Wolf Reintroduction in Yellowstone

May 24, 2023

Shaka Guide

OK, looks like we’re gonna stay on the Grand Loop Road all the way to Tower-Roosevelt Junction! There’s only two more short stops before we get there. And as usual, I’ll point them out when we get closer.

And now, I’m howling to tell you more about the Yellowstone Wolves.

Man versus nature; it’s a tale as old as time. Let’s sink our teeth into some of the reasons why the Gray wolves nearly disappeared, and how they made their comeback.

First, there’s the problem of the all-you-can-eat beef buffets that popped up across the landscape. I’m talking, of course, about cattle ranches. Unfortunately, wolves don’t understand human ideas, like land rights and property ownership. If they see a calf, they’re gonna eat it. And naturally, ranchers want to protect their livestock, so they kill the wolves.

But it wasn’t just the ranchers that put the Gray wolves under threat.

Half a century ago, national park management prioritized prey over predators. The idea was that, visitors wanted to see prey animals, like deer and bison. So, the park started eliminating the predators. Fewer predators meant more prey, which would theoretically mean happier visitors. And the plan worked! As more and more wolves were killed, the number of bison, deer, and elk grew in abundance.

But these prey species have something in common–they’re herbivores. They eat mostly grass. And this meant that more and more animals had to share the same limited food source. At one point, estimates said that there were as many as 30,000 elk in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. It was getting outta control. Something had to change.

If you’ve been to Lamar Valley, you’ve heard me talk about how the wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995, and the dramatic impact it had on the park. Suddenly, grasslands could regrow, trees had a chance to sprout, and the ecosystem was balanced.

But it wasn’t just the wolves. The return of cougars, red foxes, Grizzlies, and Black bears, all helped rebalance the park's ecosystem.

For instance, when willow trees have a chance to grow, beavers can use them to build lodges. The lodges slow the flow of rivers and raise the water table, creating ideal conditions for growing more willows. This provides more food for the elk, which are in turn food for wolves and cougars. But if there are too many elk, they’ll eat the willow before it has a chance to grow, disrupting the entire cycle.

See, it’s not a food chain. It’s a food web, and it all connects. Break one link, and the entire structure collapses.

Today, the Northern Range is a favorite spot for tourists, biologists, and wildlife. And it’s one of the few areas in North America where visitors can see Gray wolves in their natural habitat. Although the Northern Range only makes up 10% of the park, it’s home to 50% of the park’s wolves. The area’s vitality serves as a testament to one of the National Park’s greatest conservation success stories.

Today, the range of the gray wolf is restricted to a few northwestern states, and parts of Canada and Alaska. Maybe one day, as governments and locals continue to learn how to live in harmony with these magnificent predators, they’ll reclaim more of their former range. If you’d like to learn more about these wolves, be sure to check out Lamar Valley, located on the Northeast Entrance Road. And wouldn’t you know it, we’ll reach the Northeast Entrance Road in about 10 minutes, at Tower-Roosevelt Junction. I’ll remind you when we get closer.

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