Wolf reintroduction involves reestablishing a portion of gray wolves in areas where native wolves have been extirpated. Reintroduction is only considered where large tracts of suitable wilderness still exist, and certain prey species are abundant enough to support a predetermined wolf population.
What about Yellowstone, was the reintroduction of wolves successful? Yes, after wolves were reintroduced into the park, the top predators helped parts of the ecosystem bounce back. They've significantly reduced elk herds, opening the door for willow, aspen, beaver, and songbird populations to recover.
An article in the Guardian on November 7th, 2020, reported that “Wolves win in Colorado after the vote for reintroduction by 2023” Coloradans voted to reintroduce wolves, hunted and trapped to extinction in the 1940s.
The proposition squeaked by with 50.4% of the total votes as of Thursday night. This is the first time American voters have ever weighed in on reintroducing a wildlife species, as that decision is usually left up to a state’s team of wildlife biologists.
The article added that “Colorado’s decision was complicated by the fact that just last week, the Trump administration delisted gray wolves from the US Endangered Species Act (ESA) after announcing the species’ “successful recovery.” Hundreds of biologists dispute this partly because wolves still only occupy a sliver of their historic range.”
