Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Wolves vital for ecosystem

Ranchers often use the term “invasive species” to describe wolves in the North, and even the South West. True, wolves were ‘re-introduced’ to those areas out of necessity, as the original wolf packs were systematically eliminated by ranchers and trophy hunters.

This elimination created an ecological disaster that could be easily highlighted and observed using Yellowstone National Park as the example. Without wolves, Yellowstone was literally dying. Elk, and all pronghorns, without any wolves around were over-eating certain vegetation because they didn’t have to roam or move around.

Other vegetation was ignored and overgrown causing severe problems with waterways. Those problems caused beavers to leave and many bird species. Wolves were also not there to spread the carrion that would feed and sustain many other animals, like crows, foxes, coyotes, eagles, and thousands of species of beetle necessary to have a balanced ecology.

Without wolves, diseased elk were not eliminated by depredation, therefore diseases became more widespread. Dead and dying from disease, bloated and rotting elk carcasses could be seen littering the landscape. Scientists realizing that the balance of nature in a region is not achievable without natural predators, made recommendations to bring back the wolf. Politicians cooperated and about $105m tax dollars later we had wolves back in Yellowstone.

The wolves earned their keep. They, once again, brought the park back to it’s original splendour with healthier herds, balanced foliage, other wildlife returning, clear running waterways, everything more lush and better than it was without wolves.

Fast forward to today – legislation is on the table to de-list all wolves in the lower 48 states because ranchers never stopped whining. Generations of wolf resentment and an attitude of “we feed the country – so we rule!”, has continued to wear away at federal wolf protections.

Ranchers want to continue and even increase grazing their cash cows on public lands – wolf territory! What seems more like an “invasive species” to you – a wolf running freely through the wilderness, balancing nature and enriching the ecology, or domesticated cows, and sheep walking around the wilderness, constantly grazing and defaecating?

When you think of a trip into the wilderness, do you think of seeing cows or do you hope to see the wolf which symbolizes the free spirit of the wild?  Remember the overlooked facts too – trees are cut down, wildlife is cleared out, so that grazing can be possible.  Where your house sits today, was yesterday’s wilderness.

Ultimately, the invasive species is us…..   Good Wolf Campaign

Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional |