in Wildlife Biology and Conservation from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2019. His research focused on human-grizzly bear conflict in the North Slope oilfields of Alaska and the use of Forward Looking Infrared-equipped drones for grizzly and polar bear den detection in the Arctic. Pedersen owns and operates the WRBI kennel in Fairbanks, Alaska. In his spare time he guides for Arctic Dog Adventure Co., an ecotourism dog mushing company he founded with his partner Lisbet Norris.
Quick Links
ALASKA
Nils Pedersen
P.O. Box 750689 Fairbanks, Alaska 99775
(907) 347-7485
MONTANA
Carrie Hunt
5353 E. Carlton Creek Road
Florence, Montana 59833
(406) 546-7051
Thank you to our supporters:
Our Wildlife K-9 Partners
Rio II
Born: 2013
Sex: Male
Litters:
2017: Soledad x Rio – “Mardy” “Biko II” “Tuli” “Sirkka” “Hula” “Delta”
2018: Tama x Rio – “San” “Shun” “Elf” “Maru” “Dan” “Rela”
Rio II is a brown bear hunting KBD that came from Erauspojan Kennel in Kuusamo, Finland in 2016 to join our team. Since then Rio has produced our first litter of puppies to be born in Alaska and he traveled to Japan in 2018 to produce the first litter of KBDs ever to be born in Japan for bear conservation work with the group Picchio. Rio is an excellent hunting dog and accomplished sled dog. Rio is very sweet and personable and he has stamped every one of his litters with his athletic build, fierce desire to hunt, and his love of people. Rio lives in Fairbanks, Alaska with his partner, Nils Pedersen.
Soledad
Sex: Female
Litters:
2014: Soldad x Rooster – “Oscar” “Tama” “Nanuq” “Nala” “Dazzle II” “Dazzle III”
2017: Soledad x Rio – “Mardy” “Biko II” “Tuli” “Sirkka” “Hula” “Delta”
Soledad is one of our most experienced KBDs. She has worked with all three species of North American bear: black, grizzly, and polar bear. She is best known for her unique look and cool, calm, and collected approach to dealing with challenging situations. Soledad is a dog model, grand-mother of the first litter of KBDs ever to be produced in Japan, and one of the most famous KBDs of all time due to the many times that she has been featured in the media for her conservation work. She lives in Fairbanks, Alaska with her partner, Nils Pedersen.
Joni
Sex: Male
Joni is the second born son to Akela. During his “Bear Test”, Joni performed better than almost every one of the KBDs that the WRBI has produced in our 24 years. Joni will be the future of our breeding program, carrying on Akela’s foundational lines. Joni is in the process of becoming a Wildlife K-9. He lives in Florence with his partner, Carrie Hunt.
Mowgli
Sex: Male
Mowgli is the first born son of Akela. He is an up and coming lead dog with a great sense of humor. Mowgli has been training and working with his handler, Carrie Hunt, in Montana to become a Wildlife K-9.
Mardy
Sex: Female
Mardy is named in honor of Margaret Murie, the famous wildlife conservationist. Mardy lives up to her name in her outgoing and inquisitive nature. Within minutes of being born, Mardy was trying to find a way to escape from her whelping box. Her bold independence and cunning have only increased with age, much to the delight and horror of her family! Mardy is the first daughter of Soledad that the WRBI has kept for the future of our breeding program. She is very sweet and clever girl with a knack for mischief: exactly what the WRBI breeds for in a working dog. Mardy is in the process of becoming a Wildlife K-9. She lives in Fairbanks, Alaska with her partner, Nils Pedersen.
Wildlife K-9 “Hall of Fame”
Baloo
P2008 – 2023
Sex: Female
Litters:
2011: Baloo x Rooster – “Spencer” “Indefatigable” “Nakiska” “Washoe” “Shoshone” “Tikka” “Hunter” “Seita”
Baloo worked with all three species of North American bear: black, grizzly, and polar bear and helped to establish the use of our techniques in California, working in Sequoia National Park to address black bear issues within the park. Baloo was a big, beautiful girl that embodied the stature and persona of her grandma “Eilu”. Many of Baloo’s puppies worked with agencies and individuals in the Pacific NW. She lived out her days in Anchorage, Alaska with her partner, Kaitlin Weber.
Grace
Sex: Female
Litters:
2006: Grace x Yoki – “Akela” “Cash” “Atlas” “Timber” “Eagle” “Koda”
2008: Grace x Roman – “Baloo” “Peka” “Savute” “Nadi” “Colter” “Motomo” “Oso”
2010: Grace x Roman – “Soledad”
Grace was one of few KBDs that worked with all three species of North American bear: black, grizzly, and polar bear. She is the great-grandmother “Matriarch” of our Wildlife K-9 Program. She lived in Edmonton, Alberta with her handler, Claire Edwards.
Cassidy
Sex: Male
Wind River “Butch” Cassidy was Carrie Hunt’s lead dog for many years. He is the son of “Yoki” and one of the best Wildlife K-9s that the WRBI has ever produced. Cassidy was our “white glove” in that we knew that if Cassidy was interested in a scent, it was almost certainly bear.
Satchmo
Sex: Male
Satchmo was a very accomplished Wildlife K-9 with a willful spirit and great sense of humor. Satch trained many handlers over the years how to work with a high caliber dog of his nature.
Akela
2006 to 2021 – Grace x Yoki
Sex: Male
Litters:
2016: Akela x Salla – “Mowgli” “Alta”
2017: Akela x Salla – “Joni”
Akela carries every one of our original lines of foundational KBDs. He is the “Patriarch” of our breeding program and our senior male. Akela’s friendly and affectionate disposition is balanced with his eagerness and drive to find and chase bear. He is considered to be one of the “hottest” Wildlife K-9s that the WRBI has produced, second only to his papa “Yoki”. Akela has stamped every litter that he has produced with his passion and working aptitude. Akela lived in Florence, Montana with his handler, Carrie Hunt.
Kujoki
Sex: Male
Litters:
1998: Eilu x Yoki – “Usko” “Circle” “Suomi” “Jewel” “Tuck” “Rhoka” “Granite” “Raven” “Checkers” “Fancy” “Blush” “Vladimir”
1999: Luna x Yoki – “Gracie I” “Cassidy” “Joulu” “Noki”
2001: Carmen x Yoki – “Kai” “Seita” “Kavik” Satchmo” “Brudder” “Kuma” “Mica”
2006: Grace x Yoki – “Akela” “Cash” “Atlas” “Timber” “Eagle” “Koda”
2006: Grace x Yoki – “Akela” “Cash” “Atlas” “Timber” “Eagle” “Koda”
2007: Luna x Yoki – “Freemont” “Togo” “Yoki jr.” “Echo” “Chinook” “Mara” “Kaj” “Itse” “Arrow”
Yoki was the first breeding male in our lines to come from Finland. “Smokin’ Joe Yoke” was the hottest Wildlife K-9 that Carrie Hunt had ever worked with and he taught her a lot about how to train an independent and willful KBD. His contribution to our programs is difficult to quantify given his many litters and incredible drive to save wild bears.
Eilu
Sex: Female
Litters:
1998: Eilu x Yoki – “Usko” “Circle” “Suomi” “Jewel” “Tuck” “Rhoka” “Granite” “Raven” “Checkers” “Fancy” “Blush” “Vladimir”
2004: Eilu x Blaze – “Grace” “Taiin” “Bullet” “Dainichi” “Luna” “Tansii” “Wasatch”
Eilu was the first breeding female in our lines to come from Finland. She is one of the matriarchal lines of our kennel. Eilu was big and beautiful and inspired those who met her.
Blaze
Sex: Male
Litters:
2003: Blush x Blaze – “Rico” “Shadow” “Romeo” “Cassandra” “Mishka” “Slash” “Chase” “St. Bernard” “Taz”
2004: Eilu x Blaze – “Grace” “Taiin” “Bullet” “Dainichi” “Luna” “Tansii” “Wasatch”
Blaze was one of the foundational breeding dogs in our program. He stamped all of his litters with his love of people.
sisko
Sex: Male
Sisko was Lori Homstol’s working Wildlife K-9 and life-long companion. Sisko was one of the most experienced and capable working dogs that we have had the pleasure of working with. His big attitude and personality left a deep impression on everyone that met him.
tuffy
Sex: Male
Tuffy was one of our foundational Wildlife K-9s that helped to show the world what was possible to do in working with wild bears.
Rio I
Sex: Male
Litters:
1995: Cassie x Rio I – “Fat Tail” “Fin” “Spot” “Uno” “Oso” “Sunny” ‘Mr. T” “Luna”
1995: Cassie x Rio I – “Gila” “Dolly” “Tut” “Dazzle” “Panda”
1997: Cassie x Rio I – “Cody” “Blaze” “Logan” “Carmen” “Natalia”
Rio I was one of our foundational Wildlife K-9s that helped to show the world what was possible to do in working with wild bears. He is one of the patriarchal lines in our kennel.
cassie
Sex: Female
Litters:
1995: Cassie x Rio I – “Fat Tail” “Fin” “Spot” “Uno” “Oso” “Sunny” ‘Mr. T” “Luna”
1995: Cassie x Rio I – “Gila” “Dolly” “Tut” “Dazzle” “Panda”
1997: Cassie x Rio I – “Cody” “Blaze” “Logan” “Carmen” “Natalia”
Cassie was one of our foundational Wildlife K-9s that helped to show the world what was possible to do in working with wild bears. She is one of our matriarchal lines in our kennel. It is Cassie’s face that is seen on our logo.
Hire Us
Join our cause and hire us to help with your human-wildlife conflict issues today. We offer Wildlife K-9 Teams, consulting, and training services for government agencies, industry groups, and private entities. Our motto: “Teach Your Wildlife Well”.
Donate Now
Contribute to our cause by donating to our programs. All donations will go towards continuing the important work that we do throughout North America and Japan. Your generous donations will help to continue and expand the use of working KBDs to keep wildlife on the landscape!