Years of debate and heated arguments preceded the decision of the Deptartment of the Interior to reintroduced endangered gray wolves to suitable habitat in the Western part of the country. The issue has been very controversial, but public support for the wolves has been growing. In 1993, The Department of the Interior got over 100,000 letters in favor of wolf reintroduction. Thanks to thatlevel of citizen involement, thirty Canadian gray wolves were release in January of 1995. Fifteen of the wolves were released in Yellowstone National Park, and 15 were released along the Snake River in central Idaho.
The role of predators in balancing an ecosystem cannot be underestimated. The areas where the wolves were released are ideal habitats for wolves, with plenty of wild game to support several wolf packs. Although biologists feared that the wolves would simply trot home to Cananda once they were released, it seems that some of the wolves have decided to stay. NWF wildlife biologist Tom Dougherty says "It's no wonder they're remaining in the area- it's ideal wolf habitat. Private, plenty of game, protected-it's likebeing a kid in a candy store."
In the past, mankind viewed the wolf with great mistrust, a reputation shared with most other predators. But today, enviromentalists are beginning to understand the important role predators play in a healthy habitat. Beacause gray wolves weed out old,weak and sick moose, deer, caribou, they insure that a prey species doesn't suffer from over-population. That helps to keep the entire ecosystem balanced. Now we realize that any protected habitat within the wolf's original range cannot be complete without a healthy wolf population.
Although human misconception and "Big Bad Wolf" tall tales create the greatest obstacle to sucessful reintroducton programs, local residents are learning more about the fascinating gray wolf. Misconceptions are turning to admirations. The gray wolf, like any endangered species, benfits from increased public interest,attention and support.With care, the gray wolf can be returned from the brink of extinction,and can once again take it's place as a vital part of the wildernes habitat.
For years,the Federal government offered a bounty on gray wolves, and they were almost extirpated in he lower 48 states. The National Wildlife Federation takes great pride in playing a part in reshaping the way the United States (both citizens and the government) views the magnificent gray wolf. It is a tribute to the American spirit that the wolf has been invited to return to home after a too-long absence.
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Gray wolf is the name that americans call the timber wolf. Thats right canis lupus is known throughout the rest of the world as the timber wolf which can be any color from pure white to jet black. In fact the further south you go the less gray wolves you see, alberta is about 60-70% populated by black wolves with dark gray underfur the rest vary from light gray and black to white with black guard hair and the odd brown one. Please get on board with the rest of us... TIMBER WOLVES!
On a side note you probably have figured out there are lots of wolves up here so I thought that I would give you my perspective on the subject.
11 of the wolves that were taken to yellowstone were captured about 3 miles from my elk camp. Prior to their removal we noticed about 16 cows per calf in mid november, after their capture we saw about 4 cows per calf in mid november for a couple years. This would seem to suggest that the wolves were severely limiting the herd, BUT since then and long after new wolves moved in the herd has exploded, we now see 3-4 times as many elk as before. Why? the area was primarily covered in black timber with verry little feed exept in the few natural meadows that existed and on some pipeline right of ways, now the area has been logged and natural grasses have sprung up in them, There is probably 10-20 times the available browse that there was before the cuts. The elk use a much larger area and are harder for the wolves to pinpoint. It is my obsrevation that even in this marginal habitat with a verry high wolf population(without elk they have tons of moose to eat so their population has always been high)Available browse was their limiting factor not wolves. Having said this the yellowstone area has an infinately larger amount of feed than anywhere up here and plenty of cover I beleive the elk will not be noticably affected by wolves. If the ranchers in these ares can get over their fears one day you may be able to go out on any given night and enjoy their howling and still have plenty of game left in the country like I do!
WRONG!! A timberwolf is a mix between a dog and a wolf. The only way to tell the diffence between a wolf and a Timberwolf is to do DNA testing from it's head. Sorry! But you are wrong.
Do your homework before opening your mouth! Try a web search under "Wolf" or Timber Wolf" like I just did. I found several organizations and scientific studies about TIMBER WOLVES. Here is just one to check out if you are too lazy to check for yourself www.timberwolfinfo.org My guess is thst you have never even seen or heard a wolf and probably dont even live within 1000 miles of one. By the way my brothers dog is 3/4 malamute 1/4 wolf does that make him a timberwolf? Not even close!
Well, Well, Well, Appaently you have not done your homework. my father worked for the NWF. And you could notbe more wrong and you are making an ass out of yourself for posting false info. And that site isn't even a working site. But nice try! Do yourself a favor and get another field of study to work in.
The wolves were released along the Salmon River in central Idaho. The Snake River does not flow in the interior portions of the state.
I am now correcting the only mistake I made. The website is www.timberwolfinformation.org and like I stated before it is only one of many that you could find yourself if you werent so busy being right. After a little more looking I have found that the exact same species(Canis Lupus) is found from scandanavia to europe to siberia to parts of asia and is called the timber wolf there also (In english anyway) so if you want to change the name you may want to consult the rest of the world first!