Wolves
All About Wolves
Wolves are the original "man's best friend," dating back hundreds of thousands of years ago, since the days of the hunter-gatherers. They have been a part of legend since they were first drawn on cave walls. Wolves are also vital to a balanced ecosystem in the modern world.
A fun fact about wolves is why they howl. Their howl is how they communicate with the members of their own pack as well as warning away other packs when they go on hunt. They also howl when they lose a pack member, so that the lost one can find his or her way home, if they can. The howling can carry over long distances, and wolves that are spread out can pick up the call so that they can pass it on. When a pack sends up a group howl, it creates a haunting and beautiful sound.
There is often a lot of controversy in the news regarding wolves. Farmers sometimes consider them a nuisance or a threat to livestock. The truth is that wolves are a very necessary part of a balanced and healthy environment. There is an environmental phenomenon known as "trophic cascade" that starts are the top of a food chain and is felt all the way down to the bottom.
In 1995, wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in the United States. Prior to this, the park was overpopulated with deer and much of the land was grazed into oblivion. After the wolves returned, the deer wouldn't go near any areas where they could be easily caught. These areas, such as the valley's, were given a chance to regenerate. Grass and trees flourished, migrations of birds moved in, beaver populations increased. The really cool thing about beavers is that their dam building creates habitats for other animals like otters and muskrats, ducks, amphibians, even reptiles. This gives beavers the auspicious title of Environmental Engineers. The rabbit and rodent populations increased because the wolves killed many of the coyotes, and these little critters attracted the attention of predatory birds such as hawks and eagles, as well as badgers, foxes, and weasels. Bear populations also flourished because the amount of berry-bearing trees bloomed.
The return of wolves changed the very rivers in Yellowstone.