Should Wolves be reintroduced to Yellowstone Park

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Should Wolves be reintroduced to Yellowstone Park?

• By
• Gabe Hartshorn
• and
• Chris Smith

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Introduction

• Wolves have been reintroduced to Yellowstone
• They were wiped out in the 1930s
• People disagree on whether or not they should be
  there

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Other Species Considered for Reintroduction

• The Black Footed Ferret (U.S.)
• The California Condor (U.S.)
• The Northern Aplomado Falcon (U.S.)
• The White-Headed Duck (Italy)
• The Alpine Lynx (France, Germany, Italy, Austria)
• The Carpathian Lynx (Switzerland, Croatia,
  Slovenia)
• The Golden Lion Tamarin (Brazil)
• The European Beaver (Europe)
• The Lesser White-fronted Goose (Slavic nations)
• The Tiger (Asia)

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Other Species Considered for Reintroduction

• The Black Footed Ferret (U.S.)
• The California Condor (U.S.)
• The Northern Aplomado Falcon (U.S.)
• The White-Headed Duck (Italy)
• The Alpine Lynx (France, Germany, Italy, Austria)
• The Carpathian Lynx (Switzerland, Croatia,
  Slovenia)
• The Golden Lion Tamarin (Brazil)
• The European Beaver (Europe)
• The Lesser White-fronted Goose (Slavic nations)
• The Tiger (Asia)

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The Ecosystem of Yellowstone Park
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Size of Yellowstone

• 3,472 square miles or 8,987 square km
• 2,219,789 acres or 898,317 ectares

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Wildlife

• 7 species of native ungulates
• 2 species of bears
• Approximately 50 species of other mammals
• 311 recorded species of birds (148 nesting
  species)
• 18 species of fish (6 non-native)
• 6 species of reptiles
• 4 species of amphibians
• 5 species protected as "threatened or
  endangered"Threatened bald eagle, grizzly bear,
  lynxEndangered whooping crane, gray wolf

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Plants

• Approximately 80 of forest is comprised of
  lodgepole pine
• More than 1,700 species of native vascular plants
  
• More than 170 species of exotic (non-native)
  plants
• 186 species of lichens

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Geology

• An Active Volcano
• Approximately 2,000 earthquakes annually
• Approximately 10,000 thermal features
• More than 300 geysers
• One of the worlds largest calderas, measuring 45
  by 30 miles (72 by 48 km)
• One of the world's largest petrified forests
• Approximately 290 waterfalls, 15 ft. or higher,
  flowing year-round
• Tallest waterfall Lower Falls of the Yellowstone
  River at 308 ft. (94 m)

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The Wolf
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Facts

• Natural Diet Gray wolves are carnivores.
• They prey on elk, caribou, and deer, as well as
  beavers, hares, and other small animals.
• Reproduction After about two months, a litter of
  one to 11 pups is born, with an average of five
  or six.
• Life Span In the wild, gray wolves live about
  six to eight years, and sometimes up to 13 years.
  
• Behavior Gray wolves generally live in packs of
  two to 12 wolves.
• A pack may include a breeding pair, offspring
  from the previous year and the current year, and
  occasionally an unrelated wolf.
• Population There are about 118 wolves (13 packs)
  living in Yellowstone.
• Birth Rate About 3 (surviving) wolves are born
  to a pack each year.
• Mortality Life expectancy is about 3.4 years and
  the mortality rate is 15.

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Why Should Wolves be Reintroduced to Yellowstone?

• The ecosystem needs wolves
• Wolves keep populations of other animals in check
• People like to film and photograph wolves
• People go to Yellowstone to see wolves
• Local economy will increase because of tourism

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Why Shouldnt Wolves be Reintroduced to
Yellowstone?

• They may pose a threat to people
• They pose a threat to nearby livestock
• They will deplete other animal populations

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• Wolf attacks on humans are uncommon and are
  usually by rabid wolves
• Wolves usually try to avoid people and are
  sometimes scared of them
• Wolves preying on livestock is uncommon
• Coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and lynxes also prey on
  livestock
• compensation offered to ranchers
• Problem Wolves killed or removed from area
• Wolves keep other populations from increasing too
  much

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FIN