The Endangered Gray Wolf

Gray wolves were once common throughout all of North America. Wolves fared poorly with the growing human population in the western states. Man made it their duty to kill off the wolves as they were first seen as a danger, but then turned into a sport, where one could reap rewards for a wolf carcass. By the mid 1930’s the gray wolf had become extinct in the Lower 48 states. 

The ESA (endangered species act) protection for wolves in 1974 allowed wolves to begin rebuilding on Isle Royale and in northern Minnesota. They also brought Canadian wolves down to Yellowstone Park, a place wolves had not been in seven decades. The wolves not only thrived in this area, but Canadian wolves found their way over the border and began settlements in parts of the Rockies.

The red area is the areas most populated by wolves.

Wolves are known as the keystone predators because they keep a well-balanced ecosystem. They hunt large hooved animals, such as moose, elk, deer and caribou. They help keep the large animal population under control. Because of their dominating presence in Yellowstone Park, researchers have observed that they force herds of elk to move around more, which in turn allows aspen and willow trees to flourish in areas they previously couldn't due to overgrazing. This has resulted in the return of beavers and riparian birds. The return of beavers means they build dams, which helps keep rivers clean and lessens the effects of drought. There is also an increase in the biodiversity in the water. The water around the dam is an ideal place for animals such as otters and ducks and reptiles and amphibians and small birds to inhabit. Since the return of the wolves in Yellowstone, scientists have seen an impressive improvement of the quality of the streams. Yellowstone has seen a great increase in the numbers of all animals. Wolves hunt coyote, which means more rabbits and mice which meant more hawks, weasels and foxes. There has also been an increased diversity in the birds, because with more vegetation means more trees and berries. 

There are an estimated 7,000 to 11,200 gray wolves in Alaska, 3,700 in the Great Lakes region and 1,675 in the Northern Rockies, and as many as 50,000 in Canada.

The gray wolf was listed as no longer endangered in the Great Lakes region in January 2012. The wolf population is still critically low in the majority of the states, and conservationists fear that legalizing hunting wolves will create a nosedive in the population. 

http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/animals-saved-by-the-u-s-endangered-species-act

http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/mammals/gray-wolf.aspx

http://www.wcs.org/saving-wildlife/other-carnivores/gray-wolf.aspx

http://www.animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/gray-wolf/