Wolves reintroduced into the wild

Question

By 1935, hunting and trapping had eliminated wolves from the United States, except Alaska. Because wolves have since been protected as an endangered species, they have moved south from Canada and have become reestablished in the Rocky Mountains and northern Great Lakes. Conservationist who would like to speed up this process have reintroduced wolves into Yellowstone National Park. Local ranchers are opposed to bringing back the wolves because they fear predation on their cattle and sheep. What are some reasons for reestablishing wolves in Yellowstone National Park? What effects might the reintroduction of wolves have on the ecological communities in the region? What might be done to mitigate the conflicts between ranchers and wolves?

Answer 1

What are some reasons for reestablishing wolves in Yellowstone National Park?

It will make city dwellers who have no concept of ecology happy.

It will reduce the elk overpopulation (except that's not a problem in Yellowstone Park, it's a problem in Jackson Hole).

It will reduce the bison population in the Park (which we've been trying to increase since the Park was set aside).

It will reduce the deer and rabbit population in the area.

It will make camping in the area more exciting.  When I last visited the Park in 1975 there were no bears.  Tourists were told by Park Rangers that the bears had been relocated far away from the roads.  Visiting with a former neighbor who ran a guide service, I learned that the bears had to be killed because they had lost their normal fear of man and kept returning to the roads and campgrounds to beg and raid.

What effects might the reintroduction of wolves have on the ecological communities in the region?

The efffects of reintroduction of wolves would be devastating on the current ecological communities as I described above.  Bears are omnivores and problems still developed with them.  Wolves are carnivores, and run in packs to boot.  Even before their natural prey becomes scarce they will discover domestic animals.

What might be done to mitigate the conflicts between ranchers and wolves?

Ranchers in the area run primarily Polled Herefords and/or sheep  With no horns cattle are virtually unable to defend themselves from predators.  Domestic ewes also lack horns, and one ram pre 100 ewes or so is again no real defense.  A wolf pack can easily dispatch the rams, and wolves are notorious for destroying entire flocks of sheep when bloodlust sets in.  Cattle fare slightly better because they are harder to bring down, and more can escape while the wolves are occupied.  Wolfhounds could be introduced, but recall that they are carnivores as well, and must be well fed, trained, and supervized to prevent them turning  on the flocks and herds they are supposed to protect.  Unfortunately preying on domestic animals is so much easier that preying on wild animals that the conflict  between farmers and ranchers and wolves is inevitable.