![]() The wolves also prey on elk calves, however this has not led to an overall reduction in survival of elk calves. However 25 years of study has shown that the wolves prey on the weaker, undernourished, bull elk and older cow elk which has helped to create a much more resilient and balanced elk population. Some people were concerned that this reintroduction would wipe out the elk populations. Fast forward to 1995 when, in an effort by the federal government to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list, 41 gray wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park and additional wolves were reintroduced into Idaho. Elk populations continued a boom and bust cycle due to targeted killing as well as fluctuation due to climate variability. With the wolves gone, the bear and lion populations greatly diminished and the elk populations skyrocketed. The last Yellowstone wolf pack was killed by humans in 1926. In the 1800’s, Yellowstone National Park was once home to several large predators including grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, and mountain lions along with a robust population of bison, elk, mule deer, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep. Today the North American Gray Wolf ranges across the Northern Rockies, the Pacific Northwest, the Western Great Lakes Region, from the US/Canada border into the Arctic (including Alaska and Greenland), in a small region along theĪrizona/New Mexico border, and a few struggling to survive in Mexico. The wolf was once widespread across most of North American but it was hunted to near extinction in the early 1900’s. Howling is used for long-distance communication to pull a pack together. Wolves communicate through body language, much in the same way our domesticated dogs do. Breeding occurs from late January through March, gestation is about 63 days, and there are typically 4 to 6 pups in a liter. There are both male and female hierarchies in the pack the alpha male is dominant over the entire pack and only the alpha male and alpha female breed. Wolves live in packs of 2 – 15 members but can increase up to 30 members before some individuals break off to find new territory. They are carnivores that prefer large hoofed mammals but will also eat smaller mammals, generally eating every 5 – 7 days. Females weigh from 60 to 100 pounds and males range from 70 to 145 pounds. Their body size varies from three to five feet long with a tail of one to two feet long. Wolves are the wild ancestor of all domesticated dogs. Reference Ecosystem: A community of organisms that serve as a model or benchmark for restoration following a disturbance by human activities such as agriculture, logging, development, fire suppression, or non-native species invasion. ![]() A partnership with dynamic natural processes. It includes the restoration of relationship to land, based on respect and reciprocity for the gifts we receive from the land. ![]() TEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge): Describes indigenous or other traditional knowledge of local resources handed down through generations generally through traditional songs, stories, and beliefs.In restoration, ecological damage is repaired both the structure and the function of the ecosystem are recreated. Addresses the return of an ecosystem to a close approximation of its condition prior to disturbance. SEK (Scientific Ecological Knowledge): Scientific knowledge generated through a strict and universally accepted set of rules formed by academic disciplines (ecology, biology, forestry, etc).Mesopredator: A mid-ranking predator in a food web.Apex Predator: The top predator in a food web, without any natural predators.We’ll also introduce the idea of using both Scientific Ecological Knowledge (SEK) and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) as a means of restoring an ecosystem. Here, we will look at some specifics about the gray wolf, what an apex predator is, the gray wolf’s re-introduction into the northern Rocky Mountains and why the wolf and apex predators in general are vital players in a healthy ecosystem. The gray wolf’s ( Canis Lupus) story is a fascinating account of species near-extinction and comeback in the American west.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |