Mikey Warfield
DE Comp II Ms. Casper Wolf Reintroduction In recent years the wolf has been forced onto the endangered species act from excessive poaching and extermination. In order to revive this species we must reintroduce it to its natural habitats including but not limited to Colorado. The last wolf in Colorado was believed to have been shot in 1943; seventy years excessively far too long to stand back and do nothing. I believe that a full wolf reintroduction to Colorado is a necessity. Considering, a wolf is only as dangerous as you make it and with the proper precautions they present little to no danger to humans and cattle, it makes sense to reintegrate this species before it disappears forever. In a realistic sense they present no real threat to humans or livestock as long as they are left alone just like any other animal. They are heavily misunderstood and a community wolf awareness lesson may be necessary, but they can easily reintegrate into our society, if trigger happy ranchers can be kept in check. In many cases they can help to eliminate the overpopulation of deer and elk in recent years which have been a nuisance to farmers and homeowners throughout Colorado. In a recent study of twenty high school students all twenty said they supported wolf reintroduction in Colorado (Warfield). If their survival lacks no real negative side effects and mostly positive outcomes then we must act now before it’s too late. Many argue that wolves are dangerous and that they threaten people, therefore it was justified for them being hunted to extinction. The truth is they are just as hazardous as the common coyote or fox, which most people find to be quite well mannered and easy to avoid conflict with. Andre Carothers, a writer for the “E/The Environmental Magazine,” boldly proclaims, “There has never been a documented wolf attack on humans in the United States.” (Carothers 1) They are a canine species and the ancestor to all modern dogs; and understandingly have the same traits. As with most wild animals they are timid to humans and avoid contact when possible. However they are known to attack when they feel threatened or cornered. If threatened they will exhibit obvious warning signs before attack, such as raised facial features (most predominately the ears), showing teeth, and snarling. An anonymous author of the website www.wolfcountry.net states the traits of a threatened wolf. “An angry lupine's ears are erect, and its fur bristles. The lips may curl up or pull back, and the incisors are displayed. The wolf may also snarl. An aggressive wolf snarls and its fur bristles. The wolf may crouch, ready to attack if necessary.” ("Wolf Country, the pack, body and social structures.") Colorado’s main hold up for reintroduction comes from the resistance of ranchers and livestock owners that are unwilling to cease fire on wolf population as long as they believe they are a legitimate threat to their lively hood. Carothers argues, “The cost to ranchers, in terms of livestock killed, is virtually zero. Many more sheep die each year because they fall over, can't get up, and consequently starve, than could ever be killed by a hundred or even a thousand wolves” (Carothers 1). If ranchers are willing to risk the significant loss to their herds from natural occurrences, then they need to accept that the presence of wolves is less threatening then they believe. From a hunting viewpoint it is reasonable to assume that a wolf would only attack livestock if no other immediate food sources were readily available. The wolves, once reestablished, can help diminish the deer and elk populations in the area to help provide room and food for livestock. In recent years deer and elk have been spotted in and around the yards of residents of the town of Eagle. This may be a pleasant sight until you realize they are eating your yard and garden; and when they show up in large numbers it becomes a real problem. In my “Wolf Reintroduction Survey” of the twenty high school students surveyed a whopping sixty percent believed that reintroducing wolves in Colorado could help balance the ecosystem and food chains (Warfield). From the Royal Society of Scotland strong headed environmentalists and animal activists, Erlend B. Nilsen, E. J. Milner-Gulland, and Lee Schofield have formulated a plan to keep their red deer populations in check by reintroducing the wolf into Scotland. “One solution to reducing deer numbers that has been discussed is the reintroduction of red deer predators—particularly grey wolves (Canis lupus)—into the Highlands” (Nilsen 1). The war on wolf reintroduction is a necessary and urgent step forward in salvaging this magnificent species before they are forced into extinction. The recent reintroduction in Colorado has been a strong debate between environmentalists and wolf enthusiasts and between ranchers. It is a well stated fact that wolves, just like any other animal, are timid towards humans and will not attack unless provoked. They even exhibit obvious warning signs that should be taken very seriously. The rancher’s argument that they pose a threat to their livestock is unjustifiable and biased. A wolf only makes a hunting oriented move on livestock when no immediate food source is available, but with the recent rise of deer populations that should sustain their numbers quite efficiently. This predation on deer will also help to balance the ecosystem and keep the deer and elk population in check, which in turn will keep them out of the yards of disgruntled citizens and leave more grazing grounds for rancher’s livestock. Reintroduction of wolves in Colorado is a must for the wolves survival and balance of the ecosystem and I demand that it be done in a timely fashion or else these graceful animals may not make it.

Epilogue I chose to do my paper on the reintroduction of wolves because I am a passionate wolf enthusiast and it has irked me for years that this species has been declared extinct in Colorado. When I was in middle school (sixth grade maybe) I remember my teacher handing out pamphlets that had precautionary tips on them for the off chance that we encountered wolves. This sparked my curiosity considering I had always believed they were extinct in Colorado and not coming back. When I heard that they (wolves) were sneaking into Colorado from Wyoming where they were recently reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park, I was thrilled to say the least. So I dedicated my paper to the concept of reintroducing the wolves directly into Colorado instead of letting them wander here from other places. Thank you for thinking the time to read this.

Bibliography
Carothers, Andre. "Wolf Reintroduction Does Not Threaten Ranchers' Livelihoods." Opposing Viewpoints: Endangered Species. Ed. Helen Cothran. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Eagle Valley Sr High School. 14 May. 2010 http://find.galegroup.com/ovrc/infomark.do?&contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve& tabID=T010&prod Id=OVRC&docId=EJ3010131220&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupNa me=gyps27603&ver sion=1.0

McDonnell, Tom. "Wolf Reintroduction Threatens Ranchers' Livelihoods." Opposing Viewpoints: Endangered Species. Ed. Helen Cothran. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2001. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Eagle Valley Sr High School. 18 May. 2010 .

Nilsen, Erlend B., Milner-Gulland E. J., Schofield Lee, Mysterud Atle, and Stenseth Nils Chr. "Wolf reintroduction to Scotland: public attitudes." Proceeds of the Royal Society n. pag. Web. 17 May 2010. .

Warfield, Michael. “Wolf Reintroduction Survey” Survey. 17 May 2010

"Wolf Country, the pack, body and social structures." www.wolfcountry.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2010. .