PROS: WHY SHOULD WOLVES BE REINTRODUCED INTO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
(Contributed by Jeff Street, Biology lab partner)
Earlier this century, the wolf population was exterminated in Yellowstone National Park due to hunting and trapping. The wolf, thought as a vicious predator, was killed for reasons made by an uneducated society. People thought that wolves were a menace to the park and its herds of elk, deer, mt sheep, and antelope. The wolf was believed to have done much damage to the game that was present on the parks 2.2 million acres of land. Some thought that if killing these animals was stopped then the wolves would increase to balance the increase of deer and elk populations, which would then cause hunting to be more difficult. This would cause problems for the support from the Sportsman's Associations. Along with the fear of the predator taking over the wild game, livestock owners living near park boundaries worried that wolves would cross the border and kill their animals. It seemed that the wolf had no chance for survival.
Later this century, as the science of Biology educated more and more people, the fact is realized that something was wrong with the ecosystem in Yellowstone National Park. Without the wolf population, Yellowstone fails to maintain its natural state. It was made clear that the ecosystem in Yellowstone would never function properly until the missing element was replaced. It was decided that the wolf should be reintroduced into the ecosystem at Yellowstone. For many people, this idea was considered foolish. The debate over wolves and Yellowstone has set off great controversy, which will continue to rage for years.
Why should wolves be reintroduced to Yellowstone? Wolves would help restore Yellowstone's ecosystem to a condition that resembles the way the system once functioned. The wolf, being a large predator, is an important part of the parks ecosystem. Once the population has recovered, natural interactions between predators and prey will be restored. The wolves will select the weakest and most vulnerable members of the populations of deer, elk, bison, and other wildlife. Such actions will enhance the health and vigor of the parks game species. With wolves roaming the parks, visitors will see and experience a natural ecosystem that is complete. They will be able to understand the importance of the wolf and see how the balance of life is essential.
The biological factors resulting from reintroducing the wolf are indeed important. However, the wolf itself is a mystery and symbol to mankind. The spirit of the wolf has existed with our ancestors for many generations. The Native Americans respected and even worshipped the animal for its strength, speed, intelligence and beauty. Today, not everyone feels that same way about the wolf and its surroundings. Many don't know and understand the importance of the wolf and its duty. What you do not know you will fear. What one fears, one destroys.
