Yellowstone Wolf Restoration - How Wolves Are Driving Down Mountain Lion Populations

[jbg]

How Wolves Are Driving Down Mountain Lion Populations
This article is an interesting one. Back in 1968 I read an article partially about Yellowstone National Park in an issue focusing on national parks. Part of the article focused on elk and other ungulate overpopulation of Yellowstone. Hay was imported to feed them during the winters. This article suggested that the cause of overpopulation was the elimination of wolves and mountain lions during the early 1920's. The last known wolf was killed in 1926. Excerpt from above article:

Elbroch suspects that the drastic drop was largely due to wolves affecting the cats’ access to prey, namely elk. In a wolf-less study site, elk herds resided in the comfort of the mountains; when the wolves moved in, the herds started congregating in large groups in the open grasslands to protect themselves from a pack attack. Since mountain lions stealthily stalk and ambush their prey under the cover of brush, they couldn't reach the elk in the grasslands, and starvation became a more common cause of death among the cats.

Somehow, miraculously, the stars aligned, and in January 1995 twin reintroductions of wolves, one into Yellowstone, the other into a National Wilderness area in Idaho succeeded. The benefits became apparent later, see We Were Wrong About Wolves, Here’s Why. Excerpt:

The changes in the park have been exciting and significant. Wolf reintroduction caused unanticipated change in Yellowstone. It rebalanced elk and deer populations, allowing the willows and aspen to return to the landscape. The end to overgrazing stabilized riverbanks and rivers recovered and flowed in new directions. Songbirds returned as did beavers, eagles, foxes and badgers. And, while the restoration of wolves in Yellowstone has cost about $30 million total, wolf ecotourism brings in $35 million annually.

Granted, the article is about the negative effects off wolf reintroduction on mountain lions. But remember, those were virtually nonexistent in Yellowstone and environs back in 1968. Without their natural competitors, the wolves, their population may have gotten a bit ahead of itself. But on balance, it's good to have "man's best friend's" cousin, the wolf, back.
Let's hope they have a wider homecoming, to the Adirondacks, northern New Hampshire and Maine, and other appropriate areas.

 

[Rachel Rugelach]

I didn't cast a vote because I'm kind of ambivalent about what people do in attempts to correct past mistakes.

I'm not surprised that two different apex predator species would struggle for dominance within the same hunting area. It may be sad that the wolves are edging out the mountain lion population but, as one of the linked articles stated, the mountain lions weren't present in the area as much before the original wolf packs were wiped out by hunters. Nature then adapted to the absence of wolves as mountain lions filled in that gap. But now things are upended again due to human intervention once again, and the apex predators are fighting each out for survival.

Hopefully, nature will eventually strike a balance. Although humankind will probably do something once again to unbalance nature -- which seems to be currently happening in California and Colorado as more people build homes in areas inhabited by mountain lions. I understand that humans pushing into the mountain lions' territory is why we're seeing in the news so many reports of mountain lion attacks on humans in backyards, hot-tubs, while walking their dogs, etc. People tend to cause these problems, and then blame the wildlife, which is only doing what wildlife naturally does.

 

[anna.]

Definitely a positive for humans to restore the balance they eroded in the name of progress where and how they can do it in the right ways.

Anyway, I'm okay with the wolves, it's bears I'd be worried about!

 

[Revoltingest]

Anyway, I'm okay with the wolves, it's bears I'd be worried about!

Especially since staff introduced one on RF.

Anyway, I'd expect re-introduction of one
predator to adversely affect other predators.

 

[jbg]

Especially since staff introduced one on RF.

Anyway, I'd expect re-introduction of one
predator to adversely affect other predators.

The coyotes have been the most affected of apex predators by wolves.

Definitely a positive for humans to restore the balance they eroded in the name of progress where and how they can do it in the right ways.

Anyway, I'm okay with the wolves, it's bears I'd be worried about!

I actually scratched behind the ears of an animal that shares almost all of wolves' chromosomes today.

 

[Valjean]

Wolves and cougars use entirely different hunting methods. Their diets may overlap, but they're not likely to be competing directly, hunting the same prey in the same place, the same way, at the same time.

There needs to be a predator-prey balance for healthy ecosystems. Some even support several competing predator species with nearly identical diets and hunting methods.

 

[The Hammer]

This is a great thing.

There is a wolf species that was reintroduced into the American southwest via Mexico as well.

Endangered Mexican Gray Wolves on the Rebound in U.S. Southwest

e360.yale.edu

 

[Valjean]

This is a great thing.

There is a wolf species that was reintroduced into the American southwest via Mexico as well.

Endangered Mexican Gray Wolves on the Rebound in U.S. Southwest

e360.yale.edu

Red wolves, too, in the southeast. Red Wolf Recovery | National Wildlife Federation

 

[Revoltingest]

I actually scratched behind the ears of an animal that shares almost all of wolves' chromosomes today.

A lawyer?

 

[ChristineM]

Im not American but voted Just great.
Wolves disappeared from France early last century but returned in the 80s/90s, There are now close to 1000 individuals. They are a protected species so it's illegal to hunt them although up to 24 a year may be culled to prevent over population.

 

[anna.]

I actually scratched behind the ears of an animal that shares almost all of wolves' chromosomes today.

I actually locked eyes with an animal at the zoo that shares almost all of humans' chromosomes today.

 

[jbg]

A lawyer?

Is that a lawyer joke? I am one. This is a picture of some of the near-wolves I built up the courage to pet:

 

[Revoltingest]

Is that a lawyer joke? I am one. This is a picture of some of the near-wolves I built up the courage to pet:

View attachment 79082

So you're a lawyer, eh.
You'll find me quite offensive...if you haven't already.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Is that a lawyer joke? I am one. This is a picture of some of the near-wolves I built up the courage to pet:

View attachment 79082

Amazing. Those are some vicious brutes. Their tongues especially, but their tails can give you a serous bruising too.

 

[jbg]

Amazing. Those are some vicious brutes. Their tongues especially, but their tails can give you a serous bruising too.

Their tails are definitely like a whip. I find them quite ferocious. They look mean in that picture.

 

[Rachel Rugelach]

Is that a lawyer joke? I am one. This is a picture of some of the near-wolves I built up the courage to pet:

View attachment 79082

Aww...! Lookit all the little lawyer wolves!

I've just got to give them cute little lawyer names!

"Ally" (Ally McBeal)
"Atticus" (Atticus Finch)
"Cocky" (Johnnie Cochran)
"Darrow" (Clarence Darrow)
"Marcia" (Marcia Clark)
"Matlock" (Ben Matlock)
"Perry" (Perry Mason)
"Saul" (Saul Goodman)
"Thurgood" (Thurgood Marshall)
"Vinny" (Vincent Gambini)

 

[Subduction Zone]

Aww...! Lookit all the little lawyer wolves!

I've just got to give them cute little lawyer names!

"Ally" (Ally McBeal)
"Atticus" (Atticus Finch)
"Cocky" (Johnnie Cochran)
"Darrow" (Clarence Darrow)
"Marcia" (Marcia Clark)
"Matlock" (Ben Matlock)
"Perry" (Perry Mason)
"Saul" (Saul Goodman)
"Thurgood" (Thurgood Marshall)
"Vinny" (Vincent Gambini)

Sadly to me that is a very deadly ensemble. I love dogs, my lungs not so much. I could pet them for a while if there was a place wash my hands immediately afterwards.

 

[jbg]

Wolves and cougars use entirely different hunting methods. Their diets may overlap, but they're not likely to be competing directly, hunting the same prey in the same place, the same way, at the same time.

There needs to be a predator-prey balance for healthy ecosystems. Some even support several competing predator species with nearly identical diets and hunting methods.

What happened according to the article I quoted in the OP was that wolves "relocated" the elk from the wooded areas, where cougars could hunt them from trees to the open plains, where they had greater safety in numbers, and where cougars have trouble hunting. Or maybe it's the other way around. But the elks are where the cougars aren't.

 

[jbg]

Sadly to me that is a very deadly ensemble. I love dogs, my lungs not so much. I could pet them for a while if there was a place wash my hands immediately afterwards.

Golden retrievers do not like being petted.

 

[We Never Know]

How Wolves Are Driving Down Mountain Lion Populations
This article is an interesting one. Back in 1968 I read an article partially about Yellowstone National Park in an issue focusing on national parks. Part of the article focused on elk and other ungulate overpopulation of Yellowstone. Hay was imported to feed them during the winters. This article suggested that the cause of overpopulation was the elimination of wolves and mountain lions during the early 1920's. The last known wolf was killed in 1926. Excerpt from above article:

Somehow, miraculously, the stars aligned, and in January 1995 twin reintroductions of wolves, one into Yellowstone, the other into a National Wilderness area in Idaho succeeded. The benefits became apparent later, see We Were Wrong About Wolves, Here’s Why. Excerpt:

Granted, the article is about the negative effects off wolf reintroduction on mountain lions. But remember, those were virtually nonexistent in Yellowstone and environs back in 1968. Without their natural competitors, the wolves, their population may have gotten a bit ahead of itself. But on balance, it's good to have "man's best friend's" cousin, the wolf, back.
Let's hope they have a wider homecoming, to the Adirondacks, northern New Hampshire and Maine, and other appropriate areas.

How Wolves Saved the Foxes, Mice and Rivers of Yellowstone National Park

How Wolves Saved the Foxes, Mice and Rivers of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park was plagued by defoliation, erosion, and an unbalanced ecosystem, but everything changed when wolves were reintroduced to the park in 1995.

earthjustice.org

Wolf Reintroduction Changes Ecosystem in Yellowstone

Wolves are causing a trophic cascade of ecological change, including helping to increase beaver populations and bring back aspen, and vegetation.

Wolf Reintroduction Changes Ecosystem in Yellowstone

Wolves are causing a tropic cascade of ecological change, including helping to increase beaver numbers and bring back aspen and vegetation.

www.yellowstonepark.com

How we were wrong about the wolf

We Were Wrong About Wolves, Here’s Why

Twenty-five years ago, we changed the path of Yellowstone National Park for the better. And all we did was bring back wolves.

defenders.org