Saving America's Wolves

Imagine you are a gray wolf in the Montana wilderness. You are one of the most feared predators on Earth. Your razor-sharp teeth can rip through skin and crush bone. You can sniff out a deer from a mile away. Animals many times your size flee in terror when they see you.

You aren’t just any wolf either. You are the alpha of your pack. That means you are the leader. You decide when the pack eats and when the pack travels. You also decide when the pack hunts.

Your kills are as dramatic as a scene in an action movie. You will stalk a group of elk for days and days before choosing one to eat. When you’re ready to strike, you and your pack move together in a deadly dance. You chase the elk until it’s alone and exhausted. And then—you pounce. You and your pack mates clamp on to the elk’s neck and legs with your powerful jaws, until at last the animal collapses.

You and your pack then begin to feast, your faces turning red with blood.

As a wolf, you are what is called an apex predator—an animal at the very top of the food chain. But there is one creature that fills your heart with fear.

Humans.

For hundreds of years, humans in America have hunted, poisoned, and trapped your kind. They have driven you almost to extinction.

And they aren’t finished with you yet.

Imagine you are a gray wolf in the Montana wilderness. You are one of the most feared predators on Earth. Your teeth can rip through skin and crush bone. You can sniff out a deer from a mile away. Animals many times your size run away in terror when they see you.

You aren’t just any wolf either. You are the alpha of your pack. That means you are the leader. You decide when the pack eats and when the pack travels. You also decide when the pack hunts.

Your kills are as dramatic as a scene in an action movie. You will stalk a group of elk for days before choosing one to eat. When you’re ready to strike, you and your pack work together. You chase the elk until it’s alone and exhausted. And then you pounce. You and your pack mates grab on to the elk’s neck and legs with your powerful jaws until the animal collapses.

You and your pack then begin to feast. Your faces turn red with blood.

As a wolf, you are an apex predator—an animal at the very top of the food chain. But there is one creature that fills you with fear.

Humans.

For hundreds of years, humans in America have hunted, poisoned, and trapped your kind. They have driven you almost to extinction.

And they aren’t done yet

It’s a bright, cold winter day, and you and your pack are trotting through the snow. Suddenly, you sense that a human is nearby. Fear washes over you. A member of your own pack was recently shot by a human. You tried to help him, licking his coat and bringing him food. But he did not survive. You are still heartbroken by his loss.

Is a human now coming to kill you too?

It’s a bright, cold winter day. You and your pack are trotting through the snow.

Suddenly, you sense that a human is nearby. Fear washes over you. A member of your pack was recently shot by a human. You tried to help him. You licked his coat and brought him food. But he did not survive. You are still heartbroken by his loss.

Is a human now coming to kill you too?

the 1800s, as many as 2 million wolves lived in America. They roamed the leafy forests of New England. They howled across the deserts of the Southwest. They waded through the icy rivers of the Rocky Mountains.

But to pioneers in America, these fierce and beautiful creatures seemed like cold-hearted killers—monsters even. In the stories the pioneers told their children, wolves were villains, like the one that devoured Little Red Riding Hood’s poor grandmother. Americans’ fear of wolves soon grew into hatred. And as more and more people spread out across the country, wolves began dying out.

Humans shot them with guns. Tricked them into eating poisoned meat. Caught them in sharp metal traps. Turned their fur into fashionable hats and coats.

Then wolves were gone. By the 1920s, in most of America, there were none left.

Flashback to hundreds of years ago. Before the 1800s, as many as 2 million wolves lived in America. They roamed the forests of New England. They howled across the deserts of the Southwest. They waded through the icy rivers of the Rocky Mountains.

But to pioneers in America, these fierce and beautiful creatures seemed like monsters. In the stories these people told their children, wolves were villains (think of the one that ate Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother). Americans’ fear of wolves soon grew into hatred. And as more people spread out across the country, wolves began to die out.

Humans shot them with guns. Tricked them into eating poisoned meat. Caught them in sharp metal traps. Turned their fur into hats and coats.

Then wolves were gone. By the 1920s, in most of America, there were none left. 

Fifty years later, many people began to realize that wolves are not the monsters from fairy tales. It is not in their nature to attack humans. Wolves are afraid of humans andavoid them whenever possible.

People began to understand that, in fact, the Earth needs wolves.

As wolves began to disappear, the number of elk exploded in parts of the U.S. That’s because wolf packs weren’t there to hunt them. The elk gobbled up trees and grasses that other animals needed to survive. Birds couldn’t build their nests. Beavers couldn’t build their dams. Without beavers building dams in rivers, the rivers became more powerful and deep. This changed the types of plants that could grow nearby. And meat-eating animals like coyotes and ravens lost a food source: They could no longer pick at the scraps that wolves left behind after a hunt.

Scientists have a special name for animals like wolves: keystone species. Like sharks and lions, wolves are a necessary part of the habitats where they live. Without them, ecosystems change dramatically.

Many people began to say that killing off wolves had been a terrible mistake. The U.S. government passed a law that protected them from being hunted. And then, in the 1990s, wildlife experts hatched a bold plan.

To bring wolves back.

Fifty years later, people began to see that wolves are not the monsters from fairy tales. It’s not in their nature to attack humans. Wolves are afraid of humans and avoid them as much as possible.

People began to see that the Earth needs wolves.

As wolves began to disappear, the number of elk shot up in parts of the U.S. That’s because wolf packs weren’t there to hunt them. The elk ate up trees and grasses that other animals needed to survive. Birds couldn’t build their nests. Beavers couldn’t build their dams. Without beaver dams in rivers, the rivers became deeper and more powerful. This changed the types of plants that could grow nearby. And meat-eating animals like coyotes and ravens lost a food source: They could no longer pick at the scraps that wolves left behind. 

Scientists have a name for animals like wolves: keystone species. Like sharks and lions, wolves are a necessary part of the habitats where they live. Without them, ecosystems change dramatically.

People began to say that killing off wolves had been a mistake. The U.S. government passed a law that protected them from being hunted. And then, in the 1990s, wildlife experts made a plan: to bring wolves back.

The wildlife experts caught 31 gray wolves up in Canada. These wolves were brought down and set free in and around Yellowstone National Park—2.2 million acres of wilderness in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. Scientists hoped that these wolves would have pups and form new packs.

To the joy of those scientists, that is exactly what happened. In less than two decades, there were 1,600 wolves in the Yellowstone area. Today, the government says wolves are no longer endangered there.

Many people are thrilled to hear wolves once again howling in America. Thousands of tourists flock to see them in Yellowstone National Park every year. The wolves have dazzled and inspired new generations of wolf lovers. And they are helping to fix the ecosystem in Yellowstone too: Elk populations are now much smaller and healthier.

The wildlife experts caught 31 gray wolves in Canada. These wolves were brought down and set free in and around Yellowstone National Park—2.2 million acres of wild and natural land in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. Scientists hoped that these wolves would have pups and form new packs.

And that’s what happened. In less than 20 years, there were 1,600 wolves in the Yellowstone area. Today, the government says wolves are no longer endangered there.

Many people are thrilled to hear wolves once again howling in America. Thousands of tourists travel to see them in Yellowstone every year. The wolves have inspired new, young wolf lovers. And the ecosystem in Yellowstone is doing better too. Because of the wolves, elk populations are now much smaller and healthier. 

But not everyone is happy about the return of wolves. Some hunters complain that wolves catch and kill the same animals they do. Some farmers are angry because wolves also prey on their cows. (After all, farm animals are far easier for wolves to hunt than wild elk.) Some people say that there are too many wolves now—that they wander off parklands and into places where humans live. A few states have allowed people to once again hunt wolves outside of national parks.

Others argue that wolves should be protected, even in places where their numbers are high. They say that hunting these creatures shouldn’t be allowed.

Indeed, teams of experts are working hard to make sure that wolves do not disappear again. They are raising wolves in conservation centers, planning to release more of them back into the wild. These conservation centers also lead programs to teach people how special and necessary wolves are.

But not everyone is happy about the return of wolves. Some hunters complain that wolves hunt the same animals they do. Some farmers are angry because wolves prey on their cows. (Farm animals are easier for wolves to hunt than wild elk.) Some people say that there are too many wolves now, that they wander off parklands and into places where humans live. A few states have allowed people to once again hunt wolves outside of national parks.

Others argue that wolves should be protected, even in places where their numbers are high. They say that hunting wolves shouldn’t be allowed.

Teams of experts are working to make sure that wolves do not die out again. They are raising wolves in conservation centers, planning to release more of them back into the wild. These centers also lead programs to teach people how important wolves are.

Which brings us back to you on that winter day when you sense a human nearby.

You do not know what is about to happen. But you have a feeling that you are in terrible danger.

Suddenly, a noise thunders from the sky. The noise comes from a helicopter, but you don’t know what a helicopter is.

You break into a full-speed run, zigzagging across the snow. But you aren’t fast enough to outrun the flying metal monster that is chasing you.

Minutes pass.

Your muscles ache. You grow tired. But you don’t stop running.

The helicopter swoops low. There is a man perched inside, and he has something aimed at you.

And then—

Click.

Your body collapses.

Everything goes dark.

Which brings us back to you on that winter day when you sense a human nearby.

You do not know what is about to happen. But you sense that you are in danger.

Suddenly, a noise thunders from the sky. It comes from a helicopter. But you don’t know what a helicopter is.

You break into a run. But you are not fast enough to outrun the flying metal monster that is chasing you.

Minutes pass.

Your muscles ache. You grow tired. But you don’t stop running.

The helicopter swoops low. There is a man inside, and he has something aimed at you.

And then—

Click.

Your body collapses.

Everything goes dark

You are not dead.

This human did not come to kill you. He came to help you. It was not a bullet that hit you. It was a dart full of a calming drug that has put you into a deep sleep.

The helicopter lands nearby. A man hops out and rushes to your side. He is a wildlife expert who has dedicated his life to studying and caring for your species. He and his highly trained team set up their equipment in the snow. They take your blood to study and test for diseases. They weigh you, check your teeth, and measure your paws. They record notes in their journals.

They work quickly; they must finish before you wake up.

Finally, they put a collar around your neck that has a special radio inside. This radio collar will help them track your movements and learn more about your habits and behavior. Everything they learn will help them better understand you and your kind.

Of course, you don’t know any of this. You are still fast asleep.

When you wake up, the human who had been chasing you seems to be gone. So too is that terrible noise.

You stand, snow covering your muzzle. You lift your head high and let out a long howl.

In the distance, your pack howls back to you.

They are waiting for you to come home.

You are not dead.

This human did not come to kill you. He came to help you. It was not a bullet that hit you. It was a dart full of a calming drug. The drug has put you into a deep sleep.

The helicopter lands nearby. A man hops out and runs to your side. He is a wildlife expert. His job is to study and care for your species. He and his team set up their gear. They take your blood to study and test for diseases. They weigh you. They check your teeth and measure your paws. They take notes.

They work quickly. They must finish before you wake up.

Finally, they put a collar around your neck. It has a special radio inside. This radio collar will help them track your movements and learn more about your life. What they learn will help them better understand you and your wolf family.

Of course, you don’t know any of this. You are fast asleep.

When you wake up, the human who had been chasing you seems to be gone. So is that terrible noise.

You stand, snow covering your snout. You lift your head and let out a long howl.

In the distance, your pack howls back to you.

They are waiting for you to come home.