Yellowtone Wolf Research Paper

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.

For the first time in 70 years, the howl of the Grey Wolf is being heard throughout Yellowstone Park (Sanders, 2000). In January of 1995, 14 wolves from separate packs in Canada were trapped and transported to Yellowstone. Once in the park the wolves were placed in one acre acclimation pens. In total there were three pens scattered across the northern portion of Yellowstone: one a Crystal Creek, another at Rose Creek, and the last at Soda Butte. During the wolves time spent in these pens they were fed winter kill, or road kill. The packs that were formed in these pens were released in the winters of 1995-1996 and also again in 1996-1997 for a second release period (Sanders, 2000). In 1995 fourteen wolves were released and in 1996 seventeen were released. In 1997 there were 64 pups born and since 1995, 33 wolves have died in the Yellowstone area.

While highly controversial, the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone Park has provided many beneficial ecological changes to the entire parks ecosystem. After a nearly 70 year absence, in January of 1995, 14 wolves from separate packs were captured in the Canadian Rockies and transported to Yellowstone National Park in the states of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho (Sanders par. 2).

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 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 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

Wolves are highly adaptable to most habitat types except tropical rainforests and arid deserts. Wolves can be found in savannas, taiga, tundra, plains, steppes, and all forest habitats. The Grey wolf is a carnivore and is known as a tertiary consumer. This means that they exist in the top level in a food chain. An example of an animal that is beneath the Grey wolf on the food chain would be the caribou, which is one of its most hunted food sources.

So as you can see the best solution for tourists, farmers, the ecosystem, and the wolves is to let us keep the wolves in the wild where they belong and not in some sanctioned area where no unauthorized people are allowed to even gaze upon these marvelous

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

As the population is growing more crops and cattle for farms are expanding and this has started to cause the Gray Wolves to get in the endangered list in 1976. Within those farms, Gray wolves would invade the livestock and gather food from the farms. When the farmers witness their livestock being eaten and taken away from the wolves they would kill and shoot the animals to defend their farm. Since there are so many farms the food stock has become limited for them so they have to find whatever food they can. Besides limited food disease is also a huge problem within their community, diseases such as canine distemper which is caused by unvaccinated dogs and kills young pups to older adults. Gray wolves are also a dangerous predator to themselves,

The appearance of a grey thrilled wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists. An emblem of hope, a grey wolf wandering into Arizona—a place once densely populated with wolves before the 1900s culling—is a demonstration of how conservation efforts have succeeded in helping

There has been a great amount of controversy and concern relating to the reintroduction, recovery, and managing of wolves in several locations in the western part of the United States. The gray wolves were once protected on the Endanger Species list and in April 2011, the gray wolf was removed from the list and was considered a recovered animal. During this time western states began to hunt and trap wolves in order to decrease wolf population. The increase of wolves created a concern about livestock in many areas and in Wyoming the wolves were considered a nuisance. There are three factors that have contributed to the social conflicts concerning the management of wolves. The first factor involves sciences and political policy that affects the

- Through the centuries wolves have been driven out of many areas as the land was taken over and used by people.

For many years my family and I have traveled around the country to visit our national parks and view the wildlife they protect. I’ve been from Hawaii to Maine to the Virgin Islands. My favorite memories as a child are those of camping with my family in these national parks. One of the few parks I have not had the pleasure of visiting is Denali National Park in Alaska. Last year while reading a magazine, I learned of something that troubled me very much. There was an article about wolves and how you can see them living in their natural habitat just by driving through the park. After reading this article, I wanted to visit Denali and see these amazing creatures, but these wolves are being slowly

After the reintroduction of the total 21 wolves in 3 packs, the population of wolves in Yellowstone has increased significantly over the years. In just 5 years, the population went from 21 wolves to 119 in 8 packs. Since the reintroduction of the wolves seem to have been a success, further imports of wolves were deemed unnecessary. But not all was seen as fine and dandy. Bringing back wolves into the ecosystem produced an ecological disturbances and public opposition.