This is an incredible story of the return of wolves to Yellowstone National Park, after being hunted to extinction in the area, and how their return dramatically changed the landscape.
Viewing this should be made mandatory for everybody who suggests that wolf populations be controlled by man or who feel that there is no harm in over hunting.
We have done so much damage in our clumsy attempts to manage predator populations in the past, and it is in the best interests of the planet, and all of its inhabitants, for us to do a much, much better job going forward.
Beautiful video, Jesse. Thanks for posting it.
ReplyDeleteWe have just started hunting wolves again in MI. Stupid hunters. I have always thought that these creatures are here for a reason, and that they have as much right to survive as we do. One would think those Christians with guns could respect all life on this planet, but their God seems to be the God of rich white men.
ReplyDeleteI know. Gov. Snyder and his GOP Legislature should have to watch this film. If we only gave nature a chance to be nature, we would all be better off. God made wolves as well as people presumably - if one takes Genesis literally - so why not give wolves a chance to play their role in the drama that is life. Besides, I think that wolves are beautiful and I love to hear their song.
DeleteBeaglemom
OT Todd Palin is in last place in Iron Puppy race.
ReplyDeleteLMFAO ... One of his race team sponsors is ... "Stud Boy"
LOVUSA = the irony burns
DeleteTodd's snowmachine is a Ski-Doo = Canadian
Sarah's truck is a Toyota = Japanese
Fascinating! It does go to show that a healthy ecosystem requires a delicate balance. I'll be posting this one to my
ReplyDeleteFacebook page.
OT, but I found this to be more than a bit ironic. Apparently, Palin doesn't buy Christie's story that he didn't know anything about Bridgegate.
Makes me wonder if he bought her story about her "pregnancy".
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/sarah-palin-chris-christie-knew-article-1.1611073
I would even dare to wonder if the climate could be changed by the change and growth in vegetation. It just goes to show us, you can't mess with Mother Nature! Loved this video.
ReplyDeleteI always supported the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone just on principle and knew they had an effect on the food chain, but I had no idea they had this kind of enormous impact on the geography as well.
ReplyDeleteFascinating video!
Love it. I'm in awe of nature's complexity and sensitivity. Thank you for sharing the beautiful, educational video.
ReplyDeleteAs a college student, I was fortunate to work for 3 Summer seasons in Yellowstone park, way back in the late '50's. There were lots of coyotes, but we never saw wolves. The bison were culled every Fall by invited American Indian hunters assisted by Park Rangers. With no wolves, the herds have grown into the thousands. Now, the bison are driven to corrals, shipped ($50,000-$100,000.) and slaughtered hundreds of miles away. The whole management system has become a political game among the surrounding cattle ranchers and elk hunters.
ReplyDeleteFor any reader who has not seen it, Yellowstone is well worth the trip. If you go in September after school starts (after September it's COLD) the elks are in season and you see a lot of them just driving around. Buffalo roam the place: once they trapped us in the parking lot of a restaurant and we had to wait in our car for a small herd to move on before we could get out. We could have unrolled the windows and touched them if we'd been stupid. The scenery is truly breathtaking. And if you're driving through and there's a car stopped by the road, stop behind it, because it means the drivers have seen something AWESOME. The last day we were there, I was driving out and I caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of my eye and as I drove, I was thinking "wrong profile for elk or bear or deer..." and slammed on the brakes and backed up. Husband was puzzled and said what is it? And I said WOLF!!!! IT'S A WOLF!!! And we saw a wolf in the wild! That trip was great, but seeing a wolf in the wild truly topped it off.
ReplyDeleteIvyfree
I was driving through Yellowstone's Hayden Valley years ago in the fall. There were hundreds of bison in the valley and there was a small herd walking towards the road.
DeleteRight in front of me, the biggest and oldest bull strolled out into the middle of the road, stopping traffic. He waited right there while the rest of the group crossed safely and then followed them into the meadow.
I was shocked to realize he was a bison crossing guard!
For more information about wolves and other wild canids, visit Wolf Song of Alaska's website and Facebook page...
ReplyDeleteWebsite: www.wolfsongalaska.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wolfsongofalaska
Check with the Anch Defenders of Wildlife to get info on the fact that they are once again trying to eradicate the wolfpacks in the Yellowstone area.
ReplyDelete" the elks are in season and you see a lot of them just driving around." -- I grew up near Yellowstone and spent summers there for many, many years. I can tell you, elk are LOUSY drivers (especially in September, when they are always in a rut).
ReplyDeleteLOL!
DeleteAlways chasing after the girls...their eyes are definitely NOT on the road!
DeleteAll species contribute to a sustainable and healthy ecosystem. I watched wolves at a compound in New Jersey called "The Howelling Woods", their mission is to save and re introduce wolf packs back into the wild. Those that can't because of man's interference, have a large swath of land to live the rest of their lives as close to as nature intended it as New Jersey can offer.
ReplyDeleteThey're amazing, social creatures. This clip should be shown to as many students and adults as possible.