Returning the Wolves to the Wild The Restoration of a...

A beautiful, clear night in the Rocky Mountain backcountry, stars fill the moonless night sky, and one can not help to think of how peaceful it is. Traveling through the backcountry, you have encountered more wildlife than you have people. Suddenly, the silence of the evening is interrupted by the howl of a wolf, alerting all to its presence. The howl is soon answered by another, closer howl. You can feel the hair stand up on the back of your neck as you realize that you are not alone in the wilderness, with the top predator lurking nearby. As you drift off to sleep, you can not help but to admire the wonderful balance of the natural world. This feeling was once obtainable throughout all of the Rocky Mountains, but now it is†¦show more content†¦The reintroduction in Yellowstone now stands as a model of success for future reintroductions in the wildernesses of the Rocky Mountains. These future reintroductions face much of the same opposition as the Yellowstone proje ct did. The lessons learned in the Yellowstone Wolf Reintroduction Project can be used to help future restorations in different locations of the Rocky Mountains. The reintroduction and restoration of the gray wolf to its native habitat of the Rocky Mountains faces opposition, but it is essential to restore the natural balance of the ecosystem and improve the long term health of the environment. Reintroduction of the gray wolf to the Rocky Mountains should occur because the relationship between predator and prey is essential to the health of an ecosystem, with the predators helping to regulate the preys’ population. The gray wolf is one of the top predators in the United States. Working together as a pack, gray wolves are carnivores that possess the physical endurance, agility and cooperative action to bring down prey much larger than them (Donnelly 180). Researchers believe that prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus, 425,000 to 1,000,000 wolves populated the continent (Donnelly 180). By 1936, the wolves were gone from the wilderness of the lower forty eight states. The numbers of ungulate species, the wolves’ primary food source, began to riseShow MoreRelatedWolf Reintroduction to Yellowstone Park2530 Words   |  11 PagesHistory 4 The Cons of Wolf Reintroduction 6 Pros of Wolf Reintroduction 7 Summary 9 Works Cited 11 Reintroduction of Wolves at Yellowstone Park Introduction 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 ofRead MoreHunting Benefits Wildlife Conservation2777 Words   |  11 Pagesthe great acts of President Theodore Roosevelt, its has been our moral responsibility to protect the game species of America (Belanger). Our country provides a professional and sufficient way to guide conservation and to develop, regulate, and manage the nations fish and wildlife resources with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and various other conservation groups and organizations. Hunting is the pursuance and killing of wild animals