WOLVES in the spotlight
"I find it interesting that we overuse the image of the wolf when we eradicated the species in most of the country. We put them on t-shirts at the gift shops, name parks after them, and use them as a mascot. Then, when we are asked to think about them as an important species, we quote stories that portray the wolf as evil and dangerous. I hope that by sharing the true story of the wolf, we can start to learn the history of wolves and how important they are to our planet."- Valerie Rose
Why Are WOLVES Important?
Wolves are apex predators vital to the health of our landscape.
The reintroduction of wolves to some areas has shown a restoration of the balance of our ecosystem.
Wolves are part of the historical landscape of the United States.
The wolf plays a part in the creation stories, folklore, mythology, and religions all around the world.
Drought and river erosion can be aided with a healthy wolf population.
The overpopulation of elk and deer herds can be reduced by the presence of wolves.
Wolves naturally limit the spread of disease by taking vulnerable animals out of the population.
what are the challenges facing WOLVES?
The population of wolves today is only 1-2 percent of what it used to be only a few hundred years ago.
Wolves reside in less than 15 percent of their historical range.
The legal hunting of wolves in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, keeps wolves from growing at healthy rates.
Legal wolf hunting leads to increased illegal poaching.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service will delist the wolf from the Endangered Species List by the end of 2020.
There is often conflict between wolves and livestock ranchers.
Inaccurate depictions of the wolf in storytelling creates prejudice against the species.
what can WE do to help?
STUDY WOLVES
A large overview on wolves by Colorado State University, providing easy to read information sheets.
A short overview on wolves pertaining to the Rocky Mountains.
Further reading about how wolves benefit our ecosystem.
Further reading about gray wolves.
Further reading about how to protect both wolves and livestock.
Further reading about predator friendly ranching with wolves.
An article about how ranchers are rethinking their approach to livestock depredation.
Protect WOLVES
VOTE...Environmental issues are, unfortunately, political issues.
If you are a Colorado resident, vote to support wolf reintroduction in this upcoming election.
Learn more about wolves.
Be mindful of what you read, some writers do not use science-based information.
Donate to Adopt a gray wolf to fight anti-wolf extremism on the ground.
Become a member of a wolf organization in your area that supports wolf survival.
Write well-researched letters and articles in support of wolf conservation.
Volunteer for a wolf organization nearest you, and make sure they are reputable.
Give an educational talk about wolves at a school or organization in your area.
CELEBRATE WOLVES
Celebrate National Wolf Awareness Week from October 18-24th.
Read children’s books to your kids like A Wolf Called Wanderer.
Watch wolf documentaries with your family. Living With Wolves is a favorite example.
Buy wolf art made by local artists in your area.