Wesley Jmmwy 4U

WOLF RESTORATION IN THE WESTERN FRONTIER As the first national park on earth, Yellowstone (est, 1872), helped to define the concept of public land and sparked a worldwide national park movement. Today, the park famous for its bubbling mud pots and explosive steam geysers is still one of the most celebrated and widely visited parks in the country. Yellowstone also features the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states and is an ideal spot to see free-ranging herds of bison and elk, as well as vibrant predators like foxes, brown bears, and gray wolves. Conservation efforts have played an important role in restoring balance to wildlife populations and habitat. Wolves, having been wiped out by hunting in the early 20th century, were re-introduced to Yellowstone In 1995. The park's population presently consists of approximately 100 wolves, and there are recovering but fragile populations in areas within Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montano, and Northern California. While the pork population is a small percentage of its historical range, the renewed presence of this integral apex predator has had measurable effects: strengthened herds, improved vegetation, and an increase in species diversity. Yet, the value of the wolf as a keystone species is still questioned, and the existence of the Rocky Mountain-area wolf population still threatened. That's why it's more important than ever to contribute our voices and resources to proactively protecting these canine guardians of the west.