Wolves live short
lives in the wild, usually no longer than 5 years. The cause of their death is
often due to starvation, and one bad season of hunting can be detrimental to
their chances of survival. In an effort to increase their populations of prey,
they work to eliminate other competing predators such as coyotes and foxes.
There is the common misconception that wolves would be harmful to the
environment, terrorizing the local towns in the Adirondacks. However, wolves do
not attack people. In the half-century up to 2002, there are only eight known
fatal attacks by wolves in all of Europe, Russia, and North America. Wolves are
actually beneficial to the environments they live in. They are often referred
to as keystone species because their impact in a given ecosystem will have
ramifications far beyond the animals they prey on. After wolves were reintroduced
to Yellowstone Park, elk populations declined considerably, possibly
contributing to the recovery of creek side vegetation, and higher growth of
trees in the area. This helped to provide nesting sights for birds and food and
building materials for beavers. Overall, the reintroduction of the wolf helped
to control plant and animal populations and restore balance to the ecosystem.
In general, the Wolf Activists are fighting for the return of
wolves to the Adirondacks for several reasons. Highlighting the economic
incentives of their reintroduction, the wolves would attract more tourism (an
industry that accounts for 12.4% of local employment), drive revenue, and help
create hospitality and infrastructure to support jobs. Using the return of the
Grey Wolf to Yellowstone as an example, conservationists claim that the wolves
would also serve to control the populations of their prey and restore balance
to the ecosystem.
In addition, every day of the week except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, employees
Steve and Alex lead the “Wolf Walk”. Visitors can watch as the two interact
with the wolves and listen to a narrative about the history of the wolves and
facts about their reintroduction to the park. Visitors can take pictures of the
wolves up close or go for a walk along the Wolf Walk Trail, where they can also
see other extraordinary Adirondack species such as the bobcat, lynx, and bald
eagle. There is no fee to visit this Refuge Center, which is non-profit, but
donations are very much encouraged.
Sources:
Wolf reintroduction is becoming an important conversation throughout the nation's parks. It is interesting to see the consistency with which the arguments for reintroduction are presented and how it contrasts with the rate of action. This post does a good job summarizing this hesitation and why it is largely unfounded. Thanks for sharing.
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