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Wolves Sign of Healthy Eco-SystemThe Wolf Fights to Maintain Population and Habitat
Wolves have become a symbol of wildlife, nature and the health of an eco-system. Although seen as a threat, wolves are often in fact threatened.
If an area can sustain a large population of wolves, it's a reflection on the health of the whole eco-system. Wolves help keep populations of deer, elk and others manageable, which contributes to a healthier environment. Damage to the environment from mining, logging and other developments affect all wildlife populations including wolves. Wolves Seen as a ThreatUnfortunately since wolves are carnivores they are also targets to be shot down and hunted by man. They are seen as a threat to domesticated animals and humans. Meanwhile wolves actually help keep other animals considered pests under control. Gray WolfMost northern wolves are assumed to be from the same species called Gray Wolf Canis Lupis but there are several sub-species as well. How these came about is still debated. The Gray Wolf is the biggest but wolves are generally 20 to 75 kg or 44 to 165 lbs. Packs average from 5 to 9 wolves and consist of an alpha pair and their offspring. Red WolfThe red wolf is controversial with some saying it's a species on it's own while others say it's a cross-breed that came about from wolves breeding with coyotes. The Red Wolf is at least twice the size of a coyote but smaller than a Gray Wolf. Neither is simply gray or red and can be a combination of brown, black, white and gray. In a study conducted by the Conservation on Biology Institute, they concluded a small population of wolves could thrive in Adirondack Park but it was not recommended because of concerns that the wolves would breed with the coyotes. Wolves and CoyotesWolves are capable of breeding with dogs and coyotes and when the population dwindles, it’s a more common occurrence. If a lone red or gray wolf does not find one of it’s own they will breed with coyotes. This is probably what has caused the confusion as to what an actual Red Wolf is because hybridization has occurred with both the Gray and the Red wolves. Arctic WolvesArctic Wolves are very similar to Gray wolves but they are white to blend in with the snow and they are slightly shorter and rounder to conserve heat. They also need more territory because they have to travel further to find their prey. Arctic wolves tend to live in caves since digging dens is not usually possible with the icy climate in the far north. Wolves in AlaskaAccording to Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre, wolves are still gunned down in Alaska from helicopters. They’re apparently doing this to conserve the caribou population. Logging is one of the other activities that has caused environmental damage and contributed to the caribou’s decline. Wolves and RavensWolves and Ravens have developed a symbiotic relationship so depend on each other. Wolves have learned to watch Ravens for clues of danger. When they see Ravens circling they know there is food/prey nearby. Ravens follow wolves and rely on their kills. They oddly tend to avoid carcasses where wolves are not present. Wolf Populations
For more information on wolf populations, see “World wolf population around the world and their status”. People continue to clear land for agriculture, mining, logging and building. This makes it increasingly difficult for wolves and other wildlife to maintain their populations and habitats. References: Raincoast.org, Timberwolfinformation.org, Northernlightswildlife.com
The copyright of the article Wolves Sign of Healthy Eco-System in Environmentalism is owned by Sandra Williams. Permission to republish Wolves Sign of Healthy Eco-System in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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