Some wolves are common, but the Yellowstone wolves are heroes. Yellowstone National Park is lucky to have these kind of canines because they are important to the park community.
Nearly a hundred wolves live in Yellowstone, probably about the same number that lived there in the late 1800’s. Back then, many people saw the wolves as dangerous. They were concerned that the wolves would eat their livestock, so the humans began to hunt them down. By 1930, not one wolf was left. In the 1990’s, scientists worked with the American and Canadian government to move a pack of wolves from Canada to Yellowstone.
In the winter of 1995, 14 gray wolves were brought from Canada to Yellowstone park. Those were the first canines that were moved to the park. Eventually, more packs of wolves were brought to Yellowstone and female wolves began having young pups. However, something happened as they began to get comfortable in the park—other animals that disappeared when the wolves did in the early 1900’s, came back.
Elk is a wolf’s favorite meal. When the canines were gone, elks started to eat trees that birds needed to live in, bugs had to eat from, and beavers needed to make their wooden homes. As the wolves ate more elk, more animals were able to make their homes in the park. When the elk population went down, some trees grew taller since the elk were not eating them as much. These trees were stronger than before, and also healthier. Also, the river bank's greenery prevented erosion. The wolves helped the rivers by eating the elk that ate the greenery. Then, the greenery could bloom along the river.
Yellowstone wolves are not only canines, but lifesavers. Restoring the wolf population in Yellowstone not only helped restore other animal populations in the park, but it also helped replenish the park’s overall health and wellness.
[Source:
National Geographic Kids
]
