Guest Author - Samantha Black

Lets Start at the Top, with the Gray wolf



In the early 1800s white settlers came to this continent and brought with them terrible stories about wolves that had more to do with frightening little children into behaving than they did the truth. They told horrifying tales of bloodthirsty beasts who lay in wait for poor unsuspecting humans to stroll by in order to devour them. Unfortunately, these fables were nurtured and passed on from generation to generation, growing taller on down the line... until they helped to cast the wolf in the role of devil incarnate.

Most people believe in some form or fashion that wolves howl at the moon, will attack and eat humans, weigh 200 lbs., and are driven mad by the scent of blood. None of this is true. What we know about wolves you can fit into a thimble. What we do not know about them may never be measured.

At first glance you might see the obvious- wolves are predators. But that's just the tip of the iceberg.

When Europeans came to this continent, their intent was to tame the land. They replaced wild prey with domestic stock. Exceptionally cold winters and injured wolves were sometimes driven to prey on these animals, although healthy wild wolves will generally pass up livestock in favor of natural prey. It was economic interest that these men sought to protect and their means to that security was to kill the wolf, not for what they had done, but for what they might do.

This was truly tragic, as many scientists and biologists are just now discovering. Wolves not only have a definite place in the ecosystem- it is the premiere place. When we hunted this animal to the brink of extinction a century ago, we did so in ignorance. We had no idea what we had interrupted or how far the ripple would travel or the extent of damage it would set in motion.

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a pyramid. At the top of this pyramid is the wolf. Under the wolf are a myriad of other predators, grizzly bears, wolverines, eagles, badgers, coyotes, mountain lions, etc., right down to the tiniest warbler. The wolf is at the pinnacle of this design because in the wild they have no natural enemies. Nothing hunts wolves, save humans. We are the only enemy they have.

Herbivores like elk, deer, moose and so on, spend a tremendous amount of time browsing and grazing in order to gather all the nutrients they need. With the absence of wolves in the ecosystem, elk and other herbivores over eat certain vegetation, which attract certain insects, which in turn attract certain birds, which bring certain seeds, which germinate and produce more vegetation thereby insuring a continuous cycle of sustainable healthy forests.

Only five short years after the return of wolves to Yellowstone National Park did we get a glimpse of just how important this predator really is. With the return of the wolf to Yellowstone in 1995, which is now the most complete and balanced ecosystem on the planet- these herds have been culled to a manageable size and they no longer over eat foliage needed to sustain the ecosystem. The benefits? Scientists are now amazed at finding plant life growing and thriving in the park that has been declared extinct for over 100 years.

Interesting Facts about Wolves

Wolves can regulate their body temperature independently, keeping the tissues on the pads of their feet at just above freezing in winter. This allows them to tromp through icy creeks for miles with no discomfort whatsoever.

Wolves have webbed feet and are excellent swimmers

Wolves can climb trees! Granted, they have to be motivated, but they can do it!

Wolves can go over a 10 ft. fence and bite through 11 gauge steel fabric

Wolves have 1500 lbs. PSI between their jaws (twice as much as a German Shepherd)

Wolves can travel from 50 to 125 miles a day in search of food, trot at speeds of 10 miles an hour indefinitely and display bursts of speed up to 45 miles an hour when hunting

Wolves and wolverines have the only fur on the planet that breath will not condense against. It is a natural moisture repellent. The under-fur on wolves allows them to sleep out in the open at 40 degrees below zero, comfortably!

Wolves only breed once a year, late January and early February. Pups are born approximately 63 days later in late April and early May.

If the territory the pack occupies doesn't have enough to sustain another mouth to feed, they simply forgo breeding season.

Wolves keep coyote populations in check and when they move into or expand their territory to include populations of coyotes, they cut those populations by up to 50% almost immediately then regulate the rate of coyote pup mortality by raiding the dens.

Wolves are responsible for less than one half of one percent of all livestock depredation. Studies show that feral dogs take 10 times that amount with sickness, disease, inclement weather conditions and natural causes making up the bulk of causes of death.