Wolf Reintroduction Research Paper

For one, by 1980, wolves doubled to 50. By then it was apparent, ‘balance of nature’ seems to be the force that guides nature. This shows that wolves should be introduced because they are needed for balance

Wolves have always been a symbol of the wild, free in spirit and roamers of the land. These animals are considered majestic and protectors of the wilderness. They have always roamed the western United States, although their population has fluctuated over time. Over the past 10 years wolf reintroduction into Yellowstone National Park has been a controversial topic to those of the United States. As of 1995, wolves have been reintroduced into the park. This has come with some strong opposition and yet has prevailed. The future of the wolf in Yellowstone park is now looking bright, although not certain since there still are those who want them banished again.

Throughout the 1970’s, the US Fish and Wildlife Service developed a criteria to help identify the red wolf from the other the canids in order to protect them. Between 1974 and 1980, the US Fish and Wildlife service used this to identify and discovered that there only 17 red wolves remaining in the

With the reintroduction of the Grey Wolf into the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem there have been many people who are opposed. Mainly the ranchers in Montana

The biggest impact the reintroduction of wolves would make is that they control the population of large mammals such as elk. Without wolves in an ecosystem coyotes step into the role of the biggest predator. However coyotes are almost 2.5 times smaller than an average wolf so they are not big enough to kill much of the elk. The elk population then increases rapidly and hurts the ecosystem. Wolves also help reduce the spreading of disease by hunting on the elk that have been injured or have diseases. It gives the wolves a better chance of taking down the large animal and prevents

When the wolves were first reintroduced, having 30 equally distributed breeding pairs was enough to constitute a success. A breeding pair is defined as an adult male and female wolf raising two or more pups in a year, where the pups are born between April and May and then raised till December 31. With the reintroduction of the gray wolf, a recovery population goal had to be established. That was the goal of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for the recovery of the wolf population for the northern Rocky Mountains. Wolf numbers needed to be maintained at this level for at least three consecutive years. According to the USFWS 2002 was the third year where there had been at least 30 breeding pairs throughout Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. After 2002, these wolves are still multiplying and the population continues to soar, even at this very moment.

In “Scared to Death” by Ed Yong and Sharon Levy’s “Wolf Family Values,” we read about the need to protect the population of wolves in North America. These two articles have very different ways to go about this. Ed Yong talks about the wolf effects on elk as well as the rest of the environment. Levy’s approach is about wolf social structure and how it is impacted by hunting. Both of these make some valid points on why more conservation efforts should be made; however, I believe Ed Yong made the stronger case.

The thesis of this article is that wolves, once endangered, have come back and started to flourish causing mixed feelings for locals and biologists. Wolves were once hunted because one, to protect livestock, and two, they were seen as pests and/or vermin. The government then put wolves under the endangered list to try to save them. Since then, wolf populations have multiplied.

The state legislature has favored the ranching industry above ecology and continues to do so. Public polls “conducted by Boise State indicate that the overwhelming majority of Idahoans (nearly 70 percent) support wolf restoration” (Laverty, par. 4) and the legislature is seeking to remedy this by re-educating the public with “a balanced view of the impact of wolves on big game species, those sectors of the economy dependent upon sport hunting, livestock, domestic animals, and humans” (State, 3). Furthermore, the “cost of wolf reintroduction will be presented as a part of any public education program including direct and indirect costs” (State, 3).

The Mexican wolf is the southernmost subspecies of gray wolf in North America, its natural habitat was that of the southwest United States and Mexico, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona as their home range in the US. Mexican wolves typically feed on deer and elk. (Rinkevich, Murphy, & Barrett, 2011). The gray wolves were a menace to rancher’s cattle and farmer’s livestock. Depredation of livestock led ranchers and state governments to declare war on the Mexican gray wolves through public and private bounties. The Mexican gray wolves were successfully removed from the wild. (Foreman, 2004) The Endangered Species Act of 1973 was vital for the protection of the Mexican gray wolf. (Larkin, Noss, & Maehr, 2001) In 1990, the United States Fish & Wildlife Service coordinated and developed a Mexican wolf reintroduction recovery plan to establish a wild population of no less than 100 Mexican Gray wolves in March

advocating for the grey wolf to remain on the endangered species list, through his format and use of lists and bolded literature. There do not seem to be any apparent violations within the conventions. The time line of these documents is in very close proximity as both of the memos were written during the month of October on day twenty-seven and twenty-eight, within the year of 2015. Some social and political issues that come into play during these memos is the issue that Oregon’s Commissioners is considering delisting grey wolves from the endangered species list based on propositions that I quote are “...not supported by science, the law or the public.” and “The continued insistence on delisting wolves seems motivated by politics and specious perception that it would make things easier for the agency.” (Page 4). It is apparent that the motive to remove grey wolves from the endangered species list would make it “easier” for the agencies that constantly have to monitor and deal with the problems that arise with having wolves in the state but, the current wolf population in Oregon is roughly eighty to eighty-three animals which is far below the carrying capacity of the state. ExigenceThe purpose for the

The declining wolf population has turned around and is now increasing at a steady pace. The National Park Service says “During the 1980s, wolves began to reestablish breeding packs in Northwestern Montana; 50-60 wolves inhabited Montana in 1994.”(NPS) We are very fortunate for the quick acts of transferring the wolves from Canada down to the Yellowstone National Park and to the intense research that has been done

Gray wolves can live all over the world. Gray wolves live at Yellowstone national park. They also live in Alaska, and the mountains. Gray wolves like meat as elk,deer,moose and caribou. Then, they feed it too their young or other pups.

Nature culture dichotomy is a Western world view so it is appropriate to consider using this analytical approach when discussing the issues associated with the re-introduction of the Mexican wolf to other stakeholders because of the areas where they would be re-introduced. The area is important because the people in these areas will have many of the same thoughts on how they view the re-introduction

As you can see from my proposed title, I would like to discuss the Grey Wolves in Yellowstone National Park. After listening to a speech given by Doug Smith on Iowa State’s campus, the topic has sparked my attention. He came to Iowa State and presented at the Errington Lecture. I think wolves are interesting and they, like every other animal or wildlife should be protected if need to be. Moreover, I think this paper will help me learn more about wolves, policy processes, and more about the ESA. I