Reintroducing Wolves to Wyoming
An Historic Conservation Achievement
The Wolf's Ecological Role in Nature
Like any top predator, wolves play an enormously important role in the ecosystem.
Wolves play a key role in their ecosystem by culling weak and old elk and deer and reducing the long-term concentration of elk herds on sensitive meadows and wetlands. In what is known as the cascade effect, the presence of wolves benefits a multitude of species within the Yellowstone National Park ecosystem, for example. Elk, wary of the new top predator, have altered their grazing behavior. With less grazing pressure from elk, streambed vegetation such as willow and aspen are recovering after decades of over-browsing. As the trees are restored, they create better habitat for native birds and fish, beaver and other species. In addition, wolves have reduced the Park's coyote population significantly in some areas, which has led to increased populations of pronghorn antelope and red fox. In short, wolves play an important role in nature and their presence enhances native biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.
Sources:
(1) Smith, D.W., R.O. Petersen, and D.B. Houston. 2003. Yellowstone after Wolves. Bioscience 53 (4): 330 340.
(2) Ripple, W.J., and R.L. Beschta. 2004. Wolves, elk, willows, and trophic cascades in the upper Gallatin range of southwestern Montana, USA. Forest Ecology and Management 200: 161-181
(3) Crabtree R.L., and J.W. Sheldon. 1999. Coyotes and canid coexistence. Pp 127-163 in Clark TW, Curlee AP, Minta SC, Kareiva PM, eds. Carnivores in Ecosystems: The Yellowstone Experience. New Haven (CT): Yale University Press.
(4) Ripple et al. 2001. Trophic cascades among wolves, elk and aspen on Yellowstone National Park's northern range. Biological Conservation 102 (2001) 227–234.