The Last Wolf
The last wolf was seen Yellowstone Ntionsal Park in 1930. Since then the wolf has ben reintroduced to the park. The gray wolf is native to Yellowstone and in 1972 restoration of th gray wolf began. In 1995, many gray wolves were released into the park and population began to increase. The gray wolf provides a essential balance to the environment of Yellowstone National Park. The legends and myths about the gray wolf in Yellowsatoe date back to the early 1900s.
In 1996, there were five wolf dens thriving in the park. It was during this time when the gray wolf population tripled. In the early 1920s, is when the first gray wqlves roamed Yellowstone. A federal restoration project is what began the overpopulation of the gray wolf in Yellowstone. These wolves make the people who live by really nervous. The populations have increased and moved about 50 miles north. For the first time in about 70 years, people can now hear the gray wolf howl at night.
1995 Reintoduction of the Gray Wolf to Yellowstone National Park
Today, the gray wolf is overpopulating Yellowstone National Park. It all began in 1995 when the federal program to reintroduce them began. Many people fear for their safety. These wolves present an interesting sight to the who live in the backcountry. These wolves have continued to mate and produce litters of pups.
Today, visitors at Yellowstone sometmes mistake coyotes for the gray wolf. Many wolves are visable from the road and they are everywhere. Nature is taking its course and helping the wolf population to survive and increase rapidly.
Wolves kill elk, bison, small game, and deer in the park. This is leading to the decline in the population of the prey. An adult gray wolf can eat up to 32 pounds of meat. They do not eat everyday, but when they do, they make sure they remain full for as while. A group of six can eat about 800 pounds of meat per month. When elk was overpopulating Yellowstone, it was the gray wolf who reduced the elk population.
How the Gray Wolf Population Has Helped the Ecosystem of Yellowstone
Biologists have studied the reintroduction of the gray wolf to Yellowstone’s ecosystem. They play a major and very important role to the park’s environment. They have changed the park’ rivers, landscape, and forests. The wolves have had a very high success rate and have migrated outsaide the park. The wolves have managed the rising elk population. They play a major role in the food web. The gray wolf has also increased human visitors to Yellowstone, in hopes of spotting them.
The gray wolves are an eseential part of the animal kingdom at Yellowstone. At one time the gray wolf was part of the Endangered Species Act. They help the ecosystem in Yellowstone thrive today. Today, ranchers and trappers have to obtain permits to kill one.
Elk can no longer wander around in the open due to the gray wolf. The gray wolf has reduced the population of the coyote. They have helped to restore the streamside cottonwood trees and willow trees. They are great hunters and what is left over from their meal helps to feed eagles and other animals. They have helped to reshape the ecosystem of Yellowstone greatly. The gray wolf is also important to the Northern Rocky Mountain region’s economy. Visitor’s flock to the nation’s oldest park in hopes of seeing the gray wolf. They like to hunt in the open landscape where they can be seen by people who love to watch them.