Do you know what happens to the ecosystem and animals

when the Wolf population declines in North America?

Presented by: Nikkola Brown

How It Effects The Ecosystem

Importance of Wolves!

FactsKilling wolves affects the entire ecosystem. All

species depend on the ecosystem for their survival. When the wolves are taken away, other animal populations increase.

When deer and elk become to large for the habitat, they overgraze and destroy the plant base, make the habitat not suitable for other species.

Wolves pose no threat and play a precious role by maintaining natural balance.

Wolves help keep the coyote population in check, along with by preying on young or elderly, sick or injured, weak or unfit.

Wolves also have an hierarchy in their own pack. The omega eats the left over from the other wolves. This also helps thin out the weaker ones for hunting and increases the stronger ones for survival.

Gray Wolf Territory

Photo Credit: Gray Wolf Distribution Mapon Wikipedia, Creative Commons.

Photo Credit: Gray Wolf Distribution Mapon Wikipedia, Creative Commons

Yellowstone Park

Scientist Smith, Peterson, and Houston claimed that wolves need to be restored because “every species that was in the park when the white men first came to the region is still there, except one (the wolf) {2003}. If wolves are to become extinct someday, it should be by the hand of Mother Nature and not by the hand of humanity.

In The News

References

Why Restore Wolves In North America?http://www.defenders.org

Decline of predatory species throws food chains out of whack, report sayshttp://www.washingtonpost.com

Nature/The Wolf That Changed AmericaWolf Expert/PBShttp://www.youtube.com