Historically, hundreds of thousands of wolves roamed wild throughout North America. During the 19th and 20th centuries, as the human population grew, people began to compete with wolves for game and habitat. Wolves were also viewed as pests and vermin and were slaughtered by the thousands. As a result, wolves virtually disappeared from the American west.
Wolves play a significant role in ecosystem health. They help keep large herd animal populations in check, which can benefit numerous other plant and animal species. The carcasses of their prey also help to redistribute nutrients and provide food for other wildlife species, most notably other scavengers. Indeed, scientists are just beginning to understand the full positive ripple effects that large predators contribute in nature.
Today, wolves can be found in many different regions of the United States. In some regions, like the Great Lakes district, wolves are thriving and people in the towns and cities near them have accepted them as part of the wild landscape. However, in other regions, wolves are facing serious threats to their existence.
Related Scientific Articles:
- Are wolves saving Yellowstone's aspen trees from elk?
- An ecosystem being transformed – Yellowstone 15 years after the return of wolves
- Wolves may aid recovery of Canada lynx, a threatened species
- Loss of predators in Northern Hemisphere affecting ecosystem health
- Return of top predators is key to ecological future
- Loss of large predators disrupting multiple plant, animal and human ecosystems
The proposal to strip nearly all gray wolves in the lower 48 states of Endangered Species Act protections has left many Americans saddened, shocked and downright angry. As part of the efforts to bring attention to this urgent issue, Defenders of Wildlife has created this powerful video. Please, consider supporting the Defenders for Wildlife Emergency Campaign to protect America's Wolves.
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