THE WoLf!
Hello, and welocme to my Wolf Page! This will give you some information, and facts on the animals I love so dearly! "The Wolf"
Wolves have had a long and troubled history in the United States since European American settlers began to share their territory. From fear and persecution, to respect and protection -- the relationship between people and wolves has been complex and controversial. Wolves were totally eliminated in the lower 48 states over the past century, but they are now bouncing back with the help of recovery programs under the Endangered Species Act and the commitment of dedicated citizens and organizations.
Wolves in the United States
There are three types of wolves native to the United States. The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is the largest member of the canine family, measuring 26 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder and weighing 70 to 85 pounds. The coloration of the gray wolf is usually tan with gray and black areas. The gray wolf’s territory originally ranged throughout the continental U.S. due to its ability to adapt to temperature extremes. For survival, gray wolves require large expanses of land ranging from 25 to 500 square miles, and large supplies of prey such as deer, moose, and bison.
A subspecies of the gray Wolf, the Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi), is a smaller canine whose geographical range in the U.S. once included central and southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and western Texas. Mexican gray wolves require a woodland habitat in mountainous terrain, with adjacent grassland. This habitat is also home to their natural prey, deer.
The red wolf (Canis rufus) gets its name from the reddish color on its head, ears, and legs. It is somewhat smaller than the gray wolf, weighing 45 to 80 pounds, and its head is narrower than that of the gray wolf. Red wolves, whose original range is as far north as Pennsylvania, and as far west as central Texas, are also distinguished by their long ears and legs. Red wolves prey upon white-tailed deer, raccoons, and rabbits. When red wolf populations are very low and they have trouble finding mates, this species has been known to interbreed with the coyote.
Wolves in Danger
By the 19th Century, European American settlers had significantly depleted wild populations of bison, elk, moose and deer. Because wolves relied on these animals as a primary food source, they turned to sheep and cattle in the absence of natural prey. In order to protect livestock, ranchers and government agencies launched a massive campaign to exterminate wolves from the land. Bounty programs which rewarded individuals for trapping, hunting, poisoning, and killing wolves lasted as late as 1965. Simultaneously, wolf populations were also pressured by the loss of habitat from land clearing, drainage projects, logging, mining, and road development.
By 1930, the zeal of the predator control programs and the loss of habitat in the lower 48 states had caused the near extinction of all three types of wolves found in the U.S. Over 80,000 wolves were killed under Congress’ extermination program in Montana alone, and the gray wolf occupied only one percent of its former range in the lower 48 states by 1984. Sightings of Mexican gray wolves have not been confirmed in the U.S. since the early 1970’s and in Mexico since the early 1980’s. Red wolves were considered extinct in the wild by 1980.
In the past people have viewed wolves as evil, bloodthirsty creatures -- reinforced by fairy tales such as the "Big Bad Wolf" and extermination programs. Fears still exist that wolves will attack people, yet there are no verified reports of healthy, wild wolves ever seriously injuring a human in North America.
Today Americans’ attitudes are shifting to a sense of wonder and respect for wolves. These changes in perspective have come about as Americans appreciate the advantages to having wolves return. Wolves are important top predators in North America and play a crucial role in the natural regulation of big game populations. This, in turn, prevents excess damage to vegetation. The reintroduction of wolves has increased tourism in Yellowstone and other regions, and has helped boost local economies. Although wolves are still controversial in many regions, support for reintroduction is now immense and continues to grow.
To protect the remaining wolves in the United States, the gray wolf has been listed as "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act in all states except Minnesota, where it is listed as "threatened." Red and Mexican gray wolves are also listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as "endangered." These designations prohibit the killing, harming, or harassing of wolves and require that government agencies develop recovery programs to restore populations.
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