Adrian grew up in Kimberly, Wisconsin along the highly industrial Fox River, but managed to find some wild areas along the river and along railroad tracks that inspired his interest in wildlife and the wild places where they lived.  Adrian obtained his BS degree from UW-Stevens Point in Biology and Wildlife Management (1976), and his MS from Iowa State University (1979).  He worked in wildlife conservation and management for the Missouri Department of Conservation (1980-1982), and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (1982-2015) over the next 35 years.  Between 1990 and 2013, Adrian headed up the recovery and conservation program for gray wolves and other nongame mammals in Wisconsin. With retirement in 2015, Adrian continues to be active as volunteer, part time worker, or contractor, surveying and promoting sound conservation of wolves and other wildlife.