Ten Years of Wolves in Yellowstone & Idaho

On January 12, 1995, at approximately 8:30am, the gray wolf returned to Yellowstone after a forced absence of some 70 years. I was there and I remember the absolute joy and awe that we all felt as we embarked on this monumental undertaking. After years of legal wrangling and delays, the wolves were finally back and we, the same humans who had driven them from these lands decades ago, had made it happen. Ten years later, the skies of Yellowstone echo once again with the howl of wolves, a stirring reminder of what is perhaps this country's greatest wildlife conservation success story.

When Europeans first set foot in North America, the gray wolf – or Canis lupus – ranged across the continent, from Mexico, up to Canada and Alaska, and from the Pacific all the way to the Atlantic. The combined numbers of the gray wolf and the smaller red wolf, then found throughout the Southeast, may have been as high as 400,000 at their peak, although recent research indicates they may have been much higher.

By the 1970s, after three centuries of extermination, the wolf was essentially eliminated from the wild everywhere in the contiguous United States except northeastern Minnesota.

Happily, today, wolves are making a comeback in the lower 48 states. Wolves are thriving in the Yellowstone ecosystem and Central Idaho following reintroduction, wolf populations have increased substantially in Minnesota, and wolves have recolonized parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Montana. Meanwhile, Fish and Wildlife Service reintroductions have also returned the Mexican gray wolf to Arizona and red wolves to North Carolina.

Even with these gains, wolves still occupy less than five percent of their original range in the lower 48 states, and now wolf populations in Alaska face serious new threats. Restoring the wolf to its original numbers and range is neither realistic nor desirable, but there are still significant possibilities for wolf recovery in major, currently unoccupied ecosystems that would benefit from the wolf's presence.

Defenders of Wildlife has worked to restore wolves to the American landscape for nearly three decades, and our work is highlighted by the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone and Idaho in 1995. Today the Yellowstone ecosystem, which includes the park itself, plus parts of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho, is home to almost 800 wolves in more than 50 packs. As I said – perhaps America's greatest wildlife restoration success stories.

There were good, educated guesses, but no one could predict exactly what effect the reintroduction of this major predator would have on the environment and the other species that inhabit the region. The positive results exceeded all expectations. Not only have the wolves thrived, but the entire ecosystem has enjoyed significant benefits from their return.

The first and most obvious impact can be seen on the species that wolves prey upon, in this case Yellowstone's abundant elk population. Prior to the wolves' return, elk basically roamed wherever they chose and tended to spend most of their time in the river valleys. Unfortunately, their excessive browsing in these sensitive wetlands severely restricted willow and cottonwood tree growth along the river banks.

But when the wolf returned, the elk quickly learned they couldn't set up permanent housekeeping in the valleys. Wolf predation forced them to move and to make a living in other areas besides the river valleys.

This, in turn, had a profound effect on the whole area. Prior to wolf reintroduction, there was debate over whether the wolf was in fact a keystone species, one whose presence and activities affect the overall health of the ecosystem. Now there is no question.

With the wolf causing the elk to move, young trees now had a reasonable chance to grow, and in consequence there has been a resurgence of willow and cottonwood tree growth.

The new trees shade the river water, creating improved habitat for trout, which thrive in cooler, darker waters. Also, the willows and cottonwoods attract additional migratory birds and provide new food sources and building materials for beavers. The beavers build dams which create new marshes and wetlands that in turn attract otters, ducks and other species.

Wolf kills also provide an abundant and reliable source of food for scavengers. And to be sure, wolf predations on old and sick elk have had a positive effect on the viability of the elk population itself.

Obviously this is an oversimplified summary of some very complex ecological interactions, but it gives you a general sense of what's been happening in Yellowstone since the wolf's return in 1995. Where humans once mercilessly destroyed the park's keystone predator, that predator is now back atop the Yellowstone food chain, and the results for the ecosystem have been dramatic.

But for all the success that the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone represents, the sad fact is that the wolf, at the hands of the Bush Interior Department, is losing many of the protections that have been the keys to wolf recovery.

The Bush administration is currently seeking to weaken federal protections and give management of wolves to the states. They have already reclassified wolves throughout the lower 48 states, which has the practical effect of removing protections entirely in some areas and weakening them in others. And from our point of view -- as is often the case with the Bush administration -- the science behind their decision is highly suspect.

For instance, in the northern Rockies, they have grouped all the wolves in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming and six other western states into a single Distinct Population Segment. And they have assigned the same meager population recovery goals that were in place for the three states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming to this whole region. In other words, they are proposing the same wolf population recovery goals for nine states that previously existed for only three.

This means wolves could be declared recovered in this nine-state region even though six of the states, all of which could support wolves, have none. Fortunately, before this can happen, these three initial states must develop acceptable management plans, and to date, only two have done so: Montana and Idaho. Wyoming's plan was rejected by the Fish and Wildlife Service, in part because it allowed for widespread, indiscriminate killing of wolves in 90 percent of the state. The other six western states aren't even required to develop wolf management plans, although some are doing so voluntarily.

Defenders helped to generate more than 19,000 of the nearly 23,000 comments received by the Fish and Wildlife Service, virtually all of which opposed the declassification proposal. Defenders is also the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit that asks the Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider the reclassification rule on the grounds that wolves aren't fully recovered yet and that the rule itself precludes recovery in additional areas of suitable wolf habitat.Oral arguments in this case are scheduled for January 19, almost exactly ten years since wolves returned to Yellowstone.

If this weren't enough, the Bush administration is also engaged in a parallel effort to rewrite a key section of the Endangered Species Act that provides many of the protections from which wolves currently benefit. This rewrite of what is called Section 10J would essentially hand control of wolves over to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming prior to official federal delisting, and would weaken federal protections for wolves before their recovery goals have been met.

Under the administration's proposal, any citizen could essentially kill wolves based on his or her belief that the animals pose a threat to personal property. Now, while protecting private property is important, allowing wolves to be killed based on a mere belief that a threat exists would clearly invite abuse and the unnecessary killing of wolves, and would create unenforceable and potentially unmanageable situations adversely affecting wolf populations.

The same administration proposal would also allow state agencies to kill wolves merely to increase elk numbers, even if wolves had not been proven to be a significant factor in declining elk populations. The result could be intense public and political pressure to reduce wolf numbers without evaluating the real factors that affect elk populations – habitat, harvest, disease, weather, etc. Such management actions, based on misinformation, fear and political pressure, could jeopardize ongoing recovery and delisting efforts, and lead to negative and long-lasting impacts on gray wolf populations. Moreover, a recent Defenders study has determined that hunter habits have far more influence on elk populations than wolves do, a factor not likely to be taken into account when deciding whether or not to kill wolves.

In the eastern portions of the country, wolves face similar threats from the Bush administration that jeopardize potential recovery. As part of its 2003 effort to reclassify wolves in the lower 48 states, the Fish and Wildlife Service created one recovery zone for the entire northeastern United States, despite the fact that no wolves are known to exist in the Northeast. This "phantom" population is listed as threatened, and the Bush administration is currently proposing to entirely remove federal protections for wolves in this region. This would hand wolf management to state agencies that do not list wolves on their state endangered species lists, all but eliminating any chance for wolf recovery throughout the region.

Put simply, the Bush administration is rapidly becoming the wolf's most dangerous predator. Its efforts to remove protections for the wolf, coupled with its unscientific approach to wolf management, pose the greatest threat today to the continued recovery of the wolf in this country.

Defenders firmly believes that the best way to aid wolf recovery is to engage local stakeholders in effective partnerships that address the needs of humans and animals alike. That's why we've put our money where our mouth is and launched two programs that have made a huge difference in wolf restoration efforts.

When the Fish and Wildlife Service was considering Yellowstone wolf reintroduction, a major concern voiced locally was the effect reintroduction would have on livestock and, by extension, on the livelihood of ranchers. Even though it was predicted – and has proven true – that livestock losses to wolf predation would be insignificant compared to other causes, Defenders stepped to the plate. We sought and obtained funding for a program that reimburses local ranchers for livestock losses related to wolves. To date, through the generous support of the Bailey Wildlife Foundation and others, we have paid out more than $400,000 to ranchers in wolf country. A similar program reimburses ranchers for losses attributed to grizzly bear predation.

But we don't only compensate for losses. Again with the help of the Bailey Wildlife Foundation, Defenders operates a proactive fund that works to prevent livestock-carnivore conflicts before they happen. This fund works with ranchers and other stakeholders to invest in conflict-reducing measures, such as installing predator fencing and predator proof trash bins.

We've also recently formed a rancher advisory committee to make sure the rancher perspective is thoroughly considered as we continue to move forward with both these programs.

But as important as it to address the economic impact of wolf predation, wolf recovery cannot be successful without dealing with cultural barriers as well. That's why it's so important to educate all stakeholders, and the public in general, about wolves and the vital role they play in ecosystems. It is also vital to dispel, early on, the ever-present myths about wolves that can cause panic and unease, especially in areas that wolves currently do not inhabit, but could.

A few months ago, a dead wolf was found on a highway in Colorado. There have been verified wolf sightings in Oregon, Washington, and Utah, and even reported sightings in northern California. Wolf sightings similarly are reported in Maine and upstate New York. While most of these sightings may be unverified, we should not assume that wolves will never return to these regions. Wolves are an extraordinarily hearty species if not killed by humans and, if the ecological conditions are right, there is no question they are capable of expanding their range on their own. That's why it is so important to maintain federal protections and educate the public ahead of time, to make sure people understand the wolf and how humans can peacefully co-exist with the wolf.

Before the Yellowstone reintroduction, people voiced numerous concerns. But now, ten years later, indications are that most residents in the region have come to accept and even embrace the wolf as a neighbor. In 2004, Defenders began surveying compensation recipients to evaluate both the perceived effectiveness of our livestock compensation program and to determine the level of interest in using nonlethal and proactive methods to reduce wolf and livestock conflicts. Almost 70% of the respondents said they were somewhat to highly satisfied with the amount of compensation they received for their livestock losses to wolves. Sixty-four percent of respondents stated that their tolerance toward wolves would be lower if the compensation program ended. Encouragingly, most respondents also indicated an interest in preventative, nonlethal methods of reducing or avoiding livestock depredations. Clearly, ten years of wolves in Yellowstone, combined with Defenders' efforts, have fostered greater tolerance for wolves and helped the ranching community adopt practices are producing an environment much more conducive to healthy co-existence of humans and this controversial species.

Defenders also participates in efforts to prepare currently "wolf-less" states for the animal's eventual return. We recently served on Oregon's Wolf Advisory Committee, along with ranchers and other stakeholders, to help develop that state's Wolf Management Plan. We work in coalitions in the Northeast, Southwest, Southern Rockies, and Pacific Northwest to conduct education and outreach. And, we've offered to expand our compensation and proactive programs to all these areas as well.

I see the story of the wolf's return as more than a successful wildlife reintroduction. It is also a commentary on the continued evolution of the human psyche, and a suggestion that perhaps our inherent link with the natural world is not as tattered as today's hectic world would seem to indicate.

In a society where so many view nature as only an economic resource or obstacle, I take great comfort in the fact that so many got behind the effort to return wolves to Yellowstone. It was truly a national phenomenon. The entire nation was abuzz with news of Yellowstone's newest residents. And support for wolf recovery remains strong to this day.

I think that for many, the wolf is the embodiment of wild nature, and, through the wolf, many feel a connection with nature that they don't want to lose. Humans erred in eliminating wolves from the wild and, in a sense, the Yellowstone reintroduction allowed us to make amends for that. And the public loved it. By helping to restore the very symbol of wilderness, they too were restored – in spirit.

We have made great progress in restoring the wolf to its rightful place in the American landscape. Unfortunately, much of that progress is threatened by the Bush administration which still refuses to recognize the vital role wolves play in our environment. Such ecological ignorance led us down a terrible road in the past. It is a journey I hope we will not repeat.

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Defenders of Wildlife is one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and habitat, and was named as one of America's Top 100 Charities by Worth magazine. With more than 480,000 members and supporters, Defenders is an effective voice for wildlife and habitat. To learn more about Defenders of Wildlife, please visit www.defenders.org.