Do Wolves Matter Essay
Wolves Matter
There are many different types of relationships in nature. Some are symbiotic, some are parasitic, some competitive, and still others are predacious. Each type of relationship has its own importance for nature and ecosystems to maintain a sense of homeostasis. Wolves are an extremely important predacious and symbiotic player in their ecosystems. Besides promoting healthier herds, wolves help balance competitive relationships between other species, and even help control the populations of other predatory species. Wolves help promote healthy herds in a couple of different ways. When they hunt, they generally go after the young, old, weak or sick animals. This helps pick out the animals that aren’t strong enough to survive or will slow the herd down. It also ensures the strongest and fastest animals are the ones that reproduce. This weeding out and population control is also good in other aspects. As John Vucetich wrote in a letter to the US Senate, “Overabundant deer are detrimental to human safety (vehicle collisions), private property, agriculture …show more content…
and forestry. There is considerable evidence that deer are overabundant in numerous places where wolves had recently been intensively harvested or where wolves once lived but no longer live. Whatever affect wolves might have on deer would be an overall benefit - including overall benefits to agriculture”, (Vucetich, 2017).
With wolves back in place, there is a noticeable change in prey animal grazing patterns.
Deer, elk, moose, caribou, and other large prey animals that weren’t hunted by coyotes and other, smaller predators, are seeking food in more sheltered areas instead of continuously grazing in easy to reach, open meadows, or even agricultural crops. With grasses not being over-grazed, small rodent populations increase, which provides food for raptors, coyotes, foxes, and weasels. These other species are able to thrive with the increased availability of food. Wolves also directly provide shelter and food for other species. When wolves move dens, the excavated den is left for other animals to be able to use for hibernation, parturition and basic living. When they hunt, they catch their prey and eat their fill of the carcass. The carcass is left behind after feeding, and becomes food for scavengers and other
predators.
Wolves are major players in population control of other predatory species also. Just as they leave behind carrion that attracts scavengers and other predators, wolves are also very territorial and will attack and kill mountain lions and coyotes to protect their territory. In 1995, a pack of 14 wolves was reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. Within less than two years, seven packs of coyotes in the park had disappeared and about 25% of coyote mortality is now attributed to wolves (Motavalli, 1998). Wolves also compete with each other for food and territory, and they have been known to kill pups from other packs over food and territory disputes.
Wolves are unique animals. They are fierce and territorial, yet they help maintain a running balance, a sort of homeostasis, if you will. As several programs are working throughout the country to help reintroduce them to the wild, this balance is finally being slightly restored at long last.
There are many different types of relationships in nature. Some are symbiotic, some are parasitic, some competitive, and still others are predacious. Each type of relationship has its own importance for nature and ecosystems to maintain a sense of homeostasis. Wolves are an extremely important predacious and symbiotic player in their ecosystems. Besides promoting healthier herds, wolves help balance competitive relationships between other species, and even help control the populations of other predatory species. Wolves help promote healthy herds in a couple of different ways. When they hunt, they generally go after the young, old, weak or sick animals. This helps pick out the animals that aren’t strong enough to survive or will slow the herd down. It also ensures the strongest and fastest animals are the ones that reproduce. This weeding out and population control is also good in other aspects. As John Vucetich wrote in a letter to the US Senate, “Overabundant deer are detrimental to human safety (vehicle collisions), private property, agriculture …show more content…
and forestry. There is considerable evidence that deer are overabundant in numerous places where wolves had recently been intensively harvested or where wolves once lived but no longer live. Whatever affect wolves might have on deer would be an overall benefit - including overall benefits to agriculture”, (Vucetich, 2017).
With wolves back in place, there is a noticeable change in prey animal grazing patterns.
Deer, elk, moose, caribou, and other large prey animals that weren’t hunted by coyotes and other, smaller predators, are seeking food in more sheltered areas instead of continuously grazing in easy to reach, open meadows, or even agricultural crops. With grasses not being over-grazed, small rodent populations increase, which provides food for raptors, coyotes, foxes, and weasels. These other species are able to thrive with the increased availability of food. Wolves also directly provide shelter and food for other species. When wolves move dens, the excavated den is left for other animals to be able to use for hibernation, parturition and basic living. When they hunt, they catch their prey and eat their fill of the carcass. The carcass is left behind after feeding, and becomes food for scavengers and other
predators.
Wolves are major players in population control of other predatory species also. Just as they leave behind carrion that attracts scavengers and other predators, wolves are also very territorial and will attack and kill mountain lions and coyotes to protect their territory. In 1995, a pack of 14 wolves was reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. Within less than two years, seven packs of coyotes in the park had disappeared and about 25% of coyote mortality is now attributed to wolves (Motavalli, 1998). Wolves also compete with each other for food and territory, and they have been known to kill pups from other packs over food and territory disputes.
Wolves are unique animals. They are fierce and territorial, yet they help maintain a running balance, a sort of homeostasis, if you will. As several programs are working throughout the country to help reintroduce them to the wild, this balance is finally being slightly restored at long last.