The Wolves of Yellowstone National Park

RaeShelle Erickson

November 5, 201

 

 

            In 1996, Bob Beschta noticed a river in Yellowstone National Park was over-widened due to over erosion of the river’s banks. He also observed the vegetation that lined the bank had vanished completely. Around the same time, Bill Ripple and Eric Larsen noticed the disappearance of aspen trees throughout the park. Further investigation showed the loss of aspen trees was limited solely to the park. They were thriving everywhere else.  After considering climate change and fire, they decided to look within the trees themselves. By looking at the growth rings within the core, they discovered the 70-year-old trees had stopped regenerating around the 1930’s. The only major change that took place around this time was the reduction of wolves. (1) Between 1883 and 1917, more than 100,000 grey wolves were killed for bounty in Montana, Colorado and Wyoming. By 1970, wolves in general were considered an endangered species which was made official in 1974 after the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973.

            The extinction of wolves was a problem in Yellowstone for multiple reasons. Without wolves, elk populations explode. They had few predators to worry about and no longer had much reason to migrate around in the winter. When that happens, aspen, willow and cottonwood trees suffer. Elk graze on the saplings which prevents them from ever having a chance to grow and mature. This took a fairly large toll on Yellowstone Park’s beaver population as well because they used the wood from willows to help them survive in the winter.

            Beavers are important to the ecology of Yellowstone because they keep willow trees healthy and help the runoff season stay controlled by building their dams in rivers and ponds. This in turn creates cold, shaded water for fish to swim and store water for recharging the water table which means water replenishes groundwater supplies. Healthy willow tree populations provide not only shade but homes for song bird populations and protection for the river banks from erosion as well as providing food. (2)  So if all of these species were in trouble without wolves, how did they reappear in Yellowstone?

            After Bill Ripple and Eric Larsen noticed all the problems happening without the wolves, experts decided it was time we brought the wolves back. This sparked a lot of debate with both farmers and state and government officials who didn’t feel it was important to worry about. However, as time went on, it became more and more apparent that this special ecosystem was not going to be able to repair itself. The elk were getting out of hand, trees were suffering and large species numbers were being lost. Bird populations were disappearing without the food sources wolves helped protect, fish populations were suffering without beavers to build the dams that helped their home. So between 1995 and 1997, 41 grey wolves were brought in from Canada and Montana to try and fix the problems we created. As expected, the wolves dispersed into the park and established packs and territories. Packs in Yellowstone range from 2 to 11 wolves. It has now been roughly 19 years and the wolves have done fantastically. They have done well keeping elk and deer populations in check. Killing these animals doesn’t just benefit the wolf population. Ravens, coyotes, bears and a few other animals will often come by to get in on some dinner. Bears are commonly successful in chasing the wolves off for the kill. The other animals usually only get the scraps the wolves don’t eat.

            Wolf populations have stayed stable throughout the 19 years they have been back. Disease periodically kills off pups but not too often. The first outbreak was in 1999 followed by another in 2005. Distemper will also get to the pups every now and again but they have appeared to handle that fairly well. In 2008, food was less abundant and territorial fights broke out killing quite a few adult wolves. In 2011, the US Fish and Wildlife Services department estimated about 1,650 wolves, 244 packs and 110 breeding pairs. This same year, grey wolves were removed from the endangered species list in Wyoming and Montana. (3)

            The wolves aren’t safe yet. They are still facing tremendous pressure from farmers, hunters and other people who want them removed once again from Yellowstone. Ranchers and farmers worry about wolves killing their livestock. They don’t want to lose money due to the wolf and would prefer the wolves be gone all together. In most parts of the US and Canada, wolves are protected from open hunting however, this does not ensure their safety. Wolves in general need a lot of open space away from humans so they can raise their young and live, but rising human populations means less room for them and more conflict between the two. One major problem involved in the loss of their territory includes the amount of wilderness being lost. For the people who want to protect the wolves, we need to focus on their home as well as the animals themselves. It becomes necessary to provide what they can’t provide for themselves; a healthy, stable environment for them to live in. (4)

            Wolves are fighting for survival all over the country as states have been removing them from the endangered species list. States such as Wyoming and Montana have been considering removing them then setting up protection programs to help boost their population numbers. This isn’t such good news for ranchers and farmers who feel there are too many wolves as is. They seem to fail at realizing the importance of having these creatures in the environment and the vast role they play. They need to take a step back and look at all the good wolves do before they shoot them for the bad.

            In conclusion, wolves are essential to the survival of many species, both plant and animal, not only in Yellowstone National Park but all over the world. They keep populations in check, help plant species flourish and enchant people everywhere with their mystery and power. There are conflicts that occur and sometimes get worse as humans take over more and more of their homes but plenty of wolf advocates have appeared as well to help them out along the way. The wolf in itself is capable of maintaining the wilderness as it is they just need help from us to protect how much wilderness is left. Without the reintroduction in 1995, Yellowstone Park would likely be in critical condition by now if not completely destroyed. We owe the splendor and beauty of the park to the wolf that keeps it as beautiful and clean as it is.

 

 

Citation

1. “Wolves in Yellowstone Park” Strange Days on Planet Earth. National Geographic. 11 Oct 2014

2. “Wolf Reintroduction Changes Ecosystem.” Yellowstone Park. 1 June 2011.

3. “Wolves In Yellowstone.” Yellowstone. National Park Service.

4. "Why Are Wolves Endangered?" Wolf Country. 25 Oct. 2014.

5. Photo from: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/447967494166006093/