For over 100 years, up until the 1960s, wolves were extirpated in most of the United States. Over the past few decades, studies have indicated that wolves may have been more important to the functioning of an ecosystem than humans realized. Many groups have worked to reintroduce wolves in states such as Colorado, Montana, Idaho, North Carolina, Washington, and New Mexico. These groups sometimes encounter fierce resistance from other groups concerned with human safety and with possible financial impacts of wolves preying on livestock.
Read the article “Reintroducing the Gray Wolf in the U.s.,” at www.actionbioscience.org/biodiversity/johnson.html. Then go to the main website for the group, at www.actionbioscience.org, and investigate the organization.
Evaluate the websites and work with the information to answer the following questions:
Is this a reliable information source?
Does the organization give supporting evidence for its claims?
Does it give sources for its evidence?
What is the mission of this organization? Do you believe this mission is reasonable? Explain.
Now visit the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s website, www.rmef.org. In the site’s search box, enter the word “wolves” and read at least two articles. Answer all the items under Question 1 for this website.
Finally, visit the Defenders of Wildlife website, www.defenders.org. In the site’s search box, enter the word “wolves” and read at least two articles. Answer all the items under Question 1 for this website.
Do you believe that wolves should be reintroduced in a few isolated areas; in many areas, including those where human contact is frequent; or not at all? Justify your decision.
Do you believe that the hunting of wolves outside protected areas like Yellowstone National Park should be allowed? Justify your answer.
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