Yellowstone National Park – Wolf Case
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Wolves are specie that has long been misunderstood. They are considered to be a nuisance, but they are a very important part of having a balanced ecosystem. Without wolves moose, coyote, and elk would overpopulate because there would be no other true predator to keep these numbers in check. Overpopulation of these three animals occurred in Yellowstone National Park. Humans constantly hunted wolves because of their hatred for this specie and for their pelt. This animal was once on the endangered species list and should never be on it again.
Wolves are a class of the canine family, and they are the largest of all canines. They are often meat eaters and range in size depending on where they live. Wolves have unfortunately received a bad reputation. They are very intelligent animals that live in groups that are referred to as packs. They can have from 6 to 20 members in each pack. Wolves hunt as a group, which makes it possible for them to take down large prey like the moose and the elk. These types of animals can provide enough food for each of the members in the pack. They inherited fur that allows them to survive a variety of temperatures and have razor sharp teeth to kill their prey. The average life span of a wolf in the wild can span from six to eight years.
The grey wolf (also known as the common wolf) is most familiar to the human race. The grey wolf ranges from 55 to 90 pounds. They range from 4 ½ feet to 6 feet. The grey wolf inherited webbings between each toe; this allows the grey wolf to move easily across any terrain. They have very large paws which allow them to determine the weight distribution between each paw. This helps them when they walk on snow because they wont sink into any soft spots. They have very sharp teeth and large jaws. Scientists proved that the grey wolf has three times more biting power than the average canine. The saliva of a grey wolf has been proven to help new tissues grow and can reduce the risk of infection in a wound.
Wolves are at the top of the food chain in their habitats. They do not have many predators to worry about unless they are alone in the wild. Most animals leave wolves alone mainly because they dont want to battle an entire pack of wolves. There are ten wolves in the average pack. Wolves are always extra careful when hunting prey for themselves and their young. Moose and elk are the two most common animals that will be hunted by a pack of wolves. The only problem with hunting these large animals is that when threatened they will kick if the predator gets too close. Usually, when moose or elk kick they can easily kill or seriously injure the hunter if hit in the head or fatal organs. Wolves dont just fight with other animals they also will fight among themselves if they struggle hunting down the normal prey. Threats from other wolf packs are a common problem. Threats within the same specie usually occur because one pack wants new territory or they are struggling to hunt down game during famines. When the overall territory is big