Dec. 12 on The Story: Before they were all but eradicated by the mid-1900s, wolves roamed much of the American West, including Oregon. But with protections in place under the Endangered Species Act, gray wolves began making their way back into the state in the early 2000s. For some, the two dozen or so packs that now call Oregon home represent a runaway conservation success story — but for others, they pose a very real threat to livelihoods in rural parts of the state. Unlike the spotted owl, which has faded from prominence in these debates over time, the gray wolf is a living embodiment of the conflict between environmentalists and rural Oregonians, as well as the Native tribes who want to welcome back what they see as an integral part of the natural world. Watch more The Story videos: http://bit.ly/watchTheStory Follow The Story on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheStoryKGW Follow The Story on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestorykgw